Summary: Part A:As Iran heats up as an issue again, it’s easy to look back at the CIA and hostage crisis and turmoil in the late 70’s and early 80’s and compare with the last time the US spent a lot of time there. George W. Cave was a station chief in Iran during the overthrow of Mossadegh through the establishment of Khomeini as the Supreme Leader in Iran. That single change in the government locked out the chances of democracy in Iran, perhaps forever, and has led to a succession of Supreme Leaders. Cave has most recently used the medium of fiction to revisit the 80s and focus on the arms-for-hostages deal that coincided with Ronald Reagan’s winning of the presidency.Part B:He was best-known as a newscaster, he ended his career on a well-known quiz show. Carl Kassell has been celebrated since his announced retirement recently but he really hung up his headphones only a few weeks ago with his last broadcast as official judge and scorekeeper of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” Kasell takes a look back at his start in radio, many highlights of his career, famous personalities he helped launch and what is next.
