Discussing the book "The New Indians" and interviewing the author Stan Steiner.

Author Ross Miller discusses his latest work, which centers around Chicago and the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire and its effects on rebuilding the metropolis and the advantages of gaining a new take on architecture and society.

Robert Vaughn takes time out from his Drury Lane appearance in "Tender Trap" to discuss his new book "Only Victims" with Studs Terkel. The discussion spans the years 1938 when Martin Dies became the first House Committee on Unamerican Activities (HUAC) chairman to Vice President Spiro Agnew's condemnation of the "New York Times" and "Washington Post". Vaughn created the title of his book "Only Victims" from a Dalton Trumbo speech that reflected back on the era of HUAC as being one where there were no heroes, no villains, only victims.

Architectural historian Robert Twombly discusses the biography “Louis Sullivan: His Life and Work.” Referred to by Studs as the architect that most symbolizes Chicago architecture, Louis Sullivan, this program outlines Sullivan’s life as a prominent architect who was one of the first to incorporate nature, or "the organic", into architecture, and who ended his life in poverty. This program includes a clip from 1956 of Frank Lloyd Wright speaking to his contemporaries, indignant, asking what took them so long to recognize Louis Sullivan and his genius in the architectural field?

Interviewing journalist and author Robert Caro about his book "The Years of Lyndon Johnson: volume two: Means of ascent," which details seven years of Lyndon Johnson’s life in the House of Representatives as he tries to climb the political ladder.

In the book, "By the Bomb's Early Light: American Thought and Culture at the Dawn of the Atomic Age," Paul Boyer covers people's feelings and attitudes after the bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. Boyer admits he, himself, when he was a young boy, he sent away for a free atomic ring that was being advertised. The program includes an excerpt of David Lilienthal talking.

In his book, "Make-Believe Presidents: Illusions of Power from McKinley to Carter," Nicholas von Hoffman points out which president(s) had power and which president(s) did not have any power.

Martin Duberman, historian and biographer, discusses his latest work which focuses on the singer, actor, and political activist Paul Robeson. Robeson was known for his performance in Showboat and Emperor Jones.

Laura Fermi discusses Benito Mussolini and her book "Mussolini."

Terkel interviews Jonathan Wordsworth about his great-great uncle William Wordsworth.

Jonathan Spence, author and Yale University history professor, talks about his book "God's Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan." He discusses Hong Xiuquan who believed himself to be the son of God. Spence begins his interview explores how Christianity came to China and how Hong came into contact with its teachings. He explains Hong's belief that the Qing dynasty was an enemy government that needed to be overthrown which led to the Taiping Rebellion.