Congress, Politics, Books
and American History

This week on Q&A, co-authors Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy discuss their newly released historical narrative “The Presidents Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity.”  They describe the history of private and public relationships among modern American presidents dating back to Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover. 

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This week on Q&A, author Blaine Harden discusses his historical narrative "Escape From Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West." Harden tells the story of a young man named Shin Dong-hyuk, who was born in captivity at prison camp 14, located in central North Korea. Shin escaped in 2005. Harden says that Shin is the only individual actually born in a labor camp to escape. In his book, Harden explains that Camp 14 holds approximately fifteen thousand prisoners and is the toughest of six camps in the country because of the brutal working conditions and vigilance of the guards. He relates how Shin witnessed the execution of his mother and brother, whom he had reported to guards after overhearing them discuss the possibility of escape. He was severely beaten and tortured for information about his mother and brother until he convinced the guards that he had turned them in to authorities as required. Harden details Shin's escape through an electrified fence by climbing over a dead companion's body and his hazardous journey through China into South Korea. Harden talks about the process Shin undertook to learn about society and civilization, and how he ended up meeting him in 2008 while writing a story for The Washington Post. In addition, Mr. Harden discusses his early career as a writer and his motivations for becoming a journalist.

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This week on Q&A, author Douglas Wissing discusses his latest narrative, “Funding the Enemy: How U.S. Taxpayers Bankroll the Taliban.”  Mr. Wissing states in his book that for a variety of reasons, much of the taxpayer money the United States spends in Afghanistan is being diverted and used for funding the Taliban. 

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On this week's "Q&A," Katrina Lantos Swett discusses her role as President and CEO of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. Swett talks about her father, the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and his contributions as founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

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This week on "Q&A," high school students from the United States Senate Youth Program discuss their participation in a week-long government and leadership education program in Washington, DC. 

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Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper spoke with Jane Harman, Director, President, & CEO of The Wilson Center,  following his meeting with President Obama and President of Mexico Felipe Calderon.
 

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This week on "Q&A," our guests are producer Rachel Libert and retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger.  Libert is the producer and co-director of a documentary which features Ensminger.

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This week on Q&A, actress and activist Sonja Sohn discusses the creation and continuing operations for her Baltimore-based nonprofit ReWired for Change. Sohn, well-known for her role as Detective Shakima “Kima” Greggs on the acclaimed series "The Wire," discusses her organization, which works to affect the lives of high risk youth and their families through mentoring, after school programs and community involvement.

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This week on "Q&A," our guest is Dr. Walter Williams, a John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University, and syndicated columnist and author.

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This week on "Q&A," Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and author Tim Weiner discusses his new historical narrative, “Enemies: A History of the FBI.” 

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