In 1993, the term “woke” had not been invented yet. But a prominent law professor nominated for a high position in the US government Saw her nomination done in by what we would now know as “anti-woke” sentiment.
Her name was Lani Guinier. President Bill Clinton nominated her to be assistant attorney general for civil rights.
That’s, of course, when closer scrutiny of her past writings began. And, she says, that’s when the misrepresentations of her writings began.
Guinier was a strong advocate of voting rights, and a strong believer that all minority voices should be heard in a democracy.
Ultimately, her voice was drowned out by her critics’ voices, and President Clinton withdrew her nomination.
I met her the following year, when she was on a book tour. So here now, from 1994, Lani Guinier.
In recent months you could argue that Florida has become the de facto ground zero for book banning in schools.
Hundreds of titles, ranging from the extreme to the innocuous, have been deemed unsatisfactory for students in Florida public schools.
Recently, the school board in Martin county, Florida banned 20 books by best-selling author Jodi Picoult.
Her books are best sellers because she directly and maturely treats subjects such as race, gender, sexuality, even abortion rights in weaving, dramatic stories.
II’ve interviewed Jody Pico several times, including in 2004, when we talked about one of the books that has now been banned in Martin county, a book called
In recent months you could argue that Florida has become the de facto ground zero for book banning in schools.
Hundreds of titles, ranging from the extreme to the innocuous, have been deemed unsatisfactory for students in Florida public schools.
Recently, the school board in Martin county, Florida banned 20 books by best-selling author Jodi Picoult.
Her books are best sellers because she directly and maturely treats subjects such as race, gender, sexuality, even abortion rights in weaving, dramatic stories.
I’ve interviewed Jody Pico several times, including in 2004, when we talked about one of the books that has now been banned in Martin county, a book called my sister’s keeper.
It’s about a teenaged girl named Anna, who sues her parents to win a measure of bodily autonomy. You see, Anna has sent much of her life functioning as tissue donor for her chronically and seriously ill sister Kate.. Finally it becoms too much for Anna to bear any longer. The story is tole from multiple points of view.
So here now, from 2004, Jody Pico.
Jodi Pico is 58. She and her family live in New England.
Holly Near was just 8 years old when she first performed in public. And in a career that has now spanned over 50 yearse, Near has established herself as a folk music legend.
Actually, she calls herself a troubadour.
And she’s a talented actress, appearing in episodes of The Mod Squad, All in The Family, and The Partridge family, as well as on Broadway in the musical “Hair.”
Near is also a member of the LGBTQ community, at a strong supporter of gay rights for many decades.
I met her in 1990, when she published an autobiography called Fire in The Rain, Singer in The Storm.
So here now, from 1990, Holly Near.
Holly Near will be 74 in June, and still performs regularly.
Ask any serious fan of science fiction who the three most influential authors of the genre of the 20th century were. They will likely say Arthur c. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov.
In a career that spanned more than half a century, Asimov wrote or edited over 500 books. And even though he was primarily known for his science fiction, Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy and non-fiction.
And besides all that, he was a professor at Boston University.0
I met him in 1988, when he published a book called Prelude to Foundation, the latest in that popular series.
In the early 1960s you would have been hard pressed to find an entertainer who was hotter, more popular, and more in demand than singer and actress and Margaret.
The young star, born in Sweden as Ann Margaret Olsen, captivated everyone’s attention. With her combination of Scandinavian beauty, a youthful s*******, at a sort of undercurrent of danger, it’s easy to see why Ann-Margret quickly became so popular.
Many said she appeared to be a female Elvis. And, by 1964, she was starring alongside the real Elvis Presley in the movie Viva Las vegas- and famously having an affair with the king.
But her star didn’t fade. Well into the 60s, ’70s, ’80s, and beyond, and Margaret has remained a popular favorite.
In 1994 she was prompted to write her autobiography. And that’s what I had a chance to meet her.
So here now, a candid and emotional interview with Ann-Margret, from 1994:
And Margaret will be 82 next month. Her most recent screen appearance was in 2017.
Her husband, Roger Smith, died in 2017 after 50 years of marriage.
In the summer of 1992, then US senator Al Gore from Tennessee was thrust into a much more visible public role, when Bill Clinton selected him as his running mate on the Democratic ticket.
That was also about the time Gore published his first book about the environment, a volume called Earth in the balance
And that’s how I met Al Gore, just a few weeks before he was nominated to be vice president.
The day I interviewed him if he had any indication that he was about to be nominated to be on the Clinton ticket, he did a really good job of hiding it.
So here now, from 1992, senator Al Gore.
Al Gore served as vice president under Bill Clinton for 8 years, before seeking the presidency on his own in 2000. He lost that election by a razor thin margin to George w. Bush. Since then, Gore has cemented his reputation as a leading advocate of environmental causes.
Perhaps no one personified the folk music trend of the 1960s like Peter, Paul and Mary.
With a repertoire that included not only their own songs but covers of songs by Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary became superstars.
One of their most enduring hits was the wildly popular, to this day, Puff the Magic Dragon.
But it wasn’t until 2007 that the story of Puff the Magic Dragon was turned into an illustrated children’s book. That was the effort of Peter Yarrow, the co-writer of the song. And the book turned into a huge, huge commercial success.
That year is when I first met Peter yarrow, and we talked about his book about puff. A couple of years later we had another interview when he came out with another similar book based on their song. Day is Done.
And that interview, the one you’re about to hear, happened just a few weeks after the untimely deaf of Mary Travers.
So here now, from 2009, Peter Yarrow.
Peter Yarrow turned 84 in M ay. He lives in New York.
Once upon a Time three staffers for a United States Senator decided to put on a little Christmas show, just a little thing with song parodies and skits, just for entertainment.
They’re little show was a hit and they ended up putting on that show for a few other small private groups.
Before long, a few other Hill staffers join them and they’re little events. Became bigger events more organized events with bigger audiences
The year was 1981 and that’s how the capital steps was formed. And over the next four decades. The capital steps became the nation’s premier political satire group.
Two of those founding members, Bill Strauss and Elaina Newport wrote a book in 1992 called fools on the Hill and that’s when I had a chance to meet them.
So here now from 1992 Bill Strauss and Elaina Newport
The Capitol Steps disbanded in 2021, done in by the lack of bookings because of COVID.
For over five decades actor Michael York has been a fixture in Britain and in the US, in film and on television.
Beginning in the late 1960s, York starred in a number of huge hit movies, including Romeo and Juliet, Cabaret, and Logan’s Run. Younger fans may even remember him best from his role in the Austin Powers series.
In 1992. Michael York published an autobiography, and that’s when I had the chance to talk with him.
So here now, from 1992, Michael York.
Michael York is 80 now. He and Pat live in Minnesota.
