Terry Gross

Bass has a new gospel album, "No Ways Tired." Her R&B hit "Rescue Me" came out in 1965. She was given no credits and no royalties for the song. Soon after, disenchanted with the industry, she retired to raise a family. In recent years, she has been on a comeback while getting back to her roots as a gospel singer.

Michael Tonry is a professor of Law and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota. His new book, Malign Neglect: Race Crime, and Punishment in America, discusses how our current approach to fighting crime victimizes disadvantaged black Americans. He calls for a reform of sentencing and parole policies.

Ann Charters, the biographer of Jack Kerouac, has just edited two new collections of his writings: The Portable Jack Kerouac, and Jack Kerouac: Selected Letters. In this interview,she reads from some of Kerouac's letters, and discusses how he translated his life into his work. Charters teaches at the University of Connecticut.

President Carter has written eight books since his presidency, including several memoirs. His newest book is a collection of his poems, Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems. In this half of the show, Terry will talk with him about his diplomacy work, most recently negotiating agreements in Bosnia and Haiti. (Rebroadcast)

Carter has a new book, Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers. She talks with Terry about helping others and about her life since she and her husband left the White House. (Rebroadcast)

Our interview with President Jimmy Carter continues. In this half, Terry talks with him about his poetry. (Rebroadcast)

Ed Gillespie, co-editor of the book The Contract With America and policy and communications director of the House Republican Conference. He believes the welfare reforms outlined in the Republican agenda are accurate assessments of what is needed to correct the current welfare system.

Director of the National Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition at Tufts University, Dr. Larry Brown. He directed a recent study titled "Statement on Key Welfare Reform Issues: The Empirical Evidence." It revealed the assumptions behind the Republican "Contract With America" regarding welfare reform to be wrong. He agrees reform is necessary but must be focused on the right target.

Falk is best known for his role as a rumpled L.A. detective in the TV series "Columbo," where he garnered three Emmy awards. He currently stars in the recently released film "Roommates," detailing the relationship between a grandfather and grandson.

Mamet's new novel is a conversation between a grandmother and granddaughter preparing a traditional Passover meal. The grandmother reveals the horrific family history of living through the Polish Pogroms. Mamet also wrote Glengarry Glen Ross, Writing in Restaurants, and the screenplays for The Untouchables and Hoffa.