Mr. Ridgeway and Studs talk about the energy crisis and the systematic pillaging of the land of the United States by the companies involved in harvesting natural resources. Includes: Two excerpts presented of Joe Begley of Blackey, KY talking about the state of things in Appalachia as gas companies and strip mine operators come in to destroy the land.

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

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.

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.

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.

Nicholas Van Hoffman discusses the characters of his novel, "Two Three Many More" about campus protests against the Vietnam War. Political viewpoints, regulations, and character analysis are discussed. Von Hoffman opens the interview with a reading from the opening of the book that mentions peace, solidarity, and disunity. Terkel and Von Hoffman read excerpts together from the book.

Washington Post journalists discuss their book "All the President's Men" about breaking the Watergate scandal.

Herblock and Studs talk about his newest book "Straight Herblock." They talk about some of his most acclaimed drawings and the social/political questions they pose.

Studs Terkel talks with journalists Neil and Susan Sheehan about objective and responsible journalism, as well as what can influence a news story. A sound bite of photographer Jerome Zerbe is played where Zerbe discusses taking photos of the upper class during the Great Depression. Another sound bite is played of a man named Joe Begley discussing how laws created during the Great Depression should have met the needs of the people better.

Photographer David Scherman talks with Studs Terkel about the stories that photos can tell, famous photographers, and the book “The Best of Life,” which Scherman edited. A recording of the song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” by the Weavers is played.