Showing results by author "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Historian Alexander Keyssar and President of the California Voter Foundation Kim Alexander on this edition of Fresh Air. In his new book The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States, Alexander Keyssar examines the checkered history of our country's right to vote, and how this right was not for a time extended to certain groups of people, from propertyless whitemen, to women, immigrants, and African-Americans.

Singer Jerry Butler on this edition of Fresh Air. Jerry ("The Iceman") Butler's 1969 hit, "Only the Strong Survive," is a rhythm and blues classic, and also the title of his new autobiography: Only the Strong Survive: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor. Butler founded the vocal group The Impressions as well as having a successful solo career. His awareness of civil rights led him to politics, and he is serving his fourth term on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in Chicago.

Film editor Dede Allen and jazz clarinetist Andy Biskin on this edition of Fresh Air. Dede Allen edited such films as The Hustler, Bonnie And Clyde, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Wonder Boys, which has just been re-released. Her Hollywood career began in the 1940s as an apprentice editor.

Political scientist Robert Pastor and classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz on this edition of Fresh Air. Robert Pastor, Ph.D. joins us to talk about possible election reforms in the American system after this presidential vote. Pastor is a professor of political science at Emory University, and in his former role as a Carter Center Fellow, he helped create international election monitoring teams.

Professor of Religion Elaine Pagels and film writer and director Rusty Cundieff on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Pagels has written four books, including The Gnostic Gospels (which won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award). She has a new book called The Origin of Satan. Cundieff has a new horror flick called Tales from the Hood.

Attorney Cass Sunstein on this edition of Fresh Air. Cass Sunsetin's considered by many to be one of the nation's authorities when it comes to interpreting the U.S. Constitution. He's the author of One Case at a Time: Judicial Minimalism on the Supreme Court, which came out last year. On this show, he explains the legal aspects of the election controversy in Florida.

New York Times reporter and Prague Bureau Chief Steve Erlanger and British reporter Lloyd Doyle on this edition of Fresh Air. From Belgrade, Steve Erlanger talks about Serbia after the elections that ended the rule of Milosevic. And he'll talk about the new president, Vojislav Kostunica. A look at the U.S. elections from abroad with British reporter Lloyd Doyle of The Independent.

Abstract painter Frank Stella and senior annalist at the National Security Archive Peter Kornbluh on this edition of Fresh Air. Sixty-four-year-old Frank Stella was first known in the late 1950s for his Black Paintings series - striped monochrome works that helped touch off the minimalism movement. Over the years his work evolved from the canvas to colorful geometrical configurations of sculpture and architectural dimension.

World War II combat veteran Robert Kotlowitz and former fighter pilots Ed Mechenbier and Ron Bliss on this edition of Fresh Air. Robert Kotlowitz has written about his experiences in Before Their Time: A Memoir. Kotlowitz was part of a platoon that was ordered to charge the German front, an order that killed all but three men.

Journalist S.V. Date and literary forensics expert Don Foster on this edition of Fresh Air. S.V. Date is based in Florida where he is Tallahassee bureau chief for The Palm Beach Post. He discusses the recount in Florida for the presidential election. Date is also the author of the novel Smokeout. Named the first literary detective of all time, Don Foster uncovered the identity of Joe Klein as the Anonymous writer of 1996's Primary Colors.

Journalist Dana Milbank and satirist Harry Shearer on this edition of Fresh Air. A senior writer for The Washington Post, Milbank covered the presidential election for that paper. He talks about the outcome of the presidential election and recounts the pivotal moments in the parties' campaigns. Shearer is the host of NPR's Le Show.

A discussion about the pros and cons of the electoral college system and non-traditional voting on this edition of Fresh Air. Curtis Gans, an expert on voter turnout and participation, supports the electoral process. He is the director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, a non-partisan group which analyzes the habits of voters. Akhil Amar is Southmayd Chair of Constitutional Law at Yale Law School.

Former theater critic Frank Rich and producer-director Harold Prince on this edition of Fresh Air. Rich has published his memoir Ghost Light, in which he examines the influence of his childhood on his adult career: his parents' divorce and an early curiosity for theater. He was chief drama critic for The New York Times from 1980-1983 and has been an op-ed columnist for that paper since 1994.

WWII Veterans Tony Varone and Donald Pearce and Katherine Hepburn biographer Barbara Leaming on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Varone remembers V.E. Day. He served in the 9th Infantry Division which fought in Europe. He now is Commander of VFW POST in Long Island, New York. Pearce fought in Europe in the Canadian Army and kept a diary during his tour of duty.

Journalist Elaine Sciolino and historian Jules Tygiel on this edition of Fresh Air. Sciolino covered Iran for some 20 years for Newsweek and The New York Times. Her new book Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran was just released last month. It illustrates the culture of Iran: its press, its movie industry, its restaurants and homes. She speaks today on Iran's political position during the Middle East crisis.

Ruth Kluger is the author of the new memoir, Still Alive: A Holocaust Girlhood Remembered. Kluger was 10 years old when she and her mother were deported to the Jewish "ghetto" Theresienstadt. From there they were sent to Auschwitz and the young Kluger survived to go to the work camp Christianstadt by lying about her age. Her memoir Still Alive was published in Germany in 1992 and has just been published in the US.

On this edition of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross speaks about the turmoil in Israel with Newsweek's Middle East bureau chief, Christopher Dickey.

Physicians for Human Rights researcher Dr. Lynn Amowitz on this edition of Fresh Air. Amowitz specializes in internal medicine, women's health and epidemiology. Last month she was in Afghanistan interviewing displaced women as B-52s were bombing just six miles away. Previous to that visit, Amowitz researched and compiled the report on the condition of women under the Taliban in the report "Women's Health and Human Rights in Afghanistan".

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist David Vise on this edition of Fresh Air. Vise is a staff writer for The Washington Post. He's the author of the new book, The Bureau and the Mole: The Unmasking of Robert Philip Hanssen, the Most Dangerous Double Agent in FBI History. Vise tells the story of how a seemingly all-American boy became a traitor. Vise had access to files about Hanssen, and the opportunity to talk with Hanssen's family and friends.

Film director Wes Anderson and biological and chemical weapons expert Eric Croddy on this edition of Fresh Air. Wes Anderson co-wrote and produced the new film The Royal Tenenbaums, about a family of geniuses, who despite their talents are ill-suited to deal with everyday problems. The family comes together for an unexpected reunion. The film stars Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ben Stiller.