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Award-winning historian MICHAEL BESCHLOSS (BEHSH-loss). He's just co-authored a new book, "At the Highest Levels: The Inside Story of the End of the Cold War." (Little, Brown & Co.). BESCHLOSS and co-author Strobe Talbot were in contact with officials and communiques. in both American and Soviet governments, and with officials in NATO and the Warsaw Pact from about 1989 on. They meant to write about relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and ended up with a confidant's access to the end of the cold war. They show the close tie between George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, and how the two were so closely attuned to each other that "it eventually caused both men to lose touch with their domestic constituencies." (This interview continues in the second half of the

Author PETER GURALNICK has written the first of a two part biography of Elvis Presley, retelling the story of the King's childhood "soberly, thoroughly and unsensationally" (says the ALA Booklist). "Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley" (Little Brown) tells much of the story through quotes both from Elvis and people who knew him then. It attempts to portray Elvis' human side, rather than the mythical figure he has become.

SONNY ROLLINS, tenor saxophonist, is one of the jazz world's greatest improvisational artists. At the tender age of 23, he played with Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. After successfully battling a heroin addiction in the early 1950s, he joined the Clifford Brown-Max Roach quintet. He also began a critically-acclaimed solo career. Now in his sixties, he feels obligated to carry on the vision of his own mentors to today's rising stars. His latest album, "Old Flames" (Milestone), focuses on jazz standards and features Sonny backed by a brass section.

Professional New York house cleaner and NPR commentator, DAVID SEDARIS (seh-DAR-iss). Sedaris occasionally reads from his diaries on NPR; he started this year around Christmas time, when he recounted tales of being a Macy's elf named Crumpet during the holiday season. Other pieces have covered life with window hangers, the world of soap operas, and smoking on a bench in Central Park with a non-smoker. He's recently signed with Little, Brown for a book of short stories and a novel.

2: Actor BRIAN BENBEN recently co-starred in the movie, "Radioland Murders," as a radio scriptwriter trying to save his marriage. BENBEN also stars in "Dream On," the HBO comedy series. The FOX network recently started airing reruns from the series first season. "The New York Times" has called his "Dream On" character "an adult Charlie Brown," with "offbeat charm." (REBROADCAST from 10

People protesting a grand jury's decision not to indict a white police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown thwarted shoppers and blocked traffic near the police headquarters.

Author LINDA GRAY SEXTON has just written "Searching for Mercy Street: My Journey Back to My Mother, Anne Sexton" (Little, Brown), her seventh book. She spent a long time coming to terms with her relationship with her mother, who committed suicide in 1974. REV.: Language commentator GEOFFREY NUNBERG tells us about his hand held electronic dictionary.

We take a moment to remember those killed in yesterday's mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, N.Y.

During the 18th century, approximately 60,000 convicts were shipped from England to America and sold as indentured servants in the colonies. Today, a museum in Maryland remembers them.

The great singer and pianist Ray Charles died Thursday, June 10, at the age of 73. He was about to go back on tour, but died of complications of liver disease. Charles shaped American music since the 1950s, at first copying the styles of black vocalists like Nat King Cole and Charles Brown. But he soon developed a style all his own. His career grew along with Atlantic records, which signed him as a fledgling label. Charles' first hit was "I've Got a Woman" in 1955. He went on to record more bluesy, gospel-charged hits, country, jazz and rock. He spoke after the release of his four CD box-set Ray Charles: The Complete Country and Western Recordings 1959-1986. (Rebroadcast from Oct. 19, 1998.)