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The Leonard Lopate Show

Monday, September 17, 2007
  • Alan Greenspan
    Alan Greenspan

    It's the Economy, Stupid!

    On today's show: Alan Greenspan reflects on his life and nearly twenty year career as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. And General Wesley Clark explains why he ran for president in 2004, and what's he's got planned for 2008. Also, a writer describes her family's journey from Ethiopia to America. And we'll hear about a new novel based on the true story of a Toyko serial killer of the 1940s.

Home Economics

Alan Greenspan served as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board for nearly two decades. In his memoir, The Age of Turbulence, he describes his childhood in New York and early career as a jazz clarinetist, explains how he became an economist and entered public service, and shares his unique perspective on the evolution of the American economy.

Purchase The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World at amazon.com.

Held at a Distance

In 1976, Rebecca Haile's family fled political unrest in Ethiopia and began new lives in Minnesota. Twenty-five years later, Haile and her husband traveled back to the country of her birth. Her memoir offers a moving account on her family's journey, the process of becoming American, and what it meant to her to go back home.

Purchase Held at a Distance: My Rediscovery of Ethiopia at amazon.com.


Event: Rebecca Haile will be reading and signing books
Monday, September 17 at 7 pm
McNally Robinson Bookstore
52 Prince Street, at Mulberry Street

Tokyo Year Zero

British novelist David Peace based his latest book, Tokyo Year Zero, on the true story of a serial killer who murdered women in Tokyo during the years following World War II. The dark story of the killer and the detective who pursues him proves perfectly suited to capturing the mood of a depressed, destroyed, American-occupied city.

Purchase Tokyo Year Zero at amazon.com.


Event: David Peace will be reading and signing books
Monday, September 17 at 7 pm
192 Books
192 Tenth Avenue, at 21st Street

 Wesley K. Clark

A Time to Lead

In his new memoir, A Time to Lead, General Wesley Clark reflects on a distinguished military career, reveals what motivated his 2004 presidential campaign, and ponders the future of American politics.

View a short video from this segment:

If you can't see the video click here

Purchase A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country at amazon.com.


Event: Wesley Clark will be speaking and signing books
Wednesday, September 19 at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Square Barnes & Noble
1972 Broadway, at 66th Street

Patrick Swayze

The Leonard Lopate Show

Patrick Swayze mixed grace with athleticism in his movies – and rose to stardom with roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He died just recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer. And you can hear his interview with Leonard Lopate from July 16, 2002, when he came by to discuss appearing in the film, “Green Dragon.”

The Silver Anniversary of the Silver Palate

The Leonard Lopate Show

Sheila Lukins was one half of a partnership that helped popularize gourmet cooking throughout America – first, through their gourmet food shop in New York City and then with the cookbook, The Silver Palate, which remains one of the top-selling cookbooks of all time. She collaborated on 2 other cookbooks that simplified gourmet cooking for the home cook. She died recently from brain cancer at the age of 66, and you can listen to her 2007 conversation with Leonard Lopate and her business partner Julee Rosso about the 25th Anniversary of the publication of The Silver Palate.

Dominick Dunne

The Leonard Lopate Show

Dominick Dunne was a famous novelist and Hollywood producer. But he may be best remembered for covering trials of the rich and famous – from Claus von Bulow to O. J. Simpson. He died just recently at the age of 83. But you can still hear his interview with Leonard from November 23, 2001, when he was discussing crimes, trials, and punishments.

Let’s Go Swimming!

The Leonard Lopate Show

According to the Centers for Disease Control, bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms found in recreational water in the United States sicken thousands of people every year, and even result in deaths. We’ll speak with chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol about the protozoa, amoebas and other things that love to go swimming with us. Monona is also founder and President of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.

Frank McCourt

The Leonard Lopate Show

Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.

Science and Faith

The Leonard Lopate Show

Earlier this week, Pres. Obama announced that he plans to nominate geneticist Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institutes of Health. You can listen to Leonard’s 2006 conversation with Dr. Collins about how he reconciles his personal faith with his professional scientific knowledge.

FDA to Regulate Tobacco?

The Leonard Lopate Show

May 14, 2009
Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.

Leonard is on Facebook

Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.

Barack Obama, Circa 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.

Guest Picks

The Leonard Lopate Show

Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?