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Volume 2 of Robert Caro's L. B. J. Biography.

Pulitzer prize winning biographer Robert A. Caro on Lyndon Baines Johnson. The book focused on Johnson's early years. The Boston Sunday Globe called it, "a powerful, absorbing, at times awe-inspiring, and often deeply alarming story." In the just-published second volume, "Means of Ascent," Caro examines seven years of Johnson's life, from 1941 to 1948. "Time" magazine calls the book, a "white-knuckle, hair raising tale." The book begins with Johnson's election defeat for the Senate and concludes with his successful race for the Senate seat in 1948, an election Johnson was purported to have "stolen." ("The Path to Power," and "Means of Ascent" are published by Knopf).

22:36
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Other segments from the episode on March 20, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 20, 1990: Interview with Robert A. Caro; Commentary on Vietnam protest songs; Interview with Vitaly Komar and Aleksandr Melamid; Review of David McLellan's biography…
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06:54

Lesser Known Vietnam Protest Songs.

Rock historian Ed Ward plays some of the lessor known, but more effecting, protest songs about the Vietnam War. Artists include: Charlie and Inez Foxx, Jimmy Cliff, Freda Payne, and Grand Funk Railroad.

Commentary
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11:19

Creating Art in the Soviet Union and New York.

Soviet-born artists Vitaly Komar and Aleksandr Melamid. The pair are the creators of two huge, multi-paneled works called "Yalta 1945" and "Winter in Moscow 1977." Both works are being shown in America for the first time at the Brooklyn Museum. "Yalta 1945" is made of 31 4x4 foot panels depicting Lenin and the four leaders from the Yalta Conference. "Winter in Moscow 1977" uses 26 panels to show Komar and Melamid's home town shortly before they fled to the West. (The exhibit runs until June 4th).

Interview
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04:01

Simone Weil Tried to Save Us All.

Book critic John Leonard reviews the new biography of French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil (pronounced "vile"). It's called "Utopian Pessimist," and it's by David McLellan.

Review

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42:35

In 'Passage,' Caro Mines LBJ's Changing Political Roles.

The fourth volume in Robert Caro's monumental biography of Lyndon Johnson is The Passage of Power; it explores the period between 1958 and 1964 during which Johnson went from powerful Senate majority leader to powerless vice president to — suddenly — president of the United States.

Interview

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52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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