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A Banking Empire Traced From Its Origins to the Present.

Author Ron Chernow (CHUR-now). His new book is, "The House of Morgan: an American Banking Dynasty and The Rise of Modern Finance." Chernow examines one of the financing world's once most powerful institutions: the J.P. Morgan financing empire. And he traces the history of modern finance from the genteel, clubby world of banking to Wall Street of the 1980's when ruthlessness, and machismo became the rule. "A brilliant, generation-spanning history of the Morgan banking empire, which offers a wealth of social and political as well as economic perspectives," says the Kirkus Reviews. ("The House of Morgan" is published by Atlantic Monthly Press.)

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Other segments from the episode on March 27, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 27, 1990: Interview with Ron Chernow; Commentary on Red Bird and Blue Cat Records; Interview with Daniel Akst; Review of Fay Weldon's novel "The Life and Love of a…
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06:56

Leiber and Stoller's Record Labels and Their Hits.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the Red Bird record label and its soul subsidiary Blue Cat. They were the creations of the 60s songwriting and producing team, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The labels' hits include "Going to the Chapel," and "Boy From New York City."

Commentary
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11:22

The Rise and Fall of a Teenage "Wonder Boy."

Journalist Daniel Akst. His new book is "Wonder Boy Barry Minkow: The Kid Who Swindled Wall Street." While a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and later the Wall Street Journal, AKST showed Minkow in his true light...not a clean-cut teenage success story...but rather the mastermind of a multi-million dollar fraud operation. (published by Scribner & Sons.)

Interview
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03:54

A Tale of Cloning.

Book critic John Leonard reviews the new book by British writer Fay Weldon, "The Cloning of Joanna May." Weldon has also written, "The Life and Love of a She-Devil."

Review

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27:07

Ron Chernow Discusses Business "Titans" of the Past and Present.

Writer Ron Chernow has written a new biography one of America's most powerful men. His book is "Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr." (Random House) Chernow has also written: "The House of Morgan," "The Warburgs," and "The Death of the Banker." The New York Times this month called Titan "a triumph of the art of biography."

Interview
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21:59

How the Middle Has Entered the Stock Market

Fortune Magazine's senior editor Joe Nocera and Ron Chernow. They can both be seen in the new Frontline documentary "Betting on the Market." The documentary is based in part on Nocera's 1994 book, "A Piece of the Action: How the Middle Class Joined the Money Class." It traces America's obsession with Wall Street, and looks at the consequences. Nocera serves as correspondent in the film. Chernow is the author of "The House of Morgan," which received a National Book Award in 1990.

Interview

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08:07

Everyone expected more from the evening 'Invite,' audience included

In the new comedy "The Invite," Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde play a San Francisco couple who spend an evening getting to know their upstairs neighbors, played by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton. It's Wilde's third directorial effort after her earlier films, "Booksmart," and "Don't Worry Darling." "The Invite" opens in theaters this week. Our film critic Justin Chang has this review.

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