April 3, 2008: James Carville and Mary Matalin

James Carville is the man who devised the most dramatic political victories of our generation, 鈥淐aptured in action in The War Room,鈥� the compelling, Academy Award-nominated documentary about President Bill Clinton鈥檚 presidential campaign, Carville knows precisely how to craft a winning strategy. A fixture on CNN鈥檚 groundbreaking 鈥淐rossfire鈥� for many years, Carville analyzes the day鈥檚 political headlines, including a close-up look at the 2008 presidential campaigns and candidates.

His latest book, 鈥淭ake it Back,鈥� is a handbook for taking back Congress, the White House and the country. In 鈥淏uck Up, Suck Up and Come Back When You Foul Up,鈥� Carville offers enlightening behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the campaign trail.

He is also author of 鈥淪tickin鈥�: The Case for Loyalty; All鈥檚 Fair,鈥� written with his wife and favorite debate partner, Mary Matalin, and the upcoming 鈥淭he Lost Generation鈥� (Summer 2008). Carville鈥檚 become a pop culture icon, co-producing the movie remake of 鈥淎ll The King's Men鈥� and spoofing his own well-recognized persona on television and in such films as 鈥淥ld School.鈥�

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Mary Matalin, former assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, was the first White House official to hold that double title.

In 1992, President Bush named her the deputy campaign manager for political operations. As deputy campaign manager, she was responsible for the overview and organization of all 50 state operations. As the on-board planner who traveled with President Bush throughout the 1992 campaign, she emerged as the vocal, and occasionally controversial, defender of the president and his policies.

Before joining the Bush/Cheney White House, Matalin hosted CNN鈥檚 critically acclaimed debate show, 鈥淐rossfire.鈥� Matalin is the former founding co-host of the Washington-based political weeknight talk show, 鈥淓qual Time,鈥� which premiered in May 1993 on CNBC. She served as co-host until shortly after the 1996 national political conventions. Her political astuteness and antics contributed to the show鈥檚 being called 鈥渢he best talk show on television鈥� by Knight Ridder News Service.

Matalin鈥檚 humor, straightforward discussion, and ability to discuss the hottest political issues in Washington helped to make the show one of the most talked about programs in the network鈥檚 history.