Author: Bill Thompson

Gerry Spence

Bill Thompson
Photo by Greg Westfall

Imagine practicing law for 60 years, both as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney- and never losing a single case before a jury.

That was the enviable record racked up by attorney Gerry Spence.

And his record in civil cases was nearly as perfect.

A brilliant legal mind, coupled with a charismatic personality and courtroom demeanor made him one of America’s most effective trial lawyers.

So it was with more than just passing interest that Spence sat in the courtroom every day as a spectator at the trial of the century, the murder trial of OJ Simpson.

Two years after the verdict in that case, Spence wrote a book called OJ: The Last Word. And that was when Spence and I had one of our many conversations.

So here now, from 1997, Gerry Spence.

Gerry Spence is 94 now, and still lives in his native Wyoming.

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Amy Tan

Bill Thompson

Sunday is Mother’s Day. So today, my conversation with an author who called upon her mother’s life experiences to craft one of America’s best loved novels of the late 20th century.

Amy Tan’s parents emigrated to the US from China. And they brought with them not only their own personal histories, of course, but centuries of Chinese history and wisdom.

It was against that backdrop that Tan wrote her 1989 best-selling novel, The Joy Luck Club.

And as you’ll hear in a few minutes, Tan’s writing tapped into a consciousness that even her own mother was startled by.

The first time I interviewed Amy Tan was in 1990, when the paperbackedition of The Joy Luck Club had just been published .

So here now, from 1990, novelist Amy Tan.

Amy Tan is 71 now. She is frequently listed as among the most important and influential American authors of her time.

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Tamilee Webb

Bill Thompson

If you’ve ever seen the exercise video called “Buns of Steel, you” know exactly who Tamilee Webb is.

For over 30 years, Webb has been one of America’s leading and most popular fitness gurus.

Webb’s popularity as a television personality helped propel her to a series of best-selling books and videos.

I met her in 1995, when she was promoting her book Step Up Fitness Workout.

So here now, from 1995, Tamilee Webb.

Tamilee Webb is 64 now. And still going strong. She was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Douglas Fairbanks Jr

Bill Thompson

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Was born into one of Hollywood’s first royal families. His father, Douglas Fairbanks senior, was a swashbuckling movie star. His stepmother was Mary Pickford. The two of them were among the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences, you know, the people that give out the Oscars.

But, as you are about to hear, Douglas Fairbanks Jr was by no means a born actor

One the acting bug bit, he became as big a star as his father had been. Douglas Fairbanks Jr made his movie debut 100 years ago this month, in 1923, in a silent picture called “Stephen Steps Out.”. He made a few more silent pictures before becoming a major star in the 1920s and 30s in the talkies.

Douglas_Fairbanks_Jr._and_mother

He was married three times, including a fiery relationship with actress. Joan Crawford.

He also served with distinction in the navy during world war II. But his military service was not his only contribution to the war effort, as you’ll hear in a few minutes.

Finally, in 1988, at the age of 79, Douglas Fairbanks Jr wrote his autobiography — at least, volume1 of his autobiography, a book. He called The Salad Days.

So I had the rare opportunity, which I was not about to pass up, to actually shake hands with and converse with a real life silent movie star.

So here now, from 1988, Douglas Fairbanks Jr

Douglas Fairbanks Jr died in 2000. Hewas 90.

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Andrew Morton

Bill Thompson
Photo by Open Media Ltd.

Tomorrow, May 6, is a big day for Britain’s King Charles III. It’s his coronation day.

Charles, of course, succeeded to the throne when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, passed away last year.

Now, at age 74, Charles is ready to officially become king.

Since 1981, British journalist and author Andrew Morton has been following the royal family. In 1991, he wrote a book called iIside Buckingham Palace, billed as an inside glimpse into the private lives of the royals.

Now keeping in mind that this interview took place 32 years ago, things may have changed, but this is a look at what Buckingham Palace was like in the early 1990s.

So here now, from 1991, journalist. Andrew Morton.

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Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Bill Thompson

Sports Illustrated For Women once named Jackie Joyner-Kersee the greatest female athlete of all time.

With her almost superhuman talents in the heptathlon and long jump, Joyner-Kersee accumulated multiple Olympic gold medals during her career.

After her Olympic career ended, she even was briefly a professional basketball player.

In 1997, Jackie Joyner-Kersee wrote her autobiography, a book called A Kind of Grace. That’s when I have the chance to talk with her. So here now, from 1997, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee is 61 now. A few weeks ago, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

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Joseph Barbera

Bill Thompson
Photo by Kerry Cisneroz

What you’re about to hear is an interview with the man who helped create some of the fondest memories of millions of baby boomers and Gen xers.

His name is Joseph Barbera. When he partnered with Bill Hanna in 1957, it was the beginning of a whole new era in American animation.

Over a period of over 40 years, the Hanna-Barbera team created such cartoons as the Flintstones, the Jetsons, Huckleberry hound, Yogi Bear, and hundreds of others.

In 1994, Joe Barbera wrote his autobiography, a book called My Life in Toons.

And this baby boomer was more than happy to take a stroll down the memory lane of American cartoons .

So here now, from 1994, Joseph Barbera.

Joseph, Barbera died in 2006. He was 95.

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Helen Prejean

Bill Thompson

How did a Roman Catholic nun wind up befriending a convicted killer on death row?

The answer to that deceptively simple question is found in Sister Helen Prejean’s bestselling 1993 book Dead Man Walking. If you haven’t read the book, you’ve probably seen the movie starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn.

Prejean is an outspoken and powerful voice against capital punishment. Her book has made millions of people reconsider their own positions on the death penalty.

I first met her shortly after her book was published. So here now, from 1993, Sister Helen Prejean.

Sister Helen Prejean celebrated her 84th birthday last week. And she is still working to eliminate the death penalty.

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Margaret Hoover

Bill Thompson
Photo: Charles Bogel

Today’s Republican party has a problem attracting young voters. But it’s not a new problem.

More than a decade ago, conservative commentator and author Margaret Hoover — great granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover — recognize the problem.

I met her in 2011 when we talked about her book American Individualism.

And as you listen in the next few minutes, you may recognize some familiar themes that permeate politics to this day, including the Republican identity crisis Margaret Hoover talks about.

So here now, from 2011, Margaret Hoover.

Margaret Hoover is 45 now. She is host of “Firing Line” on PBS.

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David Morrell

Bill Thompson
Photo: Philkon Phil Konstantin

Rambo’s father turns 80 today

It was 1972 when the iconic character Rambo made his first appearance, in then 28-year-old David Morrell’s book First Blood. That was the first of three Rambo books Morrell authored.

Since then, of course, Rambo has become a character in American pop culture. Of course, the Sylvester Stallone movies didn’t hurt…

I first met David in 1990, when he was promoting his latest novel called The Fifth Profession.

So here now, from 1990, David Morrell.

As we mentioned at the outset, today is David Morrell’s 80th birthday. His last novel was published in 2010.

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