Booknotes+

If you research the origins of critical race theory, one of the names you'll find is Derrick Bell (1930-2011). Prof. Bell, Harvard Law School's first black tenured professor, appeared on Booknotes in 1992 to talk about his book "Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism." In this excerpt from that program, he talks about the status of blacks in America and his personal experiences with racism.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

British author Charles Dickens is credited with creating some of the world's best-known fictional characters. To find out more about Charles Dickens, his work, and his two visits to the United States, we spoke to Jenny Hartley, emeritus professor of English at the University of Roehampton in London. She has written three books about Dickens, including "Charles Dickens: A Very Short Introduction," published in 2019.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran Canadian journalist Ken Cuthbertson talks about the life and work of American writer John Gunther (1901-1970), author of the popular "Inside" book series that provided an in-depth look at countries around the world. The series included the 1947 bestseller "Inside U.S.A.," in which Gunther provided observations, sometimes highly critical, from his visits to every state in the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Historian and attorney David Stewart talks about the political career of George Washington and his evolution from an egotistical military hero to Founding Father of the United States.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The late columnist Robert Novak (1931-2009) was nicknamed "the prince of darkness" by friends and enemies alike in Washington, DC. He appeared on C-SPAN's "Q&A" program in 2007 to discuss his memoir, titled "The Prince of Darkness," in which he tells stories about his 50 years as a reporter, television personality, author, and conservative commentator. He also talked about many of the sources he had during that time.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longtime reporter, editor and publisher Peter Osnos has published books by four American presidents, two Russian presidents, George Soros, Natan Sharansky, and a host of other high profile figures. In his new memoir "An Especially Good View" he discusses his publishing history, Russia, reporting on the Vietnam War for the Washington Post, and more. Mr. Osnos was vice president and senior editor at Random House from 1984-1996 and publisher & CEO at PublicAffairs, which he founded, from 1997-2005.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Washington Post's Carol Leonnig reports on the overall record, including serious failures, of the Secret Service from the assassination of John F. Kennedy to today. Ms. Leonnig first reported on the Secret Service in 2012, when agents working in Colombia engaged in a night of booze and prostitutes, a scandal that became known as "Hooker-gate." Ms. Leonnig talks to Brian Lamb about her new book "Zero Fail".  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Based on the Nixon tapes and the personal memoirs of Nixon administration officials, author and former Washington Post reporter Michael Dobbs tells the story of the Watergate scandal through the eyes of its participants in his new book "King Richard." Mr. Dobbs portrays what happened during the 100 days following President Nixon's second inauguration on January 20, 1973. Here's his conversation with Brian Lamb.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I'd rather win a Pulitzer Prize than be President of the United States," said John F. Kennedy in 1953. In 1957 he was awarded the prize for "Profiles in Courage." In "JFK's Ghost," author and retired pastor David Stokes tells the story behind the publishing of "Profiles in Courage" (written mostly by speechwriter Ted Sorensen), Kennedy's all out pursuit of the Pulitzer Prize, and the impact that the book had on his political career. David Stokes talked with Brian Lamb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A longtime Washington, DC, legislator and official known for his humor and friendliness, Dan Glickman (D-KS), author of "Laughing at Myself," was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977-1995, served as US Secretary of Agriculture from 1995–2001 and was chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America from 2004–2010. He talked to Brian Lamb about his long political career, political relationships in Washington, the entertainment industry, and the importance of humor in his life.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices