History of U.S. Marriage: Miscegenation Laws

By Robert Siegel

Published March 16, 2004 at 12:00 AM EST

The national debate on gay marriage -- centered in places as unconnected as New York state, San Franscisco, Oregon, Georgie, New Jersey and Seattle -- is by turns civil and rancorous.

The status of an institution often seen as being woven into the national fabric is now up for discussion. In a two-part examination of the history of American discussions on marriage and its evolution, NPR's Robert Siegel talks with social historians about crises faced by marriage in the United States.

Robert Siegel

Prior to his retirement, Robert Siegel was the senior host of NPR's award-winning evening newsmagazine All Things Considered. With 40 years of experience working in radio news, Siegel hosted the country's most-listened-to, afternoon-drive-time news radio program and reported on stories and happenings all over the globe, and reported from a variety of locations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. He signed off in his final broadcast of All Things Considered on January 5, 2018.

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