Terkel delves into the life of Frank Norman, a London ex-con who turned his life around and became a novelist and playwright by writing on his experiences. He wrote "Bang to Rights" shortly after his prison release which brought him great fame. He followed that with "The Monkey Pulled it's Hair" that had a U.S. release under the name "Don't Darling Me Darling". Norman opened up to Terkel discussing his illegitimacy, his illiteracy till age 14, his institutionalization in an orphanage which he turned into the novel "Banana Boy".

Terkel wraps up his discussion with Frank Norman. Norman gives his opinion on present conditions in prisons and orphanages. He opens up about his relationship with his daughter and a family he has never met.

Eqbal Ahmad, Daniel Ellsberg, Anthony Lukas and Anthony Russo discuss Anthony Russo's trial and treatment he endured during his time from conviction to release in federal prison compared to the treatment of prisoners tortured in Vietnam.

Wicker discusses the events at the center of his book, "A Time to Die: The Attica Prison Revolt." The discussion also covers Wicker's thoughts on his responsibility as a journalist to his fellow man. Both Wicker and Terkel read excerpts from the book. (includes excerpts from T2576, 1970 Nov. 20).

Discussing capital punishment with author Nelson Algren. Includes interviews with William (Bill) Witherspoon, a death row inmate; Jack Johnson, warden of Cook County Jail; and an [unidentified woman] who marched in protest at the execution of James Dukes in 1962.

Nelson Algren, Nathan Kantrowitz, and David Maurer discuss language and criminal subculture, including the development of institutional slang at different prisons, the nature of drug addiction and its influence on criminal language and vocabulary, and the myth of the criminal mind. Includes an Interview with an inmate at a Chicago prison.

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.