THE BOB EDWARDS SHOW HIGHLIGHTS – July 5-9, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
We bring back Bob’s conversation with Pulitzer Prize winning historian David McCullough about 1776, his book on the American Revolution. It’s written as a companion work to John Adams, his celebrated biography of the second president, and includes research from hundreds of letters and several diaries kept by people on both sides of the conflict. Then, Tom Bodett reflects on how history is part of the landscape in New England.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
General Stanley McCrystal resigned late last month as the commander of the international troops in Afghanistan, ostensibly, due to disparaging comments about the Obama administration he and his staff made in a Rolling Stone article. But at the heart of those comments was a debate about the current strategy in Afghanistan, an issue overlooked during the personnel change. Caroline Wadhams is the Director for South Asia Security Studies at the Center for American Progress. She’ll discuss the counterinsurgency strategy and its progress in Afghanistan. Then, in their new book, Merchants of Doubt, historians of science Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway tell the story of how for more than four decades, a small group of pro-industry, politically-connected scientists carried out effective campaigns to mislead the public. They argue that ideology and corporate interests, helped by a lazy media, have clouded public understanding of some of the most critical issues of our time.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
We continue our series of music interviews recorded at this year’s New Orleans Jazz Fest, this week with Roger Lewis, a founding member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Lewis talks with Bob about his band’s progression from revolutionizing upstarts more than thirty years ago to established — though still inventive — old masters. Lewis spoke with Bob in the green room of the famous club Tipitina’s, in Uptown New Orleans. Then, Truman Capote wrote the novella that became a beloved film classic starring Audrey Hepburn in her most iconic role. But if Capote had had his way, Marilyn Monroe would have played the naïve and sprightly Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, not Hepburn. Sam Wasson has authored a new book exploring the making of the movie and its influence on the contemporary woman — the “little black dress” is just the beginning. Wesson’s book is titled Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Award winning writer William Dalrymple, author of The Last Mughal and From the Holy Mountain, has lived in and written about India for over twenty-five years. His latest book, Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India, examines how ancient religious traditions are surviving and in many cases being adapted for a rapidly changing India. Then, in celebration of Romantic composer Gustav Mahler 150thbirthday, Martin Goldsmith, host of Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall, explains the great composer’s life and music.
Friday, July 9, 2010
David Broder of The Washington Post joins Bob to talk politics. Next, Bobby Bare Sr. and his son Bobby Bare Jr. join Bob to discuss a new CD they co-produced which celebrates the songwriting of Shel Silverstein. It’s called Twistable Turnable Man and features contributions from My Morning Jacket, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price, Todd Snider, Lucinda Williams and Nanci Griffith. The Bares each sing a song as well with Sr. covering “The Living Legend” and Jr. now singing the grown-up lead vocals with his daughter on “Daddy What If.” Then, in this week’s installment of our ongoing series This I Believe, Bob talks with curator Dan Gediman about the essay of Chester Bowles. He gave up a successful advertising business to be a public servant, political figure and diplomat. He worked in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations until 1948, when he was elected Governor of Connecticut. Bowles later served as U.S. Ambassador to India and Nepal.