Hearing Voices - Radio Stories / Politics

Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes administering oath of office to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, March 4, 1933

Presidential Inaugurations 8:57 Barrett Golding

The first sound-recording of a presidential inauguration was made in 1925, Calvin Coolidge's ceremony. It was one of the first electrical recordings, using not acoustical horns, but microphones and amplifiers to to capture audio. The inaugural speech of Coolidge's sucessor, Herbert Hoover, was not recorded. President Ford did not have an Inauguration Day, but had memorable moments during his "Remarks On Taking the Oath of Office." So, from their inaugural addresses: Ladies the Gentlemen, the Presidents of the United States…

Broadcast: Jan 19 2009 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Politics, Public Affairs

Political People 7:20 Barrett Golding

Almost half the eligible voters in this country don't bother to vote. But some people are passionate about politics. They pass out pamphlets, work the phones, write letters to the editor. We wondered why, when so many people couldn't care less about politics, these people care so much. So we went down to the party headquarters and asked them. (Original songs written for this story by Greg Keeler.)

Broadcast: Nov 4 2008 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Politics

Woman with crystal ball and painted face

Rainbow Family 10:42 Barrett Golding

The Gathering of the Tribes: the annual migration of The Rainbow Family of Living Light. Each year, twenty thousand people camp for a week in a the national forest. They come together first week of July; the Fourth of July is their day of prayer, a prayer for peace. Also see: Rainbow Family web presentation, audio collage, and Chad Harder photos. [transcript]

Broadcast: Jun 28 2008 on APM Weekend America; Jul 1 2002 on PRI/MPR Savvy Traveler Subjects: Politics, Cultural, Historical Anniversaries, Environment

Winter Soldiers 7:25 Scott Carrier & Barrett Golding

For the first time boots-on-the-ground soldiers testified before Congress (C-SPAN) in May 2008 about how the Iraq war is being waged. Those testifying were members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War. A couple months earlier the group gathered to record soldiers and marines "giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out." They called the event Winter Soldier, taking the name from a similar 1971 movement of Vietnam vets.

Broadcast: Jun 12 2008 on HV WebworkSeries: Hearing Voices- Webworks Subjects: Politics, War

Nepali Bob Dylan 2:57 Jack Chance

The Kingdom of Nepal became a democracy this week, holding it's first elections for representatives who will write the new constitution and are likely to abolish the monarchy. We speak with a young musician in Kathmandu, Rubin Gandharba, whose songs (played on the Nepali sarangi) became a rallying cry for the Nepali Democracy Movement.

Broadcast: Apr 17 2008 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Music, Politics

Presidential Inaugurations 10:08 Barrett Golding

Excerpts from: Calvin Coolidge, Inaugural Address, Wednesday, March 4, 1925. (No inaugural recording exists of Herbert Hoover.) Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, Saturday, March 4, 1933. Harry S. Truman, Inaugural Address, Thursday, January 20, 1949. Dwight D. Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address, Tuesday, January 20, 1953. John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1961. Lyndon B. Johnson, Inaugural Address, Wednesday, January 20, 1965. Richard M. Nixon, Second Inaugural Address, Saturday, January 20, 1973. Gerald Ford, Remarks On Taking The Oath Of Office, Friday Aug. 9, 1974. Jimmy Carter, Inaugural Address, Thursday, January 20, 1977. Ronald Reagan, Second Inaugural Address, Monday, January 21, 1985. George H. W. Bush, Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1989. Bill Clinton, First Inaugural Address, Thursday, January 20, 1993. George W. Bush, Inaugural Address, Saturday, January 20, 2001.

Broadcast: Feb 18 2008 on HV PODCAST Subjects: Historical, Historical Anniversaries, Public Affairs, Politics

Iron Cross Battles Burmese Repression 5:30 Scott Carrier

The popular Burmese rock band Iron Cross is using music to challenge the nation's infamously repressive regime. In the great tradition of rock and roll, Iron Cross is taking on Burma's military government with song. [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 24 2007 on HV PODCAST; May 10 2006 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Music, Politics, International

Scenes from the trail of Slobodan Milosevic at the Hugue

Remedial Theory 12:51 Ben Walker

Great literature allows us to learn to empathize with the experiences of others. So how is it a man now on trial for crimes against humanity is an avid reader of fiction? Might he simple be reading the wrong books? A trip to The Hague to hand-deliver the �right� books to Slobodan Milosevic. (For an hour-long version, turn on Your Radio Nightlight.) [transcript]

Broadcast: Aug 6 2007 on HV PODCAST; Jun 13 2004 on PRI/WNYC The Next Big Thing Subjects: Literature, International, Politics, Justice

Rocky Anderson and Sean Hannity debating

SLC’s Rocky vs. FOX’s Sean 13:52 Scott Carrier

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson publicly debates FOX News broadcaster Sean Hannity. The topic was two-fold: What can be said of success and failure in Iraq, and should our president be impeached?

Broadcast: May 26 2007 on PRI/WBEZ This American Life Subjects: War, Media, Politics

Hydrogen People 2:05 Jesse Boggs

The Administration moves beyond Hydrogen Powered Automobiles. Another experiment in the crytomusicology of Presidential Patter.

Broadcast: Apr 23 2007 on HV PODCAST Subjects: Comedy, Politics, Music