May 21, 2003 - Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Anna Quindlen, in a speech given Tuesday at a luncheon sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Campaign Fund. The event was the group's 21st Annual Celebration of Women's Leadership in Minnesota Government.
May 26, 2003 - A special Memorial Day broadcast featuring a speech by the late World War II historian Stephen Ambrose, remarks from Memorial Day ceremonies, essays, and a conversation with Vietnam veteran Jon Hovde of Fertile, Minnesota. Also, a birthday essay from Gary Eichten to friend and war vet, William (Bill) Gagnier.
May 30, 2003 - Michael Lewis, the author of "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game", spoke in the Twin Cities Wednesday about the economics of baseball.
June 4, 2003 - Writer and humorist Calvin Trillin has written 22 books, and his work has appeared in Time magazine, and The New Yorker. He has written about everything from culture to cuisine. He spoke at the Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka. The event was part of the Pen Pals Lecture series, from The Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
June 9, 2003 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik interviews Rick Kahn, who reflects on his controversial eulogy at Paul Wellstone memorial service and the political fallout.
June 12, 2003 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with former Minnesota U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy on past and current presidential campaigns, candidates, and the Presidency of George W. Bush. McCarthy also answers listener questions.
July 18, 2003 - Acclaimed writer and Minnesota native, Patricia Hampl, is perhaps best known for her memoirs. She focused on reading and writing memoirs and the importance of auto-biographies to help us understand the past in a recent speech at the Minnesota Historical Society. Her books include "The Summer House", "2 for 5", and "Virgin Time." Hampl has a new book coming out next year called "The Silken Chamber." She's also working on two new books--a collection of short stories and a new memoir, about her mother and father. It's called "My Mother's Daughter."
August 1, 2003 - Writer and humorist Calvin Trillin is widely regarded as one of America's finest writers. Since the early 1960s, his work has appeared in the New Yorker, The Nation, and Time magazine. He's written three memoirs, two of them best sellers. He's written about topics from cuisine and culture to school desegregation. In all, he's written 22 books, including his latest: "Feeding A Yen: Savoring Local Specialties from Kansas City to Cuzco." We hear a speech by Calvin Trillin about a humorist's view of writing and reporting.
September 19, 2003 - Attorney General John Ashcroft brushed aside critics of the USA Patriot Act on Friday, saying the United States was freer and safer than it was two years ago. "American is more secure today than two years ago, and it's safer and freer than at any time in the history of human freedom," he said.
September 29, 2003 - All Things Considered’s David Molpus talks with MPR’s Laura McCallum, who is traveling with Governor Tim Pawlenty delegation on a trade mission in Canada. Pawlenty is trying to push Minnesota to pursue research partnerships and business opportunities with Quebec. The governor met with Montreal Premier Jean Charest.