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The Leonard Lopate Show / June 17, 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

Thursday, June 17, 2004
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    Life After Star Wars

    Today we take a look at the darker side of Ronald Reagan’s legacy. According to veteran journalist T.D. Allman, Reagan’s "Star Wars" mindset paved the way for current struggles against terrorism, both at home and abroad. Then Ofra Bikel, director of Frontline’s documentary, The Plea, on why plea bargains endanger the constitutional rights of defendants, who may be pressured to admit their guilt whether they're guilty or not. And Helen Fielding shares her latest novel.

T.D. Allman

T.D. Allman, a veteran journalist, is the author of Rogue State. He writes: "Ronald Reagan made Americans feel good...But with his 'Star Wars' obsession he started America down the road to strategic defenselessness."

Ofra Bikel

Nearly 95 percent of all people who are convicted of felonies never reach a jury, but instead their cases are settled through plea bargains. Ofra Bikel is director of Frontline’s The Plea. She’s joined by constitutional lawyer Claudia Angelos, as well as Regina Kelly, who’s featured in the documentary. The Plea airs tonight, June 17, at 9 PM.

» More about the film on pbs.org

Music: Soundtrack, "Let Him Have It"
Tracks: "Let Him Have It" and "The Roof"

Helen Fielding

Helen Fielding (of Bridget Jones fame) has a new novel out – it’s called Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination.

Music: "Sirens" Track: #8

al franken

The Franken Factor

Al Franken will be declared the winner of the Minnesota Senate race recount, even though Norm Coleman is expected to challenge the results in court. Al Franken has been a guest on the Lopate Show several times, most recently in 2005. Hear him talk about his journey from performing to politics.

Obama’s Emissaries to Hot Spots

President-elect Obama has asked Dennis Ross and Richard Haass to serve as his chief emissaries to world hot spots – Ross to Iran, and Haass to the Middle East. Both have been guests on the Lopate Show. Hear Ross talk about the do’s and don’t’s of diplomacy in 2007, and Haass in 2005 on America’s role in shaping world history.

Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Kennedy on the Lopate Show

The Leonard Lopate Show

Caroline Kennedy’s bid for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat could make her the latest member of the Kennedy family to take on a major role in national politics. She’s been a guest on the Lopate Show twice – once to talk about Americans’ right to privacy, and more recently to discuss examples of political courage.

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

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?