dr. james billington the library of congress. and he's given that duty by congress. congress enacted law that made or i suppose maybe it's not a law, but the position of the laureate ship in 1986. it used to be the consultant in poetry for many years. the first was joseph of slander. but in 1986 a change to the different title, the united states poet laureate. >> what is your position in the state of mississippi? >> i am also the poet laureate of mississippi. >> who chooses that? >> the outgoing governor haley barbour selected be. >> is that the term the position? >> it is and used to be a lifetime position. but with my term, the previous poet laureate by it and they decide to make it a termed position and is now four years. >> we can characterize authors as a novelist or a historian. can you characterize poets' the same way? >> there are plenty of poets who also right in other shaun -- genres. you might call me a nonfiction writer because i have a book of nonfiction. but thinking of something my southern predecessor said, and that is the historical sense and the poe

dr. james billington library of congress. he's given the duty by congress. congress enacted the law that made or -- i suppose maybe it's not law. but the position in 1986. it used to be the consult faint in protoi are for many years. in 1986 it changed to the different title. >> host: what is your position with the state of mississippi? >> guest: i'm the poet of the state of mississippi. >> host: who chooses that and >> guest: the outgoing governor selected my. >> host: is it a term position? >> guest: it is. in mississippi it used to be a lifetime position. with my term, the previous poet died and they decided to make it a termed position. and is now four years in mississippi. >> host: question characterize authors like taylor branch as a novelist or historian. can you characterize poets the same way? >> guest: well, there are plenty of poets who write in other areas. you might also call me a non-fiction writer. i have a book of non-fiction. but i'm thinking about something my southern predecessor said historical sense shouldn't be seen as contract i are. i