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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.

Noah talks to fiddler Jay Ungar and guitarist/pianist Molly Mason about their new recording "The Lovers' Waltz," a collection of music they've played at weddings. Molly says sometimes a tune writes itself -- as if it's always existed and the role of the composer is to uncover what's always been there. Jay Ungar is best known for his composition "Ashokan Farewell" -- the sad fiddle tune used throughout Ken Burns' documentary "The Civil War."

The diminuitive British rapper Louise Harman, known as Lady Sovereign, is the first foreign female artist signed by Jay Z's Island Def Jam label. Despite her regal title, Lady Sovereign grew up in a public housing project in London, and her rhymes are anything but highbrow.

The popular No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels by Alexander McCall Smith have been made into a series for HBO. Jill Scott plays heroine Precious Ramotswe. In an article for The Daily Beast, Stanley Crouch hails her nuanced performance, and the show's depiction of Africa.

Best known as a backup vocalist for the E Street Band, and as Bruce Springsteen's wife, Scialfa occasionally finds time to record and play her own music. Hear her perform songs from Play It As It Lays and give an interview on World Cafe from WXPN.

Director Ruth Leitman and Wrestler Lillian "The fabulous Moolah" Ellison discuss the new documentary Lipstick and Dynamite. The film takes a look at the sport of lady wrestling, a phenomenon that started in the 1930s. The fabulous Moolah is now in her '80s and still wrestling.

Today is Star Trek day....

J.J. Johnson is often termed the greatest jazz trombonist of all time. He introduced staccato phrasing to the difficult instrument and played with unprecedented speed. This two-volume set includes most of Johnson's hits.

Runners from Mexico reach New York carrying a torch in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe -- a symbol of hope for Mexico's down-trodden. In Manhattan, Mexican Americans packed a city block to greet the flame's arrival Thursday. Rachel Dornhelm reports.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Liz Carpenter, a political humorist, speechwriter and former press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson. The native Texan says that Texas and Washington have changed a lot since the days of the Johnson administration.

Family Circle magazine makes a habit of publishing the signature cookie recipes of incumbent and aspiring first ladies. So far, the lady with the readers' favorite cookies has ended up in the White House. Two partisans, Republican Linda Tarplin and her Democrat husband Rich, compare Laura Bush's Oatmeal Chocolate Chunks with Teresa Heinz Kerry's Pumpkin Spices. NPR's Susan Stamberg officiates.

Alan Cheuse reviews a book by Christopher Buckley, called No Way To Treat A Lady. The story is inspired by rumors about former President Clinton's family life.