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The Second Term NPR stories about George W. Bush's second term as 43rd President of the United States

The Second Term

Tea Party Assessing Damage From Election 2012?

One group that's picking up the pieces after the election is the Tea Party. Host Michel Martin talks to Tea Party Patriots' Shelby Blakely about what went wrong, and what's next for Tea Party activists.

Tea Party Assessing Damage From Election 2012?

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What Progressives Like Van Jones Want In Next Term

Van Jones has become a leading voice on the progressive left. That only happened after a short stint as the Obama administration's Green Jobs czar. Jones is now the co-founder of the policy group, Rebuild the Dream. He talks with host Michel Martin about what progressives should expect — and demand — in a second Obama term.

What Progressives Like Van Jones Want In Next Term

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Politics

At Final News Conference, A Reflective Bush

With just eight days left in office, President Bush looked back over eight years in office and talked about his joys and disappointments in his final White House news conference. He also had words of encouragement for his successor, Barack Obama.

At Final News Conference, A Reflective Bush

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Politics

Bush Bids Farewell At News Conference

President Bush have given his last news conference, bidding farewell to the journalists who have peppered him with questions over the past eight years. Unlike four years ago, he seemed prepared Monday to talk about what he sees as his biggest mistakes while in office.

Bush Bids Farewell At News Conference

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Environment

Bush May Scale Back Plans For Marine Reserve

The White House is considering the designation of a new marine reserve in the Northern Mariana Islands, but it may not get the same amount of protection as an area created two years ago near Hawaii. The same could be true for other sites in the Pacific that are also under consideration.

Bush May Scale Back Plans For Marine Reserve

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Politics

Obama Visits White House For Meeting With Bush

President George W. Bush welcomed President-elect Barack Obama to the White House on Monday. While the two men met to discuss affairs of state, first lady Laura Bush gave Michelle Obama a tour of the second-floor residence of the Executive Mansion.

Obama Visits White House For Meeting With Bush

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Politics

Emanuel Is Obama's Chief Of Staff

Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel has accepted the position of president-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff. Meanwhile, President Bush and Obama are to meet Monday for talks as part of the Democrat's transition to the White House.

Emanuel Is Obama's Chief Of Staff

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World

Bush Seeks Free Trade With Latin America

President Bush has talked about free trade with Western Hemisphere leaders, but the comments follow an address to the U.N. General Assembly by Bolivian President Evo Morales, who decried capitalism as the worst friend of humanity.

Bush Seeks Free Trade With Latin America

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Bush Makes Final Address As President To U.N.

President Bush has made his final address to the U.N. General Assembly. He leaves behind many problems for the next U.S. president: unfinished wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and a tarnished image that has undercut America's moral authority in the world.

Bush Makes Final Address As President To U.N.

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Politics

'Angler' Takes Measure Of Cheney's Influence

Fresh Air

Dick Cheney is arguably one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, but much of his work is done behind the scenes. In his new book, Angler, journalist Barton Gellman details the forty-year political career of Bush's second in command.

'Angler' Takes Measure Of Cheney's Influence

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Iraq

Bob Woodward Details A White House Divided

Fresh Air

The surge in Iraq is one of the issues that divides the presidential candidates, but Bob Woodward's new book, The War Within, reveals that it also divided the Bush administration and the military.

Bob Woodward Details A White House Divided

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National

A Texas Cafe Recounts Bush Vacations In Crawford

George W. Bush is spending his final summer vacation as president at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Valerie Citrano, who runs The Coffee Shop Cafe in nearby McGregor with her husband, Donald, says she's feeling a little nostalgic.

A Texas Cafe Recounts Bush Vacations In Crawford

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National

Bush Expands Intel Chief's Role

President Bush has signed an executive order revising rules for intelligence agencies and expanding the national intelligence director's powers. Congressional Republicans are irked over what they say is disrespect for congressional oversight in the process.

Bush Expands Intel Chief's Role

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Politics

House Panel Scrutinizes 'Imperial Presidency'

The House Judiciary Committee has convened a session on "the Imperial Presidency." Democrats accuse the administration of overstepping its authority and the subject has repeatedly turned to whether it is guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors."

House Panel Scrutinizes 'Imperial Presidency'

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Politics

Farewell Themes in the State of the Union

President Bush delivers the final State of the Union speech of his two-term presidency Monday night. If similar speeches by Presidents Reagan and Clinton are any indication, Bush will highlight his accomplishments and set the agenda for his last year in office.

Farewell Themes in the State of the Union

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Interviews

Pulitzer Winner Explains 'Signing Statements' Story

Journalist Charlie Savage of the Boston Globe just won a Pulitzer Prize for national-affairs reporting. In an April 2006 article, he detailed how often President Bush has used "signing statements" to assert the right to bypass provisions of new laws; Savage's article prompted Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) to call for hearings investigating the matter. Rebroadcast from May 9, 2006.

Pulitzer Winner Explains 'Signing Statements' Story

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Politics

Is Alaska Primary a Preview of GOP's November?

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski suffered a huge defeat in the state's Republican primary on Tuesday, finishing third in the three-way race with just 18 percent of the vote. Does Murkowski's loss signal trouble ahead for GOP incumbents in November's midterm elections?

Is Alaska Primary a Preview of GOP's November?

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Locating the Source of the Plame Leak

Libby Pleads Not Guilty in CIA Leak Case

I. Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide, pleads not guilty to charges against him in a case probing who revealed the identity of a covert CIA agent. He was arraigned in federal court in Washington, D.C., on charges of obstructing justice, perjury and making false statements.

Libby Pleads Not Guilty in CIA Leak Case

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Locating the Source of the Plame Leak

Rove Pursued Strategy of Cooperation in CIA Leak Probe

White House adviser Karl Rove's legal strategy in the two-year investigation into the CIA leak case has been one of collaboration. Rove knew he and his lawyers might face indictment, and he did everything possible to avoid that, legal experts and sources close to Rove say.

Rove Pursued Strategy of Cooperation in CIA Leak Probe

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