David Rossin from Commonwealth Edison and McKinley Olson, a reporter and author of "Unacceptable Risk", debate the pros and cons of nuclear energy.

David Halberstam, writer and historian, talks about his book, "The Fifties." The conversation includes Brown v. Board of Education, atomic weapons, the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, consumerism, birth control, suburbs, television and the start of the counterculture. Halberstam reads several passages from his book.

David Farber discusses his book “Chicago ‘68” and reflects on the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Studs plays “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” - Phil Ochs (1965) and “Days of Decision” - Phil Ochs (1965). This interview features a clip of a previous interview Studs had with an unnamed Chicago police officer who describes his opinion on police brutality.

Daniel Yergin, author and economic historian, discusses his book, "Shattered Peace: The Origins of the Cold War and the National Security State." He explains the key players in the Cold War and his thoughts on the Yalta and Riga Axioms. Yergin also explores the end of World War II and other events that led to the tensions between US and the Soviet Union.

Discussing the book "The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America" and interviewing the author Professor Daniel Boorstin.

Discussing the book "Fanny Wright: rebel in America" with the author Celia Morris Eckhardt.

Non-fiction author Carl Smith discusses his latest work which focuses on the history of Chicago. Topics covered include labor movements, specifically the Pullman strike and the 1970's case trial with the Chicago Seven.

Blanche Wiesen Cook, historian, professor, and author discusses her book, "The Declassified Eisenhower," and explains Eisenhower's peace and war beliefs. She describes his beliefs at the end of World War II and his relationships with fellow generals and leaders.

Commemorating the centennial of the Haymarket Square Riot, or Haymarket Affair, are authors and historians Bill Adelman, Paul Avrich, Carolyn Ashbaugh, and the grandson of Haymarket defendant Oscar Neebe, Bill Neebe. The interveiwees create a timeline of the events leading up to the Haymarket Riot including the German immigrants living situations, unions and strikes, police brutality and corruption. The group also lays out the events from May 1st to May 5th and then the following corrupt trials.

The journalist, writer, and editor discusses her book, First Person America, which documents over 80 oral histories from the time of the Federal Writers' Project, which was part of the Works Progress Administration.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Anita Miller and Jeanne Madeline Weimann discuss their book, The Fair Women, published in 1981, a book that talks about the women's role in the World's Columbian Exposition, especially in the creation of the Women's Building.

The American history professor and author talks with Studs about her book, Days of Hope: Race and Democracy in the New Deal Era. This program also includes excerpts of interviews from Terkel's Hard Times series.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

The military's attitude toward gay people is what's covered in Allan Berube's book, "Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II." For some people, hiding their true identity was necessary because they would have been discharged by the military.