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American citizens have written to the first ladies of the nation since the days of Martha Washington. The letters make requests, ask for favors, criticize and praise. A number of letters to presidents' wives have been collected in the new book Dear First Lady.

Lincoln Chafee, former U.S. senator from Rhode Island, was often called the most liberal Republican in the Senate. In office, he bucked his party on a number of hot-button issues, including same-sex marriage and the war in Iraq. His book Against the Tide challenges the Republican Party on its rightward drift.

The Olympic torch was carried through the heart of the Indian capital Thursday. Hours earlier, Tibetan exiles gathered in protest. India is home to the world's largest community of exiled Tibetans, as well as the Dalai Lama and his government in exile.

Hidden Kitchens travels to the Louisiana State Penitentiary and the world of unexpected, below-the-radar, down-home convict cooking at the Angola Prison Rodeo. The event, which draws thousands of spectators, features traditional dishes prepared and sold by inmates at the prison farm.

It's been four years since Gene Robinson was consecrated bishop of a rural Episcopal diocese in New Hampshire. He's faced challenges and controversies as that denomination's first openly gay bishop — and he's written about them in a new memoir, In the Eye of the Storm.

Steve Inskeep talks to author Kevin Phillips about his new book, Bad Money. Phillips argues in the book that the U.S. economy is in danger because of its reliance on the financial industry. He also believes that Wall Street has steered the nation toward greater debt.

Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States comes at a time when Roman Catholic seminary enrollment is down 60 percent since 1968. Two seminarians talk with Michele Norris about the shrinking pool of priests and other issues facing the U.S. church.

It's been a rough week for airlines — and for travelers. American Airlines grounded thousands of flights and Frontier became the fourth airline in two months to declare bankruptcy. Aviation expert George Hobica talks to Andrea Seabrook about what passengers can do to protect themselves.

American Airlines canceled more than 3,000 flights this week because of safety inspections ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration — yet another problem for a beleaguered industry. Soaring fuel prices have led four airlines to declare bankruptcy in the past few weeks.

On Friday, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Philip Roth is being honored at Columbia University in commemoration of his 75th birthday. The National Book Foundation is celebrating the event with an online exhibit of Roth's work. Roth, a frequent guest on Fresh Air, talks with Terry Gross about his celebrated career.