E-mail a friendApril 24, 2006
Iowa's Gov. Tom Vilsack discusses pros and cons of a presidential run in '08. Ben Harper explains how a career in music was virtually unavoidable and performs a song from his new CD, "Both Sides of the Gun."
Gov. Tom Vilsack
Gov. Tom Vilsack
Iowa's Tom Vilsack is the state's first Democratic governor elected in more than 30 years and his party's senior governor in the nation. He also chairs the centrist-leaning Democratic Leadership Council, a position once held by former President Clinton. Vilsack was previously a state senator, served three terms as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant and managed a private law practice. He has said he will not seek re-election and hasn't ruled out the possibility of seeking his party's nod for the '08 presidential race.
Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Singer-songwriter Ben Harper creates music that blends an assortment of styles. Born into a family of musicians, he was singing chords at age 4 and started playing the guitar at age 6. By age 12, he was performing for live audiences. Harper is a master of the slide guitar and has collaborated on records and in concerts with such artists as John Lee Hooker, Metallica and The Blind Boys of Alabama. On his seventh studio album, "Both Sides of the Gun," he exposes listeners to various sides of his multifaceted gift.