American Politics

New York Times reporter Jason DeParle. In a recent New York Times Magazine cover story, DeParle wrote about Wisconsin's reformed welfare system. This week, that state enters a new phase in its efforts to shift welfare recipients into the workforce. Cash assistance ends. In exchange, the state plans to provide more opportunities to get a job.

Steve Lopez was an award-winning columnist for the "Philadelphia Inquirer" for twelve years. In his novels, Lopez confronts political corruption and greed as he did in his columns. His new novel is called "The Sunday Macaroni Club" (Harcourt Brace and Company). Lopez is now Senior Writer-at-large for Time Magazine.

Reich reflects on his four years in the Clinton administration and why he stepped down. His new memoir is "Locked in the Cabinet."

Foreign editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Zucchino. In his new book "Myth of the Welfare Queen," he turns his attention to his own town, Philadelphia, where he follows the lives of two welfare mothers, Odessa Williams and Cheri Honkala. One reviewer writes, "David Zucchino has shattered unequivocally the stereotype of women receiving welfare."

The Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center was Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation with the Department of Health and Human Services. He resigned last September because of his disapproval of President Clinton's welfare-reform bill. Edelman criticizes the bill as not promoting job obtainment and as damaging to the lives of poor children and legal immigrants.

Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Garry Wills has published books on Nixon, Reagan and Kennedy, as well as a critical profile of Ross Perot. His latest book is a look at the relationship between politics and popular culture via celebrity, "John Wayne's America: the Politics of Celebrity."

E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., is a research psychiatrist at the Neuroscience Center of the National Institute of Mental Health. He has come out with a new book, "Out of the Shadows: Confronting America's Mental Illness Crisis." Torrey examines the dangers of neglecting the mentally ill and provides political and economic approaches necessary for change. Torrey is the author of 12 books in all, including the best-selling book "Surviving Schizophrenia."

Tsongas died Saturday at the age of 55 from complications of lymph cancer. He ran his presidential campaign in 1992 on the issue of the economy, offering tough solutions to the nation's economic problems. During the campaign his cancer (which was in remission) was an issue. His book "Heading Home" was about his fight with cancer. He also wrote the book "Economic Call to Arms" which was published by his presidential campaign. (REBROADCAST from 6/19/92)

Joseph and Julia Quinlan. They are the parents of Karen Ann Quinlan. Joseph Quinlan died this past Saturday at the age of 71. A lawyer for the family said the cause was bone cancer. He and his wife became early pioneers in the "right to die" debate" after they fought for the legal authority to remove a respirator that their daughter was attached to after doctors said she had no hope of coming out of a coma. She then lived nine more years.

Since leaving the White House, Carter has become one of America's leading elder statesmen. He has led numerous peace delegations to many war stricken countries through the Carter Center which he founded in 1982. Carter has written eleven books, including the national bestseller, "Always a Reckoning." In his most recent book, "Living Faith," he shares personal experiences about how his religious faith has helped him through the most challenging times of his life. He demonstrates how people of all faiths can find common ground in serving God and one another.