April 2, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

The Jones Case and the Starr Investigation -- NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports that independent counsel Kenneth Starr said today that his investigation against President Clinton would continue despite yesterday's dismissal of the Paula Jones case. (6:00)

Daniel Schorr Commentary -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says that with the Jones case thrown out, the President has scored a political, rather than a legal victory. He still must deal with Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and his enemies in Congress. (2:00)

Editorial Pages -- All Things Considered hosts Linda Wertheimer and Noah Adams read from the editorial pages of a number of this morning's papers, about reaction to the dismissal of Paula Jones's lawsuit against President Clinton. (4:00)

Insuring the Uninsured -- NPR's Patricia Neighmond brings us up to date on health reform proposals being debated on Capitol Hill. The latest plan comes from Republicans, who want to give more generous tax breaks to individuals and companies who purchase health insurance. But opponents say this approach won't benefit those who need it most -- the working poor who can't afford to buy health insurance policies in the first place. (5:00)

'Saints and Villains' -- Novelist Denise Giardina has written a new piece of biographical fiction, about Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis at the end of the Second World War for his part in a plot against Hitler. Alan Cheuse has our review. Saints & Villains by Denise Giardina is published by Norton. (2:50)

Base Closings -- Defense Secretary William Cohen today said that $20 billion annually could be spent on updating America's military prowess if Congress approve two new rounds of military base closings. NPR's Martha Raddatz reports. (3:30)

Running From Office -- Democrats and Republicans have been aggressively recruiting candidates to run for Congress, but they are not having much luck. There are a number of reasons that potential candidates are deciding NOT to run. A big factor is the amount of money it takes to run for election. Potential candidates aren't willing to spend the huge amount of time it takes to raise money. NPR's Elizabeth Arnold reports. (9:00)

ATC Mailbag -- Linda and Noah read from listeners' comments. To contact All Things Considered, write to All Things Considered Letters, 635 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20001. To contact us via the Internet, the address is atc@npr.org. (3:00)

Sticker Station -- Linda profiles entrepreneur and inventor Sam Attenberg -- whose latest contribution to the American landscape is "sticker stations" -- an update of the photo booths popular in the Sixties and Seventies. These machines are popping up at malls and stores across the country. Now people can buy a photograph of their faces affixed to tiny stickers with interesting backgrounds. Teen and pre-teen girls especially love the idea. (5:15)

Clinton in Senegal -- NPR's Charlayne Hunter-Gault reports on President Clinton's visit to Goree Island, where for more than five centuries Africans were held in dungeons before being forced to board ships crossing the Atlantic, where they would be sold into slavery. The president's visit to Goree Island's "Slave House" is the last stop on his 12-day, 6-nation African tour before returning to Washington tonight. (4:00)

Goree Island -- Noah talks with Martin Klein, a professor of history at the University of Toronto and the author of a forthcoming book called "Slavery and Colonial Rule in French West Africa." They discuss the history of Goree Island, which was once a primary slave trade center. Slavery and Colonial Rule in French West Africa will be published this May by Cambridge University Press. (4:00)

The People and the Presidency -- Linda talks with Andy Kohut, director of the Pew Center for the People and the Press about public opinion of both the President and the Presidency. Never before has there been such a strong split between the public's opinion of the Bill Clinton the person and Bill Clinton the president. (4:00)

The French Right -- NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports on the turmoil besetting the right-wing political establishment in France. Mainstream politicians have struck power-sharing deals with the extremist National Front, to hold onto power in regional assemblies. Critics are drawing comparisons with the Vichy collaborationist government during World War Two. In the meantime, National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen been convicted of assault and stripped of his civil rights. (3:00)

The London Underground -- NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports on the decrepit state of the London underground. The government has moved to privatize maintenance of the tube, but transportation industry analysts doubt the scheme will bring the subway up to modern safety standards. (4:00)

Lebanon Reaction -- Linda talks with Tewfik Mishlawi, the editor of the Middle East Reporter and Newsletter. They talk about reaction in the Middle East to the news that Israel has offered to withdraw its troops from Southern Lebanon if the area's security can be guaranteed. (4:30)

Hamas Bomb Maker -- NPR's Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem about the mystery of who killed Mohidin Sharif, the alleged "master bomb maker" from the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas. Sharif's bullet-riddled body was found in the rubble of a detonated car-bomb in a garage in the West Bank town of Ramallah. The killing revived memories of Israel's killing two years ago of Sharif's predecessor in the movement, Yehiya Ayash, who was known as "the Engineer." But Israel has denied all responsibility for Sharif's killing. (3:30)

Conditions in Kosovo -- Noah talks with Veton Surroi, the daily editor of the Koha Ditore in Kosovo. They talk about conditions in Kosovo and the continuing political struggles between ethnic Albanians and Serbs in the region. (4:30)

Kick Butts -- Today is "Kick Butts Day," a nationwide effort encouraging young people to refrain from smoking. In Denver, elementary, middle school, and high school students from around the state dumped cigarette butts on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol building. (2:00)

MOMUS -- Nicholas Currie is a Scottish musician whose one-man band, MOMUS, has long been a force in "underground" music. Momus has kept a low profile, releasing albums only in the United Kingdom...but the latest Momus CD is now available in the United States. Charles de Ledesma has a review. "Momus Plays Ping Pong" is available in the U.S. on Le Grand Magistery Records, catalog number HRH004. To contact the record company, send e-mail to MAGISTERY@AOL.COM. (4:00)