This Weekend’s Show

Bob Edwards Weekend Highlights – November 15-16, 2008

HOUR ONE:

Bob speaks with Dana Gioia, the outgoing Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.  Gioia took charge of the government agency at a time when many Republicans were calling for the NEA to be abolished. Gioia’s mantra is “arts are not a luxury” and he has spent his four years in the post shepherding programs like Shakespeare in American Communities, NEA Jazz Masters, and The Big Read. Gioia recently announced that he will resign in January.

 

Bob talks Memphis music and radio with legendary music producer Jim Dickinson at his Zebra Ranch in north Mississippi. Dickinson made his first record in 1958 and has worked with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and many other big names. Being out of the spotlight at his home studio is where Dickinson says he’s most comfortable producing records – including those of his sons Luther and Cody – founding members of the band North Mississippi All-Stars.

 

HOUR TWO: 

In this year’s presidential election, Republicans lost nine states to President-elect Barack Obama that George W. Bush carried four years ago.  The Democrats also solidified their control of Congress, gaining 20 seats in the House and at least six in the Senate.  Republican strategist Whit Ayres and Doyle McManus, Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times discuss what went wrong for the GOP and what conservatives have to do to rebuild their party.

 

Almost 140 years ago, the United States elected the first African-Americans to its government. The new politicians faced a hostile press, public backlash and extreme racism while attempting to help remake America after the bitter division of the Civil War. Those pioneers are now mostly forgotten or regarded as puppets of the Republicans and of Reconstruction. Bob talks with Philip Dray about his new book, Capitol Men which aims to enlighten Americans on this important chapter in our nation’s history.

Bob talks with our music reviewer Anthony DeCurtis about a new re-issue of the late Warren Zevon’s classic self-titled album from 1976.