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CNN NEWSROOM

More Found Dead After Oklahoma Tornadoes; Citizens Clashing With Police In Istanbul

Aired June 2, 2013 - 16:00   ET

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


MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Miguel Marquez in for Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the stories we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM.

New victims from deadly storms in Oklahoma, families who tried to find shelter in the storm drains were swept away in floods. The latest details next.

Coming up this week, the judge in the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin trial is expected to make a couple more key rulings in the case. We will talk to our legal analyst coming up in just a few minutes.

A TV icon has passed away. Award Emmy award-winning actress Jean Stapleton, the woman you knew as Edith Bunker, legendary host, Larry King joins me for more on her career.

We just learned more people have been found dead after tornadoes in Oklahoma. Officials say four people were seeking shelter in storm drains and then they got swept away in floods. We also learned today that three storm chasers are among the victims in the tornadoes. Tim Samaras and Carl Young were following a twister in El Reno. Samaras' son, Paul, was also with them. But Discovery channel shared these pictures with us. Three were on its show "Storm Chasers."

Many people in the worst hit areas in Oklahoma are busy cleaning up this weekend but some took a little break this morning to go to church.

Nick Valencia got the chance to go to one of those services.

Nick, how emotional was it?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There were some tears. There were some dry eyes. There were some people who were still very -- those emotions were very raw in there, Miguel. In fact, the church, don't know if you can tell from those pictures, but it was without power. They were on the dark. It was a very small church. It felt more like a home than anything else. They invited us in. Very generous of them to invite us in there and we spoke with one resident, Miguel, whose storm didn't get damaged by the storm but she herself was still very shaken up by what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LADONNA BORNEMANN, TORNADO SURVIVOR: I did fine Friday night and yesterday but when I got here, the tears just started flowing. This is where I want to be. The tornado (INAUDIBLE), we know, just hit just about a mile and a half from my house. I was in my above-ground storm shelter and I stayed safe. But so much so close is gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Ladonna was one of about 50 people that went to church earlier this morning. She was -- she is an insurance agent and she is getting a lot of calls, Miguel, from people in the community who have been dealing with homes lost, damage, valuables lost. So, she says that really has had a hard impact on her.

MARQUEZ: It is so difficult. Everything that they own disappears in a split second. What was the pastor's message? How can he console people?

VALENCIA: Well, he was saying, you know, I asked him a very tough question. You know this from our reporting here and from being here in Oklahoma. It is very faith-based community. I asked him, how do you keep your faith in a time like this? These are natural disasters that they say are created by God. He said this is all part of God's plan. It is a renewable by Mother Nature, he says. And it is more important now than ever to keep faith and every one of the people we spoke to in that church still has a very strong faith and that's what they are holding on to right now to get them through -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Nick Valencia for us in Oklahoma. Thank you very much.

And more sad news out of Oklahoma. Fire officials tell us that four more bodies were recovered last night and this morning. Officials say families tried to find shelter from the tornadoes in storm drains. Then they got caught in the flash floods. Officials also tell us that they are searching for more people who are missing, including children.

The severe weather threat now moves to the east coast and Karen Maginnis joins us in the severe weather center.

Karen, what are we looking at?

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We have got some high winds, heavy downpours and they're saying that in a (INAUDIBLE), I'm sure I'm not saying that correctly, but in Maine, they are seeing some of the wettest ground as they have seen in 100 years. Three inches of rainfall from two separate rounds and thunderstorms and the temperatures now have dramatically cooled. I just looked at this about an hour ago. And temperatures were well into the 80s, even some 90s across sections of New England, specifically into Maine. Lots of lightning and some high winds. Wind gusts up to 65 miles an hour. There is a severe thunderstorm watch which continues from eastern New York, extending on up towards Maine.

This goes until 8:00 tonight and as you can see, there is another round of rain that you are expecting across this region, even into New Hampshire and through the mountains we are expecting some gusty winds and lots of rainfall there expected as well.

We don't have any watches further south but that doesn't mean the weather is not going to really rip up here as we start to watch some thunderstorms encroach across the Atlanta metropolitan area, also headed towards Charlotte and into the western edge of North Carolina. So, watch out for some gusty winds and some heavy downpours.

Now, in St. Louis, they saw between five and ten inches of rainfall. The rivers are filling up, not just the Mississippi, all the rivers around the Midwest. And we could see the fourth record setting levels there probably by Tuesday, possibly into Wednesday.

Take a look at this. These are the signatures of just how much rainfall was observed from the round of storms that moved across that region as we saw last Friday. Another big story is the fires across the west with the searing heat. We will talk about that in the next hour. And cool weather conditions in Oklahoma City today. Right now the temperature is 71.

Back to you, Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Watch the skies and your feet. Thank you, Karen Maginnis.

The mother of a dying little girl says the Obama administration is choosing to let her daughter die. Here is why. The 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan has been waiting for a year for a lung transplant she desperately needs to live, but the policy requires children to be at least 12 before they can qualify for an adult lung.

On Friday health secretary Kathleen Sibelius refused to intervene and instead ordered the transplant guidelines to be reviewed. Sarah's mother says that's not enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET MURNAGHAN, DAUGHTER NEEDS LUNG TRANSPLANT: I have a lot of faith that we've affected great change for children in the future. But for children to die, they're still dying, and secretary Sibelius is going to allow that to continue. It is in her authority but she has chosen to let my daughter die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Sarah's mother is now making a direct plea for anyone to donate a lunge in Sarah's name. The health and human services department says it is very sympathetic to the situation and aims to be fair.

Six U.S. members of Congress are winding down a week in Russia. They concluded that the U.S. and Russia could have worked better together to try to prevent the Boston marathon bombings. Russian officials said they believe that bombing suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his mother had had radical beliefs before they came to the U.S.

And an unusual twist action Steven Seagal says, he arranged for several meeting between U.S. lawmakers and Russian officials. In Turkey, thousands of people are clashing with police in Istanbul. Medics are taking away the wounded.

Anti-government demonstrators have been clashing with police and fired back with water cannons and teargas. The situation in Turkey is developing quickly. More protests have been reported around the country.

Our senior international correspondent Ivan Watson is in Istanbul.

Ivan, sounds like these things are flaring up again.

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Miguel, I'm having a little trouble hearing you. But I'm maybe about a mile away from the scare which was the battleground for 36 hours from Friday to Saturday between riot cops and demonstrators.

That place is controlled by demonstrators. I'm next to a big soccer stadium where there is a crowd of, I would estimate, thousands of thousands of -- more than 10,000 predominantly young demonstrators who have been pushing up against police barricades trying to get to the office in Istanbul of the Turkish prime minister. And they have been pelted with teargas canisters, with water cannons and the crowd has been screaming "resign, resign." The unrest certainly is not over in Istanbul and it has spread in the last 48 hours to at least four or five other key Turkish cities -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Ivan, Turkey obviously a very, very close ally to the U.S. in an area that we like having an ally in. The Turkish prime minister, Erdowan, he was democratically elected. Is he really in trouble from these demos?

WATSON: Well, these are certainly the biggest street protests I have seen against Erdowan in more than ten years that his party has been in power here. He does enjoy votes from the majority of the Turkish population. Had he more than 50 percent of the votes in the last election. But it is clear that his had governing style and perhaps his rhetoric and some of his policies really angered a certain urban segment of society that finally feels it has no other recourse explode but with violence and anger out in the street with many complaining that the media's too tightly cold and sensor by the government.

And that in the past, when they have tried to hold protests, they get attack by the riot police so that frustration that's been bubbling for years now is really exploding into the streets and the Turkish prime minister, who is such a close U.S. ally, he has taken a page from some of the books of some of the other real dictators of the Middle East by using excessive use of force from the police to break up these demonstrators. And he has referred to the demonstrators as basically vandals and marginal groups refusing to concede that this could be broad sector of society that is deeply unhappy.

MARQUEZ: And I want to point out that we are looking at live pictures right now of Taksim Square in Istanbul where clearly, the police are lining up, the protesters themselves are seemingly gathering and milling about a lot of people out in the streets very late right now. A developing situation, this seems to have overwhelmed the government and caught them by surprise, yes?

WATSON: It did because what is ridiculous about this, Miguel, is it started with the couple dozen protesters holding a (INAUDIBLE) in a park last Monday. That they didn't want demolished by the government to make a shopping mall. And the police kept attacking those people who are basically picnicking in the grass with peppers spray and water cannons. And the images of particularly one of a young woman in the red dress being sprayed in the face by a cop, has been part of what has organized and triggered this massive out war of outrage from the people here. Perhaps, if they those measures enough had taken, three and four days ago, you wouldn't have the biggest street protest and riots we have seen in this country in more than a decade.

MARQUEZ: Amazing. Ivan Watson, you and your crew, stay safe out there.

A top Republican claims top IRS officials in Washington are behind the tax targeting scandal and not a couple of rogue employees in Ohio. But, do they have the evidence to prove it? The story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: On Capitol Hills this week, the Republican-led house will turn up the heat on the IRS and the White House holding several hearings. The focus is the targeting of conservative groups and its extracurricular activities like this.

(VIDEO CLIP PAYING)

MARQUEZ: Thousands of dollars spent on events like this, teaching IRS workers how to dance the cupid shuffle, for instance, for a 2010 conference. Candy Crowley anchor of "STATE OF THE UNION" joins us now.

You had Darrel Issa on your show today. He is a powerful chairman of the house oversight committee. He says Washington coordinated the targeting. What's he basing it that on?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: They have begun to interview some of the folks that were in a Cincinnati office that was. At the beginning, the IRS was saying this was a, you know, a couple of front lines of Cincinnati who did this. They are finding at least hints that the actual order to target any kind of organization that was applying for tax exempt status that had the name tea party or patriot in it and to kind of pull them out for extra scrutiny, the folks that they have talked to -- we saw at least portions of the transcripts of those interviews said that they believed and felt that the orders for that came from Washington.

But I specifically asked Darrel Issa if he had that direct link, if someone said, yes, so and so from this office called us and said we want you to target tea party and patriot type groups. They don't have that. They will continue to look. MARQUEZ: Also from your show, here's an example of just how nasty things are getting in Washington. Issa even called out the president's press secretary, Jay Carney.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CHAIRMAN, HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Their paid liar, their spokesperson, picture behind, he is still making up things about what happens in calling this local rogue. There's no indication -- the reason that Lois Learner tried to take the fifth is not because there's a rogue in Cincinnati. It's because this is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of Washington headquarters and we're getting to proving it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: It is an extraordinary claim. How far can Republicans push this?

CROWLEY: It is interesting, because in the same interview, I don't know if you recall, but congressman Issa and attorney general Eric Holder have had quite the relationship. I think it is pretty fair to say that at least publicly they have been outright hostile to each other when it has been witnessed congressmen.

I asked had him, given some of what attorney general Holder has said under oath, whether he thought Eric Holder had lied, he stepped around that. I asked him if he thought Eric Holder should resign and he said well that's up to the president.

So, he took this hard pot shot at spokesman -- at the president's spokesman but is not at the attorney general. I mean the power is not in the White House spokesman. It was a cheap shot. And you get those when tensions run high. But they firmly believe -- certainly the congressman firmly believes that the White House has been sort of leaning on this idea that rogue agents were out there and had nothing to do with any kind of plan from Washington, D.C. That's what he was talking about specifically. But it was kind of a hard, cheap shot. Yes.

MARQUEZ: Sounds like we are in for a long, hot summer, OK. A lot to keep your eyes on this week in Washington. Candy Crowley, thank you very much.

CROWLEY: Thanks.

MARQUEZ: Just days before the George Zimmerman murder trial gets under way, attorneys will be battling it out in court, fighting over a 911 tape that could prove critical to the case. Hear why after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: We had some big decisions handed down earlier this week in the George Zimmerman case. A judge ruled that Zimmerman's attorney cannot use parts of Trayvon Martin's past in their defense. Specifically, drug use, familiarity with guns and possible past fights.

I want to bring in Joey Jackson. He is HLN's legal analyst, and Wendy Murphy. She is a former prosecutor and author of the book, "And Justice for Some."

Joey, the judge left some legal room if Zimmerman's attorneys can show relevancy they may be able to introduce some of the testimony at some point?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Sure. Good afternoon, Miguel and Wendy.

What happens is the judge had to leave wiggle room because what happens in these instances is you can open the door. That's something to say that for example, although not admissible, any instances of past conduct, suspension histories, text mess angst where he likes guns or he's talking about gun use, drug use, none of that comes in.

However, if character is put at issue, then it may come in so the door is open there. But quite frankly, Miguel, I thought the judge in making this ruling did the defense a favor. The days of when the victim is on trial are done and passed. I think the jury is not concerned about, you know, let's talk about and damage Trayvon Martin and say he was a bad person. They are concerned about the critical moments that led to the death, his death. That's what has to be proven by the state, that George Zimmerman acted in a criminally responsible way that rises to the level of second degree murder. And I think that should be the focus as opposed to muddying up the victim in the case.

MARQUEZ: I know the defense is saying that. I'm not entirely convinced they agree with you.

But Wendy, how are you? An audio expert is expected to testify they heard Trayvon Martin say I'm begging you in the background call of the 911 call just before George Zimmerman shot martin. How important would that testimony be?

WENDY MURPHY, FORMER PROSECUTOR: You know, it's hard to tell because, although an expert may be allowed to testify, the jury's going to use its own senses, too. And if they listen and hear screaming and they decide that the voice is not Trayvon Martin, but in fact is George Zimmerman, which they may well decide, then it doesn't matter what an expert says. And what they are going to do in my opinion is compare the "who was screaming" evidence to what the injuries indicate.

And let's remember, Trayvon Martin wasn't injured except for the fatal shot, George Zimmerman had a lot of body injuries. Will they hear that expert testimony and give it maybe some consideration? No doubt about it. But when the defense says come on, use your common sense, you listen to the tape, you think about it, who's the one screaming? The one with the injuries or the one without, I don't know. It is not a slam-dunk bit of evidence in my opinion for the prosecution.

MARQUEZ: And I want to ask you, obviously a very big case, a very public case, a very emotional case and a case that just about everyone's heard of getting a jury sat is going to be tough. I want to ask you both about it.

Joey, how tough is it going to be and how much time it is going to take?

JACKSON: Sure. I think it could take some time, Miguel. Because you know, it is a case that you mentioned, that really, is not only in Sanford, Florida and Florida in general, but across the country. And not only have people heard about it, but people have strong opinions one way or the other.

And so, the issue is not so much people who have heard or haven't heard. But the issue is can you impanel a jury even who has heard about it who can keep an open mind, who can keep some perspective and not let outside influences really creep in their thinking.

And finally, Miguel, we deal with the honor system in America and in an American justice. And courts constantly admonish juries, listen, when you go home, don't read anything, don't hear anything, don't speak to anyone and we respect that process.

So if you can get a jury that could be objective, I think you can impanel one and they could really listen to the evidence, entertain both sides and render a verdict which is just and fair and that's all we can ask at the end of the day.

MARQUEZ: Wendy, how do you see jury selection going down in this case?

MURPHY: I think the jury selection process is probably the most important piece of this case. Look, even jurors who think they are fair and believe sincerely that they can listen to the evidence and they won't bring their own biases to the table, the fact is, especially when it comes to things like racism, we don't even know how to recognize those things in ourselves.

So you can bet the prosecution is going to be mindful of the fact that whatever you think about the evidence, there are lots of people in this country who think Trayvon Martin was followed, targeted, profiled, and ultimately killed because of his skin color. And if there is a juror who feels that emotion, even if they don't think they do, that's the juror who could make or break the prosecution's case. That is also a juror who could pose problems for the defense even if they're trying to be fair.

MARQUEZ: Well, that is the big question. This has been tried in the media to such a large degree.

Both of you, Joey, do you think it is winnable for the defense?

JACKSON: I mean it certainly could be and here's why I say that. A lot of focus, of course, from the prosecution's perspective will be placed upon the bad judgment of George Zimmerman in stepping out of his vehicle and disobeying the law enforcement and the 9/11 operator, really, who said look, we don't need your help. Go away, so to speak. And he pursued him anyway. But what is going to be add issue of the critical moment that led to this unfortunate tragedy and that comes down to two things. Number one, was he in imminent fear of his life? And number two, was the force used proportionate to any threat that he felt? So if he could establish and based upon injuries, we know he was injured. He was cuts, lacerations to his head. He has a broken or bloody nose. If he can do that, he does have a shot to prevail.

MARQUEZ: Counsels, I will have to leave it there. Thank you both very much.

JACKSON: Thank you, Miguel.

MURPHY: You got it.

JACKSON: Take care, Wendy.

MARQUEZ: A deadly tornado in Oklahoma takes many people by surprise, including experienced storm chasers. Find out why this tornado was unusual and especially dangerous.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: We now know that three storm chasers were among the dead after a series of tornadoes hit Oklahoma. Crews towed away the car those three storm chasers were in today. Can you see, it is crushed almost beyond recognition? They are just a few of the people who see tornadoes all the time. But suddenly found themselves in really bad situations. The weather channel's storm chase car tossed like a toy, Mike Bettes and his team lucky to survive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BETTES, THE WEATHER CHANNEL: What is it that you thought about when you were up there?

A near-death experience for him but three other experienced storm chasers lost their lives. Tim Samaras, his son Paul and teammate Carl Young were all killed near Reno, Oklahoma. Soledad O'Brien spoke to Tim Samaras in 2004.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How close was too close?

TIM SAMARAS, STORM CHASER: The tornado was about 100 yards and closing.

O'BRIEN: How fast do they close on you?

SAMARAS: This particular tornado is moving about 15 to 20 miles an hour.

O'BRIEN: Wow.

SAMARAS: Yes. In fact, we can see telephone poles being ripped out of the ground and absorbed into the tornado as I did the first drum.

BETTES: Brandon Sullivan and his storm chasing team also had a close call.

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): You OK?

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): Yes.

BETTES: They survived not a scratch but there were some very scary moments. In a massive storm spotting, a series of tornadoes most of the nine people killed died in their cars.

GOV. MARY FALLIN, OKLAHOMA: One of the things we think happened this week with all the congestion on the roads is that people were out trying to find other buildings and places to go to.

BETTES: Another hard lesson in this season of storms, unless you are certain you can make it to a safe place, better to shelter where you are than to try to outrun a tornado no matter how fast or supped up your car may be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Chad Myers joins us live now in Reno. Chad, this storm surprised so many of those people who do this for a living. Why? How could this have happened?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, we were about seven miles south of this location, El Reno. As the storm continued to develop, it was traveling just a little bit to the south and east. Then it turned hard left and moved northeast, came across this area and turned south again. It was a wobbler and it was big. I can tell you there is damage a mile wide here. It may not be the f-4, f-5 that Moore was, but the damage is widespread.

I'm standing in a park; it is actually a technology park. We should have cars parked here, but we have airplanes parked here. This tech center would be telling kids how to work on this. Here's the front. Here's the motor. There's the wing. Here's the fuselage. I don't know where the tail is, it is not even attached. But just as I walked by this plane, I can see it, it says right there, wing goes here. So the kids know where to put the wing. Unfortunately, the wing that was attached is over there and there is the landing gear as well, the retractable gear over there.

This area is a mess. I can tell you right now that maybe EF-3 but I'm thinking you're almost all the way up to the EF4 damage here, somewhere 160 or 170 miles per hour to do the damage we see here to this buildings and also the surrounding buildings in this area.

MARQUEZ: Chad, was it also a function of just how many storms got spun out by this wide thing? It is a very wide system and a lot of tornadoes all at the same time? Yes or tornadoes all at the same time?

MYERS: Kind of. Kind of suction spots. They're called vortices. And we saw that and as soon as it touched down, one was vortice going this one, and then another one that would develop kind of rotating around each other. So there were these fingers going around this tornado causing this multi-vortex tornado. These fingers as they wrapped around were on the ground in separate places catching these storm chasers off guard.

I think the left-hand turn made a big difference on how this thing was chased as well and why people were killed and why people were injured in their vehicles. A vehicle is not the place to be in any tornado, especially a big one like that. Those men doing their job, those field scientists out there doing their jobs were killed in the process and we all mourn their loss.

MARQUEZ: Chad Myers, thank you very much.

She captured the hearts of millions of Americans playing Edith on "All in the Family." The unforgettable life and career of actress Jean Stapleton just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: It is a major loss for those of us who grew up with her work. Actress Jean Stapleton has died at her home in New York. She was 90 years old. Many of you knew Stapleton as her role as Archie Bunker's wife in the legendary 1976 sitcom "All in the Family." You will remember it was a show that tackled social issues like racism, sexuality and more. Her children tell us their mother passed away peacefully of natural causes.

Here is a look back at Stapleton's life and extraordinary career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL O'CONNOR, "ALL IN THE FAMILY:" Boy the weakling Miller played.

JEAN STAPLETON, ACTRESS: Songs that made the hit parade.

O'CONNOR: Guys like us we had it made.

O'CONNOR, STAPLETON: Those were the days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: That familiar tune from the 1970s.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'CONNOR: Where is your mother? Edith! Edith!

STAPLETON: Hello, Archie, how was your day?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Jean Stapleton played the lovable and daffy Edith, the wife of Archie Bunker on the ground-breaking 1970s sitcom, "All in the Family."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'CONNOR: Get the supper on the table!

STAPLETON: We're going to eat out tonight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Here she tells Larry King that she took a buy-out and never made residuals on the show.

STAPLETON: I've never had a regret? Why should I dwell on that? I benefited daily from having done that role and basking in its success. And everything I do is because I gained recognition and some understanding of what I do from that experience.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Stapleton won many fans, three Emmys and two Golden Globes for that role. The show took chances that no one else did at the time, like having the sound of a toilet flush and addressing touchy topics like racism.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STAPLETON: Archie said he never thought he'd see the day when coloreds and whites would be hugging and kissing coast to coast.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Stapleton was a New Yorker through and through, born in the city and she died of natural causes at her home there on Friday. Stapleton was a stage veteran before she got into TV. Her mother was an opera singer and she also sang playing next to Barbara Streisand in the Broadway sensation "Funny Girl."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STAPLETON: I tell you, it is the most rewarding experience every single night to hear that laughter and to respond to it as an actor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Stapleton had two children who both have their own careers in television.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'CONNOR, STAPLETON: Those were the days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Well joining me now from Los Angeles, host of "Larry King Now" on Aura TV, the legend himself, Larry King. Larry, you interviewed Jean Stapleton. What do you remember most about that interview?

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE" (voice over): How gracious she was and how honest she was and how open she was, as you saw in that little clip there, when she was just thrilled to get the part. That didn't bother her a great deal about residuals. She knew it made her much more famous than she ever thought she would be. She was a grand lady and a multi-talented person. She could sing. A lot of people didn't know that. Did a lot of Broadway musicals. She won Tony's. Of course see put a stamp on one role, Mrs. Bunker, that made her forever known as one of the true legends of American television.

MARQUEZ: Yes, we should point out she was a much better singer than Edith Bunker in that start to the sitcom.

KING: Yes. Yes.

MARQUEZ: That show, "All in the Family," it went to all sorts of places with social issues. How did her role specifically play a part?

KING: Well, she was -- had to play off Carol O'Connor. She was also on with us on CNN the night Carol died. O'Connor was the main plug of that show. Very similar to the ancient "Honeymooners" where Gleason was the central character and Alice, the wife had to play off him.

Edith had to play off Carol O'Connor and she often had to play kind of sort of an idiot but she really wasn't an idiot. Then as the seasons went on, they gave a lot more depth to her. She -- the time that she would have illnesses and she would have growth, and then she became a feminist which shock Archie.

So she had to grow with the part as well. You put a stamp on a role as she did -- and that show started in Britain. Originally "Till Death do us Part" as a British show. Came over to the United States and it wasn't a hit initially a lot of people don't know that. But they tinkered with it, it moved from one network to another.

It was originally ABC, wound up on CBS. It failed in its first winter. They held on to it and played it in the summer reruns. It became a hit. Then of course, became number one show for five straight years.

MARQUEZ: Amazing. Larry King, on a truly historical role. Thank you very much for joining us, Mr. King. We love Larry King.

KING: Love you, baby. Thanks.

MARQUEZ: A shocking loss for singer Bruno Mars as well today. A representative for the star says the star's mother Bernadette Hernandez has died of a brain aneurism as a hospital in Hawaii. She was just 55 years old. Mars' mother is credited with encouraging her son's love of music.

Reinventing your life after 50. Two over-50 stars team up to help older Americans launch their second act.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: So if 50 is the new 30, a lot of us are not slowing down any time soon. The old concept of retiring is shifting with many folks starting second or third careers later in life. Laurie Segall is here to tell us what a new push by the AARP to help people launch a second act.

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Miguel. The AARP is launching a campaign to help you achieve your goals later in life. It is called Life Reimagined. And they've also signed on some heavy hitters who have transformed their own careers over the last decade. I sat down with Grammy Award winning musician Emilio Estefan and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. They gave me an inside look at the site that's really aimed at helping people through those transitions later in life. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN MARINO, FMR. MIAMI DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK: It is going to help people just move through life in different ways and what's next in your life and it is a lifestyle, it is information, it is a lot of things that elderly people or people who just want information about different things that they need to do in life, it's there for them.

SEGALL: People are going through big life transitions and they can go to "Life Reimagined" and they can just get a little bit of help with that. How do they get help?

EMILIO ESTEFAN, MUSICIAN: Now more than ever. We go through difficult times, that's when they came for me. I said this is a great opportunity to help people.

MARINO: They are a social network. Inside it. Say are you a retired fireman and you are looking for something you want to do in the next step in your life; you can connect with all the other firemen that might be thinking about the same things or -- that's just an example.

SEGALL: You guys have both had such rich careers. All right. You guys have lots of resources and lots of people surrounding you. Is this second act you giving back to people and helping people try to have almost a community that you guys have built?

MARINO: I've been very fortunate. We both have. A lot of us in business have. I played until I was 38 years old. After that it's like what's next for me.

ESTEFAN: We are perfect examples. My business being in the music business, even I won 19 Grammys, the whole situation with the downloading, the whole business was going a different direction. I have to re-invent myself in a way to buy restaurants or buy hotels and do films, television, and documentaries.

SEGALL: What is your "Life Reimagined" look like?

MARINO: Well, as it's going on, I would think that it's trying to make myself better as a person, make myself better as a professional in everything that I'm doing, try to change people's lives in a positive way.

SEGALL: How about you?

ESTEFAN: Something I think as an immigrant, you learn to re-invent yourself. Coming, I was a kid that I left Cuba looking for freedom; get my family out of Cuba. So I learn a lot of things. But I think to me, it is to live life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SEGALL: Miguel obviously these guys, entrepreneurs, constantly reimaging their own careers. I should also mention, Estefan and Marino are paid spokesman for the AARP.

Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Thank you very much, Laurie.

People from Joplin, Missouri and Moore, Oklahoma are paying it forward helping tornado victims in Oklahoma who helped them two years ago. Their emotional reunion next.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta and this is CNN.

MARQUEZ: When a powerful EF-5 tornado hit the town of Moore, Oklahoma about two weeks ago, volunteers from all over the country joined the recovery efforts. We were there when the tornado victims from Joplin, Missouri showed up to help Oklahomans who were there for them when the EF-5 tornado tore through their town two years earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice over): An emotional reunion. Powerful tornadoes bringing together families of Moore and Joplin.

(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): So glad you guys are OK.

MARQUEZ: Summer Milton, eight months pregnant, her home heavily damaged in Moore. Two years ago she organized relief supplies for Erin Stevens who lost her home in the Joplin tornado. CNN was there.

ERIN STEPHENS, TORNADO SURVIVOR: I can't do it again. It was too much. It is a miracle. It is god alone that we are alive.

MARQUEZ: She and her family including Isabella, then just 19 months old, rode out the category 5 storm in the bathtub.

STEPHENS: You could feel the house trying to lift. Then our tub after two yanks we flipped over and started flying. There was six of us, including our 19-month-old daughter in the tub and we just held on for dear life.

MARQUEZ: Erin Stephens and her family back on their feet are returning the favor.

STEPHENS: It was the same people who brought stuff to us and helped us out just lost their house. The exact same people. We are just paying it forward. MARQUEZ: Two cities, two families tied together by tragedy. Erin's mother Kathy Mason not only lost her home two years ago but her sister perished in a tornado that claimed 161 lives.

VOICE OF KATHY MASON, ERIN STEPHENS' MOTHER: With every trial and tribulation that we go through, it makes us stronger, it grows our faith in God.

MARQUEZ: Kathy still lives in Joplin but with friend's high and housing stock low after the storm, Erin moved an hour east to Springfield. Despite the distance, they are closer than ever.

MASON: We are more aware of each other's needs. We're more aware of each other's feelings.

STEPHENS: I feel like when you go through a trial like this you don't really have any other option but to become closer and stronger.

MARQUEZ: The hard lessons of tornado alley. Now shared and shouldered by families who know today's pain and the hardships to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE) N

MARQUEZ: Now Joplin was just hammered by that EF-5 tornado and the city says it is now 85 percent, perhaps 90 percent back. Their recommendation to folks in Oklahoma -- one step at a time. And they will eventually get there.

When a tornado hits, a car is not the safest place to be. Here's why. A car cannot withstand the power of a twister. Coming up we'll show what you to do if you're stuck in a car when a tornado closes in.

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