DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

For "Office Politics," on page 156, esteemed presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin sat with President Barack Obama in the commander in chiefs private dining room to learn about and share Obama's historic presidency through his own eyes. "It may seem odd that I have spent my days and nights with dead presidents," Goodwin says. "But just imagine what fun it was to use the knowledge from 'my guys' to shape this conversation with a president who is very much alive!"

ANNIE LENNOX

"I'm fascinated by people who devote their lives to breaking boundaries of self-expression," says Scottish singer and activist Annie Lennox of performance artist Marina Abramovic, whose memoir, Walk Through Walls, comes out this month. In her V.F. Portrait, on page 154, Lennox observes what brings the artist such widespread appeal. "She shocks you, and wakes you up," says Lennox, "as I imagine a Zen master might do."

ROBBIE ROBERTSON

In 1976, the Band played a blowout concert that Martin Scorsese filmed and turned into the extraordinary 1978 documentary The Last Waltz. Now Band guitarist Robbie Robertson tells his version of the concert in "We Were the Band," on page 176, an adaptation from his new memoir, Testimony. "I thought we might have the opportunity for a special marriage between music and film," Robertson says. "As it turned out, The Last Waltz was the last time we would play a show together."

BRYAN BURROUGH

For "Field of Nightmares," on page 164, Special Correspondent Bryan Burrough was thrilled to revisit a widely reported story—the saga of N.F.L. burnout Johnny Manziel—with the revelations he uncovered. "By the time I came along, some people who had always kept his secrets suddenly decided that they were no longer bound to do so," Burrough says. "It's a much more complex narrative than the party-hearty, silly-Johnny story that's out there."

PATRICK DEMARCHELIER

To photograph Hollywood icon Warren Beatty at the Beverly Hills Hotel for "Hollywood Can Wait," on page 186, Contributing Photographer Patrick Demarchelier was the only man for the job. The two had first met in 1981, shooting publicity stills for Beatty's film Reds. "Warren is very interesting and loyal," says Demarchelier. "His personality makes him just great to work with." Demarchelier also photographed actors Alden Ehrenreich and Lily Collins, who star in Beatty's new movie, Rules Don 7 Apply.

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STEPHANIE MEHTA AND JON KELLY

After working as deputy editor of Fortune and editor of Bloomberg Live, Stephanie Mehta joined V.F. this year as Deputy Editor. For this issue, she oversaw this year's New Establishment (page 115). "Eve worked on lists of most influential people in the past, but they were relatively narrow in focus," Mehta says. "Because it's Vanity Fair, the New Establishment has more room for fun—and diversity." Jon Kelly's first job out of college was as assistant to Graydon Carter. After working at Bloomberg and The New York Times Magazine, he returned last year to V.F, as editor and co-founder of the Hive. For this year's list, Mehta and Kelly were compelled to consider figures as varied as industry leaders like Jeff Bezos and amateur Snapchatters. Says Kelly, "It's hard work to figure out who wields the most sway."

ALEX WITCHEL

For "No Place Like Rao's," on page 170, journalist and novelist Alex Witchel earned access to one of New York's most exclusive unofficial clubs, Rao's, the East Harlem restaurant as famous for its colorful history as for its incredibly tight door policy. "Every dinner at Rao's is a party, with an invited guest list, jukebox, and drinks poured like they mean it," Witchel says of the 120-year-old institution. "Like a Rat Pack Bar Mitzvah five nights a week."

JUSTIN BISHOP

For "The Powder and the Glory," on page 184, Staff Photographer Justin Bishop rode a helicopter across rural Alaska with Travis Rice, widely considered the best snowboarder in the world. Rice's new movie, The Fourth Phase (out this month), explores the barely charted terrains of some of the globe's most perilous slopes. "It's not just snow-porn stuff," Bishop says. "Travis is a serious and thoughtful athlete. And he's passionate about state-of-the-art filmmaking."