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His new book is Dice: Deception, Fate & Rotten Luck. It's a collection of essays about the history of dice and the many ways of cheating at the game. The New York Times says of Jay, "He's a master's master." His other books include Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women and Jay's Journal of Anomalies. He's appeared in a number of David Mamet films and his one-man shows include Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants and Ricky Jay: On the Stem.

Journalist Christopher Kremmer spent 10 years reporting from South and Central Asia, where he developed a love for the carpets made in the region. His new book, The Carpet Wars, celebrates the time he spent with the local carpet merchants and the many souvenirs he acquired. Kremmer and Steve talk about the history and culture behind the area's second largest industry. (Carpet Wars is published by Ecco Press; ISBN: 0060097329.)(8:32)

He first became known for his work with "Fairport Convention." He's since gone solo and is known for his dark songs, which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues. He's released a number of solo albums, including Mirror Blue and Rumor and Sigh. Rykodisc also compiled a retrospective of his work, Watching the Dark: The History of Richard Thompson. Currently, Thompson is performing a show he calls A Thousand Years of Pop Music, which includes British and American folk songs, jazz and pop. This interview first aired October 24, 2002.

In Washington, political types are looking forward to Congress coming into session later this month. But commentator Byron York wants to look a little farther into the future of politics -- five years -- to 2008. That's the year the first of the Generation Xers will be the age that President Kennedy was when he went into office, and he thinks that they will be ready to take political leadership then. York thinks that the Baby Boomers are too bogged down by the history of Vietnam to lead in the most important areas now -- homeland security and defense -- so we might skip an entire generation of leadership -- the Baby Boomers -- and go on to the Xers.

Equestrians David and Karen OConnor. Only the second husband and wife team to share a medal in Olympic history, the OConnors helped win the US a bronze medal and a gold (David OConnor in the individual event) in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Internationally recognized equestrians, they won a silver medal for the US in the 1996 Olympics. In 2000, the US won the bronze in the Team Three Day Event Dressage. David OConnor won the gold in the Individual Three Day Event (Jumping, Cross Country and Dressage). The duo train and run clinics in The Plains, Virginia.

Hes the bestselling author of Great Political Wit. His new book, called Great Presidential Wit (I Wish I was in the Book), is a collection of funny anecdotes and quotations by or about American Presidents. Dole was the longest-serving Republican leader in Senate history. He is currently serving as the chairman of the World War II Memorial campaign and as chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in the Former Yugoslavia. Dole was also a commentator for Comedy Centrals Indecision 2000.

Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes is probably best known in this country for his novel about quintessential fallen and corrupt twentieth century Mexican anti-hero called "The Death of Artemio Cruz." In that novel we see the history of modern Mexico through a man's eyes. In his new book, "The Years with Laura Diaz, we see from the woman's perspective. Alan Cheuse has a review. (1:45) "The Years with Laura Diaz," by Carlos Fuentes is published by Faurer, Strauss, Giroux.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was one of the most famous Americans of his day. His influence on American mythology, through poems like The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, was profound. Poet J.D. McClatchy has edited a new compilation of the Longfellow's work. McClatchy talks to host Linda Wertheimer about Longfellow's prolific writing, and his sway on how American's view themselves and their history. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Poems and Other Writings is edited by J.D. McClatchy and published by Library of America, ISBN # 188301185X.)

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Ashton Carter, Ford Foundation Professor of Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and Co-Director of the Harvard-Stanford Preventive Defense Project. Carter was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy from 1993-1996, and senior adviser to the DoD's North Korea Policy Review from 1998-2000. Mr. Carter discusses the history and significance of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty: which countries signed, which countries didn't, and what it means to be party to the treaty.

After two years as Vice President Dick Cheney's closest aide, Mary Matalin prepares to leave the White House. Matalin, who has a long history in Republican politics says she hopes to spend more time with her family -- including her husband, is Democratic political strategist and TV personality James Carville. NPR's Juan Williams talks with Matalin.