Discussing the book "Mornings on Horseback" with author David McCullough.

David Hamlin, author and former Executive Director of ACLU, discusses his book "The Nazi/Skokie Conflict: A Civil Liberties Battle." Hamlin talks about Frank Collin, a jewish man turned leader of American Nazi Party leader and the court battle over the right to demonstrate in Skokie, Illinois. He also talks about the retaliation against the ALCU for defending Collin's case in court. At the end of the interview, Hamlin gives some advice on how to deal with people like Frank Collin.

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.

Members of John F. Kennedy's administration are featured in David Halberstam's book, "The Best and the Brightest." Halberstam points out the irony of the title, as some in the administration may not have been the best or the brightest.  As a result of their bad decisions, America got tangled up in the Vietnam War.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations

Dave Dellinger, activist, discusses his book, "More Power Than We Know: The People's Movement Toward Democracy." Dillinger describes his thoughts and past experiences with non-violent protesting. He recalls his experiences with the police during Vietnam War protests and the Trialrial of the Chicago . He also discusses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other well-known protesters.

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.

Who were these ordinary people who killed and what made them do what they did are among the questions answered in Daniel Goldhagen's book, "Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust". Jews were in league with the devil and their alleged evil came from their biology. It was believed, for the good of the country, to get rid of the German threat, the Jews had to be exterminated, according to Goldhagen.

Writer Dan Wakefield discusses his book “Supernation at Peace and War” with Studs Terkel. Further discussion is had over civil unrest, draft dodging, and social injustices during the Vietnam War.

Commemoration of the defunding of the Illinois Writers' Project

Charles M. Hardin, political science professor, discusses his book, "Presidential Power and Accountability: Toward a New Constitution." Hardin discusses presidents from Roosevelt to Nixon and explores political parties and the Constitution and the role both play in the American Government. He explains his studies in political science and how he has come to believe that the Constitution should be re-written and creating more political parties could limit presidential powers, which he believes could cause problems in the future.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault's book, "In My Place," offers Hunter-Gault's experiences with history, namely her being one of only 2 Black students that were allowed to go to the University of Georgia. She talks about liberation and freedom and she recalls what it would have been like for her ancestors to struggle .

Discussing the book "Against Forgetting: Twentieth-Century Poetry of Witness" (published by Norton) with author and poet Carolyn Forche.

Caroline Bird discusses her book, 'Born Female: The High Cost of Keeping Women Down', published in 1968. Studs plays interviews from dissenters of the Women's Liberation Day and Caroline Bird responds. The discussion continues on issues of sexism and the future of the women in the workforce.

Discussing the book "American Ground Zero: The Secret Nuclear War" (published by MIT Press) with author and photographer Carole Gallagher.

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.