Economic Woes Test Bernanke's Leadership

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's ability to lead the Central Bank is being tested by the subprime mortgage crisis and the faltering economy. The interest rate cut earlier this week demonstrates that he's willing to make bold moves. But he's been criticized for acting too late.

NPR's John Ydstie has a profile of Bernanke and an assessment of his leadership at the Fed so far.