October 30, 1985 - Steve Peacenik, former governmental crisis manager, discusses hostage situations and soviet state psychological tactics. Pieczenik was one of the federal government's principal crisis managers during the Ford and Carter administrations. He was involved in the negotiations that led up to the release of more than 500 hostages, including those who were held after the takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran. He also assisted in the reorganization of the state department's office to combat terrorism and helped plan the Camp David summit conference. Pieczenik is currently a consultant to the Rand Corporation, recently completed a study on Soviet political behavior and decision-making, and has written a book titled, "The Mind Palace."
November 6, 1985 - Wyman Spano and D.J. Leary, editors of the newsletter "Politics in Minnesota," discuss the outcome of Tuesday's general election, and about other political developments in Minnesota. Topics include historic low turnout and special interest groups. Spano and Leary also answer listener questions.
November 8, 1985 - MPR’s Mark Heistad unravels a chapter in Minnesota history and lore with documentary titled “A Story of Crime, Criminals and Corruption." Heistad tracked down numerous stories about some notorious gangsters in Minnesota, including John Dillinger shooting it out with G-Men in St. Paul, Al Capone buying moonshine in Stearns County, and Barker-Karpis gang vacationing in White Bear Lake.
November 14, 1985 - Dr. Wes Jackson, co-founder of the Land Institute, a non-profit educational research center in Salina, Kansas, gave closing address at major agricultural symposium at Concordia College in Moorhead. Jackson’s speech was titled "Food, Farming and the Future." Jackson is the author of three books: "Man and His Environment", "New Roots for Agriculture", and "Meeting the Expectations of the Land." He also teaches land stewardship and sustainable agriculture.
November 15, 1985 - Tony Bouza, Minneapolis police chief, discusses current law enforcement issues. Topics include 2nd precinct problems, pornography, and demonstrator arrests at Honeywell. Bouza also answers listener questions.
November 15, 1985 - MPR Special broadcast of the inauguration of Kenneth H. Keller as the twelfth president of the University of Minnesota, live from the Northrop Auditorium.
November 19, 1985 - Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO president, speaking at Carlson Lecture Series in Northrop Auditorium. Kirkland’s address was on the topic of unions and the American future. Following speech, Kirkland answered audience questions. Kirkland has been appointed to several presidential commissions, including the Presidential Commission to Study Social Security (1983) and the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America (1984). Among the boards he serves on are the American Council on Germany, American Arbitration Association, the Rockefeller Foundation, International Broadcasting, the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Planning Association and the National Endowment for Democracy. The Carlson Lecture Series was established by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
November 20, 1985 - Mitch Snyder, director of the Center for Creative Non-Violence in Washington D.C., speaking to the National Forum on Urban Homelessness, held at the University of Minnesota. Snyder’s address was on the problems of the homeless. Snyder was the subject of a made-for-television 1986 biopic, “Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story,” starring Martin Sheen.
December 5, 1985 - Jonathan Kozol speaking at a meeting hosted by the Minnesota Literacy Council. Kozol’s address was on illiteracy in United States. Kozol is a graduate of Harvard University. He is a Rhodes Scholar and has taught at Yale. Kozol has been researching illiteracy problems for more than two decades. His newest book is entitled "Illiterate America".
December 9, 1985 - Irwin Jacobs, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Minstar Incorporated, and president of the Jacobs Management Corporation, and Raymond Plank, chairman and chief executive officer of Apache Corporation debate at Minnesota Meeting. The topic of debate was “Corporate Takeovers: Who Wins? Who Loses?" Irwin Jacobs is a well-known corporate raider. Raymond Plank is the founder and co-chair of Stakeholders in American, a national coalition of CEOs that attempts to counter hostile takeover attempts. Ted Weyerhaeuser, chairman of Minnesota Meeting, moderated. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.