American Politics

Former Istanbul bureau chief for the New York Times, Stephen Kinzer. He written the new book Crescent & Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). He describes a country caught between the entrenched ruling elite and its younger, well-educated population who want democracy. He describes a country of talented –writers, thinkers, university professors and business executives— who have been excluded from positions of power. Kinzer is currently the Timesnational culture correspondent based in Chicago.

Syndicated columnist and biographer Richard Reeves. His most recent book is President Nixon: Alone in the White House (Simon & Schuster). Hes also written books about Presidents Reagan, Kennedy, Clinton, and Ford. Reeves is former chief political correspondent of The New York Times. He is currently Visiting Professor of Journalism at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California.

James Bamford has investigated the inner-workings of the National Security Agency for his new book, Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency: From the Cold War Through the Dawn of a New Century (Doubleday). The book examines the Agency's past and its present activities including the ongoing hunt for the terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Ken Herman has been covering Texas politics for over 20 years and is currently in Washington, covering the first six months of President George W. Bushs administration. Hell talk about the differences between George W. Bush the governor and George W. Bush the President. Herman will also talk about President Bushs first few months in office- his new policies, the outcome of his campaign promises, and the press corps reaction to Bush.

Hes the bestselling author of Great Political Wit. His new book, called Great Presidential Wit (I Wish I was in the Book), is a collection of funny anecdotes and quotations by or about American Presidents. Dole was the longest-serving Republican leader in Senate history. He is currently serving as the chairman of the World War II Memorial campaign and as chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in the Former Yugoslavia. Dole was also a commentator for Comedy Centrals Indecision 2000.

He discusses the state of politics today. He published his memoir, Time Present, Time Past in 1996. In addition to his political career, Bradley was also a star basketball player with the New York Knicks. His latest book is called The Journey from Here

Now the head of the Peace Corps, he served on President Clintons transition team as Deputy Director in 1992. He's been Assistant to the President, Director of Communications, and White House Chief of Staff. Under his direction, the Peace Corps has expanded its efforts to South Africa and Jordan in addition to opening a new section for crisis and natural disaster. And, Boyden Gray. He was George Bush, Sr.s Director of the Office of Transition Counsel. He counseled the elder Bush when he was President and Vice President.

He held the post during Clintons impeachment trial.

He was press secretary when the Monica Lewinsky story first broke.

Reporter Eric Schmitt. He covers Capitol Hill for the New York Times. He’ll talk about the new Congress and power sharing in the 50/50 Senate. Schmitt will also talk about how the just resolved Presidential election—along with a truncated transition period for George W. Bush -- may effect political decision making on the Hill.