American Politics

Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey. June 14th will be the first anniversary of his "return from the dead." Last year when he was close to death from a fatal liver disease that was destroying his heart, Casey received a heart and liver transplant. The donor was a young African American man who was savagely beaten by drug dealers. Casey talks about his second chance at life. And he discusses his views--pre and post-surgery--on political issues of life and death such as abortion and the death penalty.

Historian and author Garry Wills. He looks at leadership in his new book "Certain Trumpets: The Call of Leaders" (Simon & Shuster). Wills chooses a broad spectrum of leaders--FDR, Harriet Tubman, Socrates, Martha Graham and others--and examines their leadership qualities and the bases of their success. He looks at the relationship between leading and following. He responds to the charge by some that there is now a dearth of leaders. And he sets forth his understanding of the universal conditions of leadership.

Pro-gun activist Neal Knox. Knox is a powerful weapon for those who abhor any regulation of firearms. Champion target shooter and former gun journalist, he is considered the most influential voice in the National Rifle Association. He has been called the NRA's "spiritual master." He is a hardliner who believes that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the individual an absolute right to keep and bear guns.

Part Two of the interview with journalists Donald Barlett and James Stelle. Their reports from the front pages of the "Philadelphia Inquirer" later became the book "America: What went Wrong"; it was a bestseller for eight months, and added fuel to the fire of the 1992 Election. Their new book of investigative reporting is "America: Who Really Pays the Taxes?" (Simon & Schuster).

Journalists Donald Barlett and James Steele. Their reports from the front pages of the "Philadelphia Inquirer" later became the book "America: What went Wrong"; it was a bestseller for eight months, and added fuel to the fire of the 1992 Election. Their new book of investigative reporting is "America: Who Really Pays the Taxes?" (Simon & Schuster). They argue the middle class has been soaked by the current tax system; that the same dollar earned by a neighborhood grocer is taxed more than if it was earned by a foreign corporation doing business here.

Mary Fisher was the face of AIDS/HIV at the Republican National Convention in 1992 where she gave a speech imploring the party to lift the "shroud of silence" about the disease. Fisher comes from a wealthy prominent Republican family. Her father, Max Fisher was Honorary Chairman of the Bush/Quayle '92 National Finance Committee. Since she went public about her HIV-positive status, Fisher has been an eloquent voice in the fight against AIDS misinformation and discrimination. She's also the founder of the Family AIDS Network, Inc.

The final report on Iran contra by independent counsel Lawrence Walsh has just been released. Terry talks with Peter Kornbluh about the reports findings. Kornbluh is senior analyst on U.S.-Latin America policy at the National Security Archive and editor of "The Iran-Contra Scandal: The Declassified History," (published in 1993 by the The New Press).

Documentary filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus. Their film, The War Room, is a behind the scenes look at the Clinton presidential campaign from the New Hampshire primary to the election. Pennebaker and Hegedus chronicled the campaign through the eyes of its two main strategists, James Carville and George Stephanopoulos.

Senator Paul Simon. He's been spearheading the campaign in Congress against TV violence. Simon has given the networks and cable a January 1st deadline to come up with a way of regulating themselves, or face regulation by Congress.

Terry continues her discussion about television violence with the former president of NBC Entertainment, Brandon Tartikoff and then with TV critic David Bianculli.