Mike Royko discusses his book "Up Against It" which is a collection of early columns from the Chicago Daily News. The topic in his columns varies from machine politicians and gangsters to professional athletes, from well-heeled Chicagoans to down-and-out hoodlums.

While in Mike Royko's office and hearing typewriters in the background, Royko talks about having received the Heywood Hale Broun Award for outstanding work by a journalist. Ryoko said having to travel to Washington D.C,. to receive the award was part of a let down to the whole thing. After the brief interview w/Royko, Terkel then continues on by reading two articles by Mike Royko and two articles by Heywood Hale Brown.

Studs, author-journalist Mike Royko and Cathy Zmuda discuss and read from Mike's 1973 collection, "Slats Grobnik and Some Other Friends". First half are Slats Grobnik tales; the second half features a variety of columns by Royko. Musical excerpts include the songs "The Twelve Days of Christmas", "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt", "Ma, He Wants to Marry Me", "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)", "Sweet and Low", "America The Beautiful". "Go 'Way From My Window" (performers uncredited).

Discussing Mayor Daley and nepotism in government with Alderman Dick Simpson, and author-journalist Mike Royko. Includes clips of Mayor Daley defending his appointment of Thomas P. Keane, son of Alderman Tommy E. Keane. Also includes Mike Royko reading his column from the "Chicago Daily News" July 22, 1971.

His experiences as a journalist are what's covered in Harrison Evans Salisbury's book, "A Time of Change: A Reporter's Tale of Our Time". Salisbury believed as a reporter, one truly needed to be at the event, in order to obtain the true story. Once Salisbury questioned if he was living in America because he was asked to switch rooms at a hotel in Birmingham, only to find out later that there were special, bugged rooms for reporters.

American author, journalist, and one time New York Times correspondent in Moscow, Harrison Salisbury, discusses his book "The New Emperors: China in the Era of Mao and Deng" They discuss the politics of China and Mr Harrison shares stories of the politicians, and Chinese people he spent time with. Studs shares an excerpt of an interview with physician George Hatem regarding China and her people. The interview closes with; "Che lai" performed by Paul Robeson

British writer and journalist, Anthony Sampson discusses his book, "The Sovereign State of ITT". Mr Sampson converses with Studs about the book, the ITT(International Telephone and Telegraph) Corporation and the weakening of the authority of traditional national governments by the multinational corporations/conglomerates. Mr Sampson, speaks in-depth about Harold Geneen the President CEO of ITT, and his involvement in collusion with the GOP and Richard Nixon to avoid an anti-trust lawsuit with large campaign contributions.

Discussing Vietnam and interviewing Robert Scheer.