a man is suspected of robbing $65 million in jewelry. no. 3, an extortion case involving one of college basketball's best known and most successful coaches. what did he say to the cops? what are the police saying? all that is coming up. the biggest item of the day as this one, it has to do with these people in blue and the fact that alabama and lsu are below them. first, it is shaping up to be a long, hot fight in health care reform. they are hosting a town hall meetings and running into angry constituents. these are going on across the country. we are following them throughout the day and into the evening. we have learned that no one knows what is going to happen at these events. demonstrators in the positive and negative are showing up and getting into each other's faces. lost amidst a yelling seems to be what health care reform would actually look like. there have been a lot of false rumors, which does not bode well for the people in favor of reform, but the white house says that that is no problem. >> i am sure there are communications experts that would tell you that if someone explains to you that you are losing, i think that the president believes that these town halls provide an excellent opportunity to explain his ideas and principles. more importantly, if he can affect misinformation by telling people what is not in a piece of legislation, he will take that opportunity. shepard: the president will have many of those opportunities, and we will be watching him very closely. let's start with major garrett, at the white house this hour. apparently the president misspoke about health care reform yesterday? >> the president tried to describe what he called a myth yesterday. he said that there are no deep medicare cuts and that seniors should not be worried. for proof, aarp, he said, had reduced the health care reform bill. in fact, they did not endorse any bill. in his misinformation -- in trying to fix misinformation, he wound up peddling his own. they are generally satisfied that they would not have a negative effect on seniors. as far as the overall health care debate itself, aarp has not endorsed any of them. for that reason, they say that the president, whether he intended to or not and inaccurately described the aarp and where it stands on the debate. shepard: there was a very calm nature to the audience yesterday at the president's town hall meeting. >> that is correct. you could sign up on the web site, tickets were given out by a randomly computer-generated lottery. there are a lot of democratic activists in certain regions. robert gibbs said that it was pretty tame, that the president would have liked for something feistier, but that it was not because the white house preselected the crowd. shepard: we are waiting for a ceremony to begin at the white house. 16 individuals, receiving the medal of freedom. the president will distribute the metals to a number of individuals, one of the highest honors in all of the land. the president will speak for a short time. medal of freedom award, coming up in a few minutes. first, the president takes seat in the news media and lawmakers are seeing and hearing a lot of angry people. there has been shouting and shoving, one man accused senator ben cardin of a crime. look at this. >> i charge you with usurping authority not granted to you as a united states senator. shepard: he charged him. arlen specter has seen his share of angry constituents after a town hall of an. he said that the rowdy protesters are not representative of the american people. arlen specter said that they deserved to have their views heard. carl cameron's has been scrambling today, he is in iowa. now we are seeing republicans get some heat in the town hall meetings. what is happening? >> arlen specter, former republican turned democrat. that is all political. chuck grassley is the ranking republican here in iowa. he and two other republicans are still trying to come up with a plan to negotiate. today there was a meeting in the better -- in the middle of the day. he got ia couple of tough questions. here is an example. >> where do my children go to get insurance if they do not want government health care? >> the government will not take over the health care system. >> the crowd loved that. the reason that republicans are suspicious of charles grassley, he could be duped by democrats and he could cut a deal that hurts taxpayers and rejigger it in a way that would undermine patient care. there are big crowd is turning out. just outside of the morning here, the crowd has been so big that they have twice had to change the event site. they were looking at a crowd that was planned for 300 or four -- 300 or 400. several thousand might show up. the fbi unit, as well as a number of organizations are against it, like the tea party group. no bones about organizing to get people here, everyone will get to screaming and have their chances -- have their voices heard. shepard: let's get to afghanistan, where the guns are blazing. marines are launching an air and land assault under taliban control. greg is with them. you will only see this video on fox. >> the marines have been on the ground for four hours now. they say that they have neutralized some, but there are more out there and they're ready to kill. shepard: the offensive is called operation eastern resolve ii. three are told that at least seven militants have been killed. the fighting is meant to root out how -- root out taliban forces. they want to clean things up before the election gets started. from our bureau, conner? >> this is not their largest operation, but they say that it is one of the most important, because the message that sends is one of less violence. violence has increased dramatically and there is a real fear that they will not take place. shepard: part in the interruption. the president has made his way and now we will have the presentation of the medal of freedom. let's listen. >> there are many honors and privileges bestowed on the occupants of this house. if you mean as much to me as the chance toward america's highest civilian medal to these recipients here today. this is a chance for me and for the united states of america to say thank-you to some of the finest citizens of this country and all countries. the men and women honored today have led very different lives, receiving many different degrees. they are pioneers in science and medicine. they have made their mark in the courtroom, the community, and in congress. what unites them is a belief that most, forgive me for those who are not americans, but for what we believe to be those most american of the leaves. that our lives are what we make of them. no barriers of race, gender, or physical infirmity constrain the spirit. -- can constrain the spirit. the recipients of the medal of freedom did not set out to win this, or any other award. they did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches, they set out guided by passion and hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace, and a good name given to them by god. let them stand as an example here in the united states and around the world about what we can achieve in our own lives. let them stand as an example of the difference that can be made in the lives of others. each of their stories stand as an example of a life well lived. one of the last things that susan: did before she passed away with as her sister, nancy, to make her a promise. she said that she would promise help to prevent other families battling breast cancer from being in pain like theirs. what became -- what began as $200 and a campaign of friends has become a race for a cure. in the months after her death, nancy lay awake at night and wondered if one person could barely make a difference. her life is the answer. while he was an intern, a doctor came across a homeless man found by firefighters. he was suffering from tuberculosis. in the days that followed, the man that came to be known as dr. joe learned about the patient's life. deciding that the homeless deserve better, he founded a clinic that offers care to over 4000 homeless patients. a question that he asks of all of us, if we do not fight injustice, who will? professor stephen hawking, a brilliant man and a mediocre student. [laughter] he lost his balance and he tumbled down a flight of stairs. diagnosed with a rare disease, he was told that he had only a few years to live. happily, in the four decades since he has become one of the world's leading scientists. his work in theoretical physics, which i will not attempt to explain here, has advanced our understanding of the universe. his books have advance our understanding of science itself. he has led us on a journey to the farthest and strangest regions of the cosmos. through his imagination, he has shown us the power of the human spirit here on earth. when told he was too small to play college football, jack kemp became a college quarterback. he lead the buffalo bills threw two championships. he said the football gave him a good perspective on politics. that he had already been booed, cut, cheered and traded. [laughter] x me feel better. [laughter] conservative leader, a republican banker, -- a thinker, he was that rare leader, working together to achieve a common goal. a life from which we can all draw lessons. after purchasing and a dollar bracket with money earned from her chores, a 11-year-old billy jean king declared her goal to be the no. 1 tennis player in the world. what we honor are not simply for 12 gland -- grand slam titles and her 57 singles titles, although that is pretty good. [laughter] we honor what she calls all of of the off the court stopped. what she did to broaden the reach of the game, changing how women athletes everywhere viewed themselves. including everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, including my two daughters. giving them a chance to compete on the court and in life. as she once said, billie jean said that we should never underestimate the human spirit. nor should we underestimate her spirit. born and raised in jim-crow alabama, preaching in his blood, reverend joseph lowery is a giant of the lows this generation of civil rights leaders. -- a giant of the meuse this generation of civil rights leaders. -- moses generation of civil rights leaders. he agreed to serve for one year, but wound up serving for 21 year terms. -- 20 1 year terms. [laughter] some people have called him crazy in his life, but one of my favorite sermons of his was that there is a good crazy and there is bad crazy. [laughter] and sometimes you need a little bit of that good crazy to make the world a better place. born just one generation passed the battle of little big horn, the grandson of a scout for general custer himself, dr. joseph maddison crow was the first member of his family to go to college and earned a masters. he served in world war ii. wearing war paint beneath his uniform, a federal beneath his helmet. he completed the four battlefield deeds that made him the last crow war chief. patriot, historian, educator, a good man. dr. maddison crow possible life -- dr. maddison -- made the same -- medicine crow's life is an inspiration. harvey milk, for much of his life he had silenced himself. in the prime of his life he was silenced by the actions of another. in the brief time that he spoke, his voice was an inspiration to millions of people. he would become one of the first openly gay americans open to public office. his message of hope could not ever be silenced. it was harvey that said it best. you have got to give them he hope. when sandra day o'connor graduated from her class in two years instead of three, she was offered just one job. her prospective employer asked her how well she typed and told her that there might be work for her as a legal secretary. i cannot tell how she would have dared as a legal secretary. [laughter] but she made a mighty fine justice of the united states supreme court. [laughter] a judge and arizona legislator, a cancer survivor, a child of the texas planes, sandra day o'connor is like a pilgrim from the poem that she sometimes quotes. it has been said that sydney portier does not make movies, he makes milestones. on screen and behind the camera, his films -- like the defiant ones, guess who is coming to get -- to dinner, uptown saturday night, lilies of the field -- for which he became the first african-american to win an academy award for best actor. shifting attitudes, broadening hearts, revealing the power of the silver screen to bring us closer together. the child of tomato farmers, he once called his driving purpose to make himself a better person. he did in he made us better along the way. dolores conchita figuerora del revero knows the diversity that comes with a difficult name. -- knows the adversity that comes with a difficult name. i can relate. [laughter] known to the world by the name that but up marquees, she had an impossible job. accompanying a nervous classmate on an audition, she auditioned herself. she would become famous as anita in "west side story." that rare performer that can sing, dance, an act, she revealed the rare ability to overcome when she recovered from a car accident that shattered her legs. she won a tony after she took the stage again for "kiss of a spider woman." she has proved that life can be bright in america. mary robinson learned early on what it meant to have her voice heard. as a crusader in ireland, she was the first woman elected president in ireland before becoming president of human rights. -- becoming un president of human rights. today as an advocate for the hungry and the forgotten, she has not only shined a light on human suffering, but has eliminated a better future for us all. after graduating from university school of chicago medicine in 1948, janice wellinghoff got married and gave birth to four sons, making maddison a hobby and family her priority. it was not until she was almost 40 that she took up serious medical research. not until 1 decade later that she discovered, hunched over her table, examining chromosomes that leukemia cells are notable for changes in their genetics, showing that cancer is genetic and transforming how we fight the disease. all of us have been touched by cancer, including my family. we can all be thankful that what began as a hobby became a life's work for janet. the gland in the eye and the lilt in the voice are familiar -- the blind in the eye in the lilt in the voice -- the clinton theglint in the eye are familiar to us all. nelson mandela preached against apartheid. later, when a free south africa if needed a heart big enough to forgive its sense, desmond tutu was called to serve once more. the tribune of the downtrodden and voice of the depressed, he possesses that sense of generosity, that spirit of unity, that essence of humanity that was known simply as [unintelligible] 35 years ago, a young economics professor in bangladesh was struck by the disconnect between the theories that he was teaching in class and the realities of the famine outside. he left the classroom for a village, discovering that $27 would free many from debt. offering himself as a guarantor, he paid off their debts and founded a bank that has dispersed over a billion dollars, lifting millions of people from poverty with micro loans. he was just trying to help a village, but he somehow managed to change the world. there is a story that ted kennedy sometimes tells about a boy that sees an old man tossing starfish stranded by a receding tide back into the sea. there are so many, asks the boy. what difference in your efforts possibly make? the old man studies the starvation in his hand and throws it to safety, saying that it makes a difference to that one. for nearly half of a century, ted kennedy has been walking along that beach, making a difference for the soldier fighting for freedom, the refugee looking for a way home, senior looking for dignity, the student aspiring to college, the family reaching for the american dream. the life of senator edward kennedy has made a difference for us all. these are the 2009 recipients of the medal of freedom. at a moment when cynicism and doubt too often prevail, our obligations to one and other are too often forgotten. the road ahead can seem too long. these extraordinary men and women, these agents of change know that excellence is not beyond our capabilities, that hope is beyond the corner, and the justice can be won in the forgotten corners of this world. we each have it within us to fulfill the dreams of mothers and remake the world for our children. it is now my distinct an extraordinary honor to ask each of them to come forward to receive their awards as a military aid reads their citation. [applause] [applause] >> nancy brinker has transformed the nation's approach to get breast cancer. when her sister was diagnosed in 1977, most breast cancer victims knew very little about the disease, suffering from popular stigmas. she brought a promise to challenge these reforms, fighting for the cure in the honor of her sister. today the organization supports research and community awareness across the united states and around the world. nancy brickner's mimi passion and determination have been a blessing to the lives of all of those touched by breast cancer. [applause] pedro jose greer jr. dr. pedro "joe" jr. has devoted his career to improving medical services for the homeless and the uninsured. he founded the chc in 1984. today they treat thousands of homeless patients every year, serving as a model clinic for the aspiring physicians everywhere who want to work with indigenous populations. his contribution to the south florida community and nation as a whole stand as a shining example of the difference that one person can make in the lives of many. [applause] stephen hawking. persistent in his pursuit of knowledge, he has unlocked new pathways of discovery, inspiring people around the world. he has dedicated his life to exploring the fundamental laws that govern the universe. he has contributed to some of the greatest scientific discoveries of our time. his work has stirred the imagination of experts and leipersons alike. his attitude and achievements inspire hope, intellectual curiosity, and respect for the tremendous power of science. [applause] [applause] joanne kemp, excepting on behalf of her husband, jack -- accepting on behalf of her husband, jack kemp. as a statesman and a sports icon, he fought for his beliefs with unwavering integrity and honesty. he earned the respect of admiration and teammates for -- he earned the respect and admiration of his teammates, seeing bridges where others saw the vision. his legacy servers as a shining example for all of those who strive to challenge conventional wisdom, stay true to themselves and better our nation. [applause] kara kenney, accepting on behalf of her father, edward kennedy. for more than four decades, senator edward kennedy has boldly fought for equal opportunity, fairness, and justice for all americans. in his tireless quest for a more perfect union, senator kennedy has strengthened our civil- rights, helped seniors and working families, lifted up the poor, working to ensure that every american has access to quality affordable health care. with volumes of law bearing his name, countless lives touched by his passion, he has accumulated several lifetimes worth of achievement. united states, the recognizes this righteous citizen, that out public servant, and a giant among men. -- righteous citizen, a devout public servant, and a giant among men. [applause] billie jean moffitt king. [applause] through her example and advocacy, billie jean moffitt king has advanced the struggle for greater gender equality around the world. in an age of male dominated sports, her pioneering journey took her from long beach california to the lines of the international tennis hall of fame. her acumen is matched only by her unwavering defense of equal rights. but billie jean king pushing us, the road ahead will be smoother for women, the future will be brighter, and our nation's commitment to equality will be stronger for all. [no audio] [applause] rev. joseph e. lowery. [applause] the rev. joseph e. lowery has marched through life with faith and purpose, carrying with him the legacy of a movement that touched the consciousness of america and changed its history. at the forefront of the major civil rights events of our time, from the bus boycott in montgomery to the protests against apartheid, he has served as a tireless begin for social justice. he co-founded the southern christian leadership found -- conference, championing the cause of freedom and around the world. the united states probably honors this outstanding leader. -- probably honors this outstanding leader. -- proudly honors this outstanding leader. [applause] joseph madison crow -- medicine crow. [laughter] [applause] as a warrior and living legend, history flows after dr. joseph medicine crow. born on a reservation, raised by traditional grandparents, he was the first member of his tribe to earn a master's degree. for his valiant service in world war ii, burned the status of a war chief. his round studies and cultural and historical preservation have been critical to understanding- american history. he is a symbol of strength and survival. his dedication to this country and to all native americans is recognized. [applause] [applause] [inaudible] [applause] [applause] stuart milk, accepting on behalf of his uncle, harvey bernard milk. [applause] harvey bernard milk dedicated his life to shattering boundaries and shattering assumptions. as one of the first openly gay election officials in -- elected officials in this country, he changed the opportunities for gay people in this country. before his tragic death in 1978, he wisely noted that hope will never be silent, calling upon americans to stay true to the guidance of truth and justice. his voice will forever be in the hearts of those who carry is timeless message. -- kerry his timeless message. -- carry his timeless message. [applause] sandra day o'connor. [applause] sandra day o'connor has paved the way for millions of women to achieve their dreams. completing law school in just two years, graduating third in her class at a time when women rarely enter the legal profession. with grace and humor, tenacity and intelligence, she became the first woman on the united states supreme court. her historic tenure on the court was defined by her integrity and independence. she has earned the nation's lasting gratitude for it -- for her and valuable contribution to history and the law. -- for her in valuable contribution to history and law. [applause] sydney portier. [applause] ambassador and actor, he has left an indelible mark on american culture. rising from the tomato farms of the bahamas, his talent led him to broadway, hollywood, and global acclaim. in front of black and white audiences struggling to right the nation's moral conference -- compass, he brought to us the inspiring reconciliation of everyday life. ultimately the man would mirror the character, advancing the nation's dialogue on race and respect. [applause] [applause] chita rivera. [applause] from stage to screen, she has captured america's imagination with her magnetic presence and a brilliant voice. over a half century career she has received numerous accolades for her performances, including two tony awards, nominations, and the kennedy center honor award. as fearless as anita and self- reliant as aurora, she has broken barriers under the lights of broadway and inspired a generation of women to follow in her remarkable footsteps. the united states honors her as one of america's great artists. [applause] mary robinson. [applause] for mary robinson, the fight to end discrimination and suffering is an urgent moral imperative. she has been a trail blazing crusader for women's rights in ireland, an advocate for equality and human rights around the world. whether courageously visiting conflict stricken regions or working to inject concern for human rights into business and economic development, she continues her important work today, urging citizens to make a common cause for justice. [applause] janet davidson raleigh. [applause] dr. janet davidson raleigh was the first scientist to identify a chromosomal translocation as the cause of leukemia and other cancers, considered among the most important medical breakthroughs of the past century. after enrolling at the university of chicago age 15, she went on to challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding cancer in the 19th centuries. her work has proven enormously influential to researchers worldwide, who have used her discoveries to develop targeted therapies that have revolutionized cancer care. the united states honors this scientist for her advancement in genetic research in understanding of our most devastating diseases. -- genetic research understanding of our most devastating disease. [applause] archbishop desmond tutu. [applause] with unflagging devotion to justice, optimism, and an unmistakable sense of humor, the archbishop ohas stirred the world conscious for decades. as a man of the cloth, he has drawn the attention of a diverse congregation. he helped to lead south africa through a turning point in modern history, helping to heal wounds and laid the foundation for a new nation. he has brought hope to those who search for freedom. [applause] [applause] muhammad unis. [applause] with his belief in self-reliance of people, he has altered the face of finance and of entrepreneurship. he struggles with economic theories and the effects of them on the people of his native bangladesh. yearning for a way to lift people out of poverty, he revolutionized banking to allow low-income borrowers access to credit. he has enabled citizens of the world's poorest country to support their families and build profitable businesses, sustaining their community. in doing so he has unleashed avenues of creativity and allowed millions worldwide to imagine their own potential. [applause] [applause] >> before we break up, we should give an extraordinary round of applause. [applause] [applause] shepard: there you go. the medals of freedom for 16 people at the white house today. the news continues now. we have brand new details on a sex scandal involving one of college basketball's biggest names. lou of el -- louisville's coach, giving his accuser thousands of dollars. how did he describe their relationship? the latest on the investigation. that and -- ♪ -- it is a fight song that you did to know around here very well. i would get into the car quickly and run away. we will be right back -- i (announcer) illness doesn't care where you live... ...or if you're already sick... ...or if you lose your job. your health insurance shouldn't either. so let's fix health care. if everyone's covered, we can make health care as affordable as possible. and the words "pre-existing condition" become a thing of the past... we're america's health insurance companies. supporting bipartisan reform that congress can build on. shepard: we will get to pre- season college football in a moment, but today's top story is the heated health care reform debate. at many of the events, the anchor is right up front. here is another example from senator ben cardin's town hall meeting this morning. >> how can we trust you? is there an option to say no to this bill? [yelling] shepard:wow. so far the president has not seen those angry crowds, but he is getting criticism from a group thought to be on his side, aarp. they are taking issue with the endorsement of the health care proposals working their way through congress. charles, good to see you. >> good to see you. shepard: i guess they caught you with the aarp coming back on some stuff? >> president obama is usually pretty cool in big settings like the one that he faced yesterday in that town hall meeting in new hampshire. that is a pretty big mistake to make. not least of all because as soon as he says something like that about aarp, that they have endorsed the plan for health care reform, you know that their phones started ringing of the hook. members were going crazy at the group based on what we know a lot of people feel about the plan being talked about right now. it pushes aarp into a position where they have no choice but to call him out, saying that they will not support this thing right now. shepard: he says that the aarp has been working with democrats and republicans to fix the broken health care system. that they know what everyone knows, that it is broken on some level. and that while the president will lot endorse a bill that will reduce medicare benefits, indications "the date have endorsed any bill -- in -- "indications that we have endorsed any bill is not true." it would not make sense for an organization like that to support any of them, correct? >> you are exactly right. i was amused by the wording of our statement. you can tell that they are trying to let president obama down easy. as you read the words, there is no letting him off easy. they have not come anywhere close to endorsing it. you know, what we saw yesterday at that town hall meeting was a very respectful crowd. you've got a few adversarial questions, but they were incredibly respectful and measured. outside of the hallways of the gymnasium, as fox reported yesterday, the crowd was seeding. hundreds of people have showed up, in a state that supported obama in the general election, people are very furious about this. they are about to snap. shepard: seems like most people are. how did they get there? good question. [laughter] charles, thank you. . grill: holy moly!!! what just hap...whoa! grill: i mean...wow! hey! that looks great. grill: and there's no need to discuss it further. in fact, you can buff most of that out. just give it a once-over with a wet paper towel...hee, hee shepard: it is practically, or he is practically, a legend among coaches. and now, he has admitted to having sex with a woman who accused him of raping her. there was extortion. he told police he had sex with a woman in a restaurant six years ago, but he says it was completely consensual. he also said he paid the woman to get an abortion when she said she was pregnant. this is a picture of the accuser. they say they are no longer investigating the rape complaint due to a lack of evidence on that, and she has pled not guilty to charges of lying to the fbi in trying to extort $10 million from the coach. complicating matters, both he and she are married, and the man on the right with his hands in the air is his equipment manager who he brought with him when he went to louisville. i will put the pride of the south on so you can enjoy that. -- the pride. ♪ here comes our fox news college football preview explosion. used to -- you see these two guys? they are from ole miss. there are gracing the cover of the "sports illustrated" college preview, and they are 8 pick in the "sports illustrated." that is one of the regional coverages -- they are 8 pick in the "sports illustrated -- a pick in the "sports illustrated ." ole miss won its last six games last year with a huge victory in the cotton bowl and over texas tech, a team that was then 11-1 and a wild favorite over houston. there it is. texas, number two, okla., usc. "sports illustrated" has ole miss losing, but the rebels are going 11-one, and they have not ranked as high in 40 years. there is millions of dollars in new facilities and an incredible sense of excitement and oxford. the houston team has expectations through the roof -- excitement in oxford. we have a "sports illustrated" staff writer with us, but, unfortunate, he is in the swap. -- swamp. it is good to see you. >> how are you doing, shep? shepard: how do you see the whole season playing out? >> well, if you give may a hottie tottie? >> they are so strong, your boys are going to have to deal with alabama, lsu, and then, if they get through, probably georgia on the other side. that is an awful lot to ask. there has been a miracle every few times, but your boys may hve a tough -- have a tough row to hoe. shepard: sadly, i am out of time. it is good to see you.