American Politics

Crowe was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents Reagan and Bush. He's now chair of Clinton's foreign intelligence advisory board. In the late 1980s, Crowe developed an unusual friendship with his Soviet counterpart, Marshal Sergei F. Akromeyev, who later committed suicide after being accused of taking part in the Soviet coup. Crowe urged Bush to delay the start up in the Gulf War. And later, he endorsed Clinton for president. His new book is called, "The Line of Fire"

Thomas Blanton, of the National Security Archive, a group that declassifies government documents, using the Freedom of Information Act. Recently, they accessed documents indicating that the Reagan administration was aware of human rights abuses in El Salvador in the 1980s. During that time, the administration was required to report to Congress about conditions in El Salvador, with the understanding that if the Salvadorian military did not improve it's human rights record, the U.S. would no longer send aid.

Professor Marc Roberts is a professor of Political Economy and Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Kennedy School of Government. He'll discuss the economics of health care and health care reform in America.

Civil Rights attorney Chai Feldblum, visiting professor, Georgetown University Law Center. She was also former legislative counsel to the AIDS and Lesbian and Gay Rights projects of the ACLU. She's talks about recent legislation and court decisions that support or curtail gay rights.

Director of Health Policy, Department of Public Health, Mathea Falco. She was an advisor to Clinton during the presidential campaign. She's written extensively about drugs, drug abuse, and drug policy. She has a new book, "The Making of a Drug-Free America: Programs that Work."

NPR commentator and political analyst Kevin Phillips. He's known for his ability to tap into the mood of American voters and forecast what's to come: in 1969 he predicted the conservative era with his book, "The Emerging Republican Majority." His 1992 book, "The Politics of Rich and Poor," was described as the "founding document" of the 1992 Presidential campaign. He has a new book, "Boiling Point: Democrats, Republicans, and The Decline of Middle-Class Prosperity."

Creator and CEO of the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN), Brian Lamb. He launched the network in 1979 to broadcast Congressional hearings and political events from beginning to end, so that audiences could get a full picture of what transpired. The channel provides hours of footage without commentary, editing, or government or corporate funding.

Some reactions to the inauguration and thoughts about the new administration from satirist and voice actor Harry Shearer, language commentator Geoffrey Nunbert, and Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Middle East expert Geoffrey Kemp.

Freshman Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Illinois), who in the late 60's and early 70's was a leader of the Black Panther Party. At one time he served as Minister of Defense for the Panthers. From 1983 till his election to Congress last year, he served as an Alderman in Chicago.

Populist voice Jim Hightower is a former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. His current project is Hightower Radio, a new, daily, syndicated two-minute radio commentary. He plans on sewing the seeds of grass roots activism in commentaries on subjects ranging from doctor bills and the deficit to toxic dumps and the recession.