War
August 15, 1985 - In marking the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the end of the second World War, a rebroadcast of a program entitled Hiroshima Countdown, which traces the development of the atomic bomb. Documentary includes commentary by Studs Terkel, author of The Good War.
November 26, 1986 - General John Vessey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shares his views on investigation of the Iran Arms-Contra deal. He also comments on the media and concerns of blowing situation out of proportion.
August 18, 1988 - MPR's Stephen Smith observes an average day in the life of a nuclear missile crew based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. He finds out that there is no button to launch a nuke; it's actually a set of keys…and keeping the keys can be pretty dull work.
August 24, 1990 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews Lucia Wilkes, co-director of Women Against Military Madness, about group’s Persian Gulf position and concerns over a pending war.
September 28, 1990 - MPR’s Tom Meersman reports on efforts by the Army Corps to locate 1437 barrels dumped into Lake Superior. The barrels originally came from the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills from a project in which Honeywell was developing fragmentation grenades for the defense department. The secret dumping into lake took place from 1959 to 1962.
December 31, 1990 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten interviews U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger about the discussion of war in the Persian Gulf. Durenberger see the possibility of talking before war commences.
January 9, 1991 - MPR Journal’s Gary Eichten talks with U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone about the prospects of war in the Persian Gulf. Wellstone comments on his take of how Congress will act with Bush Administration’s push for military action.
January 18, 1991 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews Minnesota writers Patricia Hampl and Carol Bly about the importance of reading during times of war. Interview takes place during The Gulf War.
January 26, 1991 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Ralph Leidholdt, a U.S. civilian taken hostage during Iraq invasion of Kuwait. Leidholdt recalls the experience of his capture by Iraqi forces in Kuwait and detainment in Iraq, until negotiations secured his release. The experience included a Prairie Home Companion tape collection and Muhammad Ali as a negotiator.
February 28, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone to get his reaction to the end of Persian Gulf War campaign. Wellstone states his relief that the U.S. military overwhelmingly and quickly succeeded, but saddened that the war resulted in human deaths and holds to belief that sanctions would have been better option.