U.S. Congress

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich. He's written a new book, "Newt Gingrich: Lessons Learned the Hard Way: A Personal Report" (HarperCollins).

Vilar's memoir "A Message from God in the Atomic Age" chronicles three generations of self-destructive behavior: in 1954, her grandmother was imprisoned for opening fire at the U.S. House of Representatives; in 1977, her mother leapt to her death from a speeding car; and in 1988, Vilar herself was committed to a psychiatric hospital after attempting suicide. Alternating between her notes from the psychiatric ward and the chronicling of the history of her family, Vilar tells of her own attempts to come to terms with her family history.

Senator Bill Bradley has written a book about his life called Time Present, Time Past published by Knopf. Bradley announced last year that he would not seek re-election in 1996. In addition to his political career, Bradley was also a star basketball player with the New York Knicks.

Penny was in Congress for twelve years. He's just written a new book about the cultures that modern lawmakers bring to Congress which he says "have gnawed away at the sturdy foundations of republican democracy and trustworthy service that our Founding Fathers bequeathed." Penny's new book is Common Cents, which he wrote with journalist Major Garrett. Penny is now spokesperson for the Concord Coalition, a bipartisan coalition that promotes fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction.

The former congresswoman became Louisiana's first woman member of Congress in 1972. She was elected after her husband, then House majority leader Hale Boggs, died in a plane crash. Boggs was an advocate for civil rights and women's issues before her retirement in 1990. She is the mother of NPR and ABC-TV's Cokie Roberts, Washington lobbyist Thomas Hale Boggs, and the late Barbara Sigmund, who was mayor of Princeton, New Jersey. Boggs has new autobiography is called "Washington Through a Purple Veil: Memoirs of a Southern Woman."

Will is a conservative commentator and regular contributor to "Newsweek" and "The Washington Post." He has just published a collection of his best essays from the past four years, "The Leveling Wind: Politics, the Culture & Other News 1990-1994." He talks with Terry about last week's elections.

Washington political commentator Elizabeth Drew, author of "On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency." The book examines Clinton's first eighteen months in office. She talks with Terry about last night's election and what it will mean for the White House.

Journalist Steve Roberts. He's the senior writer for "U.S. News & World Report." Before that he covered Congress for "The New York Times." He'll talk about Tuesday's elections.

Roberts is Political Analyst for NPR and ABC. The daughter of parents who shared a Congressional seat for a combined total of fifty years, Roberts' star in journalism is rising on radio and TV. In a conversation recorded live before an audience, Terry asks her about covering Congress and how her political upbringing affects her reporting.

Journalist Steve Roberts is the senior writer for "U.S. News & World Report." Before that, he covered Congress for The New York Times. He'll talk with guest host Marty Moss-Coane about the 103rd Congress which just went into session. It's the most diverse group yet.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new Eddie Murphy movie, which is being billed as a return to form after the actor's recent string of critical flops. But Schiff says that Murphy has lost his cool.

Last year, Wofford won an upset victory, becoming the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania since 1962. He was a key aide to President John F. Kennedy, helped establish the Peace Corps, and aided Martin Luther King, Jr. He also chaired the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee from 1987 to 1991. A new edition of Wofford's 1980 book, "Of Kennedy's & Kings: Making sense of the Sixties" has just been published.

Incumbent Republican Senator Arlen Specter for the State of Pennsylvania. He's up for re-election this year, running against Lynn Yeakel. Yeakel has never served in public office, but says she was inspired to run after Specter's questioning of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.

Senior writer for U.S. News and World Report Steve Roberts, and a regular on PBS's "Washington Weekend Review." President Bush has often blamed Congress for stalling on or gridlocking legislation. Terry talks with Roberts about this assertion, whether or not its true, and if so, why? And what kind of impact does it have on the President's ability to govern?

Political consultant Neil Oxman. He specializes in media consulting and designed Lynn Yeakel's ads for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate. She'll run against Senator Arlen Spector. Yeakel was a virtual unknown at the start of the race. It's believed that Yeakel's T-V ads made the difference in the campaign. One emphasized her work as head of Women's Way. The other received national attention because it attacked Spector for his role in the Thomas hearings.

Contributing editor to Harper's Magazine L.J Davis recently reported on the history and current crisis of the savings and loans system.

Author Budd Schulberg. Fifty years ago, Schulberg's first novel, "What Makes Sammy Run?" was a huge success and introduced America to the character of Sammy Glick...a man totally obsessed with making it. Schulberg's other novels include "The Harder They Fall" and "The Disenchanted," and his screenplay for the movie, "On The Waterfront" earned Schulberg an Oscar. Schulberg was also involved with the 'red scare' of the 40s and 50s, and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Reporter John Barry. He's the author of "The Ambition and the Power," the new book about the political downfall of House Speaker Jim Wright. Wright gave Barry access to his private meetings and closed door wheeling and dealing. Barry's book reveals those events, and examines the day to day workings of Congress.

Former U.S. senator James G. Abourezk (AB-er-esk). In his new memoir, "Advise and Dissent," Abourezk tells of Arab-American heritage, his coming of age in the North Dakota Indian country, his early political days, his 8 years in Congress, and his decision not to run for re-election in 1979. These days Abourezk is an attorney in Washington, D.C., and is National Chairman of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.