The New York Times correspondent in Moscow discusses and reads from his novel, The Gates of Hell. The book closely mirrors the life of Russian novelist and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations 

Even while spending four years in a labor camp, Irina Ratushinskaya managed to write her poems on bars of soap. Ratushinkaya explained that one must keep their sense of humor while in the labor camps because there is nothing else. Other women in the camps helped Ratushinkaya smuggle her poems to the outside world.

Salisbury continues talking about the artists like writers, musicians and dancers being national assets to Russia. In a country with its history of tyranny, Russian society is becoming more permissive and relaxed, explained Salisbury. Khrushchev keeps the peace right now, says Salisbury but wonders, like the title of a new book he's working on, is this "A New Russia?".

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.

Studs sits down with a musicologist and jazz musician, an American violinist, and a Russian violinist to discuss their cross-cultural and musical genre-bending collaboration - the American Soviet Youth Orchestra (AKA the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra).*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations