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Morning News

President Bush Begins Busy First Day

Aired January 22, 2001 - 11:18 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The parties are all over, now it is time to get down to work. President Bush has begun his first day on the job.

Our senior White House correspondent John king is also on the job. He joins us now with a look at the president's agenda this morning -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.

A very busy first on the job, full day on the job for the new president. President Bush began the day this morning by stopping by a ceremony at which his senior staff was sworn in here. The new team taking over at the White House officially today, Mr. Bush, at the swearing in ceremony, said he wanted his administration to conduct itself with honesty and civility. It was the vice president, Dick Cheney, who delivered the oath; but the president on hand.

You see right there the faces of the new Bush administration, taking office this morning here. Education the number one legislative priority. Mr. Bush will hold an event here this afternoon to focus on reading, what he calls the most important and most fundamental aspect of his education package, improving the reading skills of children in America.

Some controversial items in that education package, Mr. Bush wants to set a strict testing regiment in the schools. He wants to make federal money dependent on progress. If schools don't make progress in improving their standards and their performance, he would cut some of the federal money. That will be controversial.

But it is an issue with bipartisan support in the Congress and the new president, recognizing the results of the election, wanted to start with education as priority one.

Also on hand here at the White House, today, the new secretary of state, Colin Powell. He had a meeting with the new president. What we are told will be a weekly meeting here at the White House between the United States' chief diplomat now and the new president. Among the items on the agenda today, the White House announcing the first international trip of this president, President Bush, will be to Mexico, in February, to meet with President Vincente Fox; a trip to Canada expected in April, but not announced just yet. Also, though, there are some distractions. They have a very disciplined approach here to the first few weeks, but there are sure to be some issues which there will be some fights over. Look for one to be abortion. This president promised in the campaign to reverse Clinton administration policies that allow U.S. money to go to international organizations that provide abortions, and abortion counseling. Mr. Bush will issue an executive order, as early this week, reversing that policy. It is consistent with a campaign pledge, but look for some liberals and abortion right forces to protest that -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much. John King at the White House.

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