August 17, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

WHITE HOUSE MOOD -- NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports on the mood at the White House today as the investigation into the President's relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky reaches a crucial point with the President's unprecedented testimony before a federal grand jury. The testimony on closed circuit TV comes seven months after allegations first surfaced that the President lied about the relationship under oath. (4:00)

OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE -- NPR's Larry Abramson talked with people outside the White House about President Clinton's federal grand jury testimony today and found opinions divided three ways. Some protesters were there to demonstrate for the president's impeachment. Tourists tended to support Mr. Clinton or to say they were depressed by the whole thing. (4:00)

NORTHERN IRELAND BOMBING -- NPR's Michael Goldfarb reports from Belfast that the British and Irish governments are working to find those responsible for the car bomb that killed 28 people in Omagh on Saturday. Police have arrested five suspects in towns near Omagh. The authorities suspect a faction calling itself "The Real IRA," which is a splinter group of the IRA opposed to the Good Friday peace agreement for Northern Ireland. (4:00)

CONGO CHAOS -- Noah talks with NPR's Jennifer Ludden who is in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. The rebels appear to be closing in on the capital. There have been powerful outages throughout the city today, and soldiers returning from the frontlines are telling people on the street that it is their Congolese brothers who are rebelling not Rwandan invaders. (3:30)

IRAQ WEAPONS -- Linda talks with Judith Miller, a reporter for the New York Times about an Iraqi atomic scientist who defected to the United States. Dr. Hamza is the highest ranking scientist ever to defect from Iraq. He left in 1994 and provided security information about Iraq to the CIA. Judith Miller has talked to people at the CIA about the information he has provided the United States. (4:15)

RUSSIA ECONOMY -- David McGuffin reports from Moscow that after weeks of financial turmoil, the Russian government has agreed to devalue the ruble. The Kremlin also announced a 90-day moratorium on repayment of foreign debt. Amidst all the economic and political uncertainty, President Yeltsin has promoted a leading reformer, tax chief Boris Fyodorov, to the position of deputy prime minister. (3:15)

JAPAN ECONOMY I -- NPR's John Ydstie reports that Japan, which amazed the world with its rapid economic expansion after World War Two, has fallen even more rapidly into the worst recession in some 50 years. This first in a series of four reports, examines the impact of the economic crisis on Japanese life and industry. (9:15)

YEAR 2000 WINDCHILL -- Commentator David Weinberger attempts to get to the bottom of the confusion over the year 2000 issue. He asks, when does the new millenium actually begin, anyway. Weinberger concludes that birthdays, even Jesus', should be counted with a windchill factored in. So, whether the millenium starts in 2000 or 2001, it's not going to matter much. (2:30)

LUCINDA WILLIAMS -- Music reviewer Tom Moon looks at Lucinda Williams' new release Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Fans have been waiting for the singer-songwriter to produce something new. Her last release was, Sweet Old World, in 1992. (5:15)

CLINTON TESTIFIES -- Linda talks with NPR's Nina Totenberg about President Clinton's testimony today before a federal grand jury. They discuss what questions he may have been asked by independent counsel Kenneth Starr and about what he may have said. They will also discuss plans for the President to address the nation after his testimony is completed and what such an address is expected to accomplish. (4:30)

IMPACT ON FIRST FAMILY -- NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on what impact today's testimony may have on First Lady Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea. Mrs. Clinton has been the president's staunchest supporter and if the president now admits to an improper relationship with Monica Lewinsky, it's likely to create a very difficult situation for his family. (4:00)

EMBASSY BOMBING SUSPECT -- NPR's Ted Clark reports on the latest developments in the investigations into the bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Investigators are interrogating a suspect who was arrested in Pakistan. Newspaper reports cite sources in Pakistan as saying the suspect admitted his part in the attack on the embassies. However, a statement released from the US Embassy in Nairobi says the suspect did not admit any responsibility. (3:30)

CALIFORNIA TEACHER SHORTAGE -- NPR's Richard Gonzalez reports that a new state regulation mandating reduction of class size is contributing to a severe teacher shortage. School districts with smaller budgets are hardest hit and are finding that more wealthy school districts are bidding away young teachers. (5:00)

ATLANTIC ROWER -- Noah talks with Bob Hurley about helping his friend Tori Murden build a boat, which she is now rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. She has reached the mid-way point and if she makes it all the way, she will be the first woman to row across the Atlantic. Her progress is being tracked on the web. (http://www.oceanrowing.com/ampearl/index.htm) (3:00)

DIVERTING WELFARE RECIPIENTS -- In New York City, just 24% of people who walk into welfare offices hoping to sign up for assistance actually receive it. Mayor Giuliani says that means his program is successful, advocates for the poor say it means people are being unfairly cut out. The controversy is happening all over the country. Beth Fertig of member station WNYC reports. (7:30)

DEAD-BEAT DADS -- Susanna Cappeluto of Peach State Public Radio reports that Georgia is teaching "dead-beat dads" about the emotional and financial responsibilities for their children. The state government hopes that fathers in the program will begin to provide more support and Georgia will save money on public assistance. (4:30)

THE ANATOMIST -- Federico Andahazi's first novel was considered something of a scandal when it was published in his native country, Argentina. Andahazi's has written an historical novel about a sixteenth century Italian doctor involved in sexual research. Book reviewer Alan Cheuse says the story, though wonderfully witty, would never receive a grant from the NEA. (2:00)

HEIDI WARS -- Claire Doole reports from Switzerland's eastern Alpine region that two neighboring cantons are battling over which has the right to claim Heidi, the heroine of Johanna Spyri's famous children's book, as its native daughter. The Swiss were slow to catch on to the market value of the Heidi story, but are now selling souvenirs and guided tours along goat trails. (5:15)