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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

Politics

Bush Gets More Specific on Social Security Plans

President Bush offers details on his thoughts for fixing Social Security's long-term problems. During his first prime-time news conference of the second term, he suggested a plan to slow increases in payments to the wealthiest Americans.

Bush Gets More Specific on Social Security Plans

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Politics

D.C. Update: Social Security, DeLay, U.N. Nomination

NPR's Noah Adams talks with NPR political editor Ron Elving about the major issues Congress and President Bush are likely to confront in the coming week, including possible changes to the Social Security program, the debate over the ethics of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the stalled nomination of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

D.C. Update: Social Security, DeLay, U.N. Nomination

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Politics

Gen. Pace Tapped to Head Joint Chiefs of Staff

President Bush names Marine Gen. Peter Pace to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed, he will succeed Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers. Pace saw combat in Vietnam and was a commander in the ill-fated U.S. military intervention in Somalia.

Gen. Pace Tapped to Head Joint Chiefs of Staff

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Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close

Senate Republicans Confer with Powell on Bolton

A confirmation vote for John Bolton's nomination as ambassador the United Nations has been delayed amid concerns among Senate Republicans. At least two members of the Foreign Relations Committee have spoken with Colin Powell, Bolton's former boss when he was undersecretary of state.

Senate Republicans Confer with Powell on Bolton

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Politics

Opposition to Bolton's U.N. Nomination Grows

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee delays the vote on U.N. ambassador nominee John Bolton. Democrats say President Bush's choice is too critical of the United Nations and has a record of intimidating subordinates. The vote is now scheduled for May.

Opposition to Bolton's U.N. Nomination Grows

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Re-examining Who Is Eligible for Medicaid

Medicaid, designed to help poor seniors, is the single biggest source of payments for long-term health care. On any given day, there are more than a million American seniors living in nursing homes -- most of them at taxpayers' expense. Now, the federal government says some who are benefiting from Medicaid actually could afford to pay their own way.

Re-examining Who Is Eligible for Medicaid

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Politics

Senate Panel Delays Vote on Bolton Confirmation

Plans for the Senate Foreign Relations committee to vote on the embattled nomination of John Bolton for ambassador to the United Nations fell apart Tuesday. Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio broke ranks with his party, asking for more time to probe allegations of misdeeds by Bolton.

Senate Panel Delays Vote on Bolton Confirmation

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Politics

Senate Panel Fails to Bring Bolton Nomination to a Vote

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee fails to bring John Bolton's nomination as ambassador to the United Nations to the full Senate floor for a vote. Some Republicans on the committee expressed concern about Bolton's fitness for the job.

Senate Panel Fails to Bring Bolton Nomination to a Vote

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Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close

Chafee Faces Delicate Balance on Bolton Vote

Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) is crucial to the Senate Foreign Relations committee's vote, scheduled for Tuesday, on John Bolton's nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations. The liberal Republican from Rhode Island faces a tough re-election bid next year, and voting against Bolton -- and his party -- could prove politically risky.

Chafee Faces Delicate Balance on Bolton Vote

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Panel on Election Issues Hears of Money Problems

After two straight presidential elections marked by disputes over the voting process, a bipartisan commission examining the issue hears testimony about continuing voter suspicion and limited funds. Former President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of State James Baker III head the panel.

Panel on Election Issues Hears of Money Problems

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Politics

Political Corner: Immigration and Employment, the 'Nuclear Option'

NPR political analyst Juan Williams discusses inside-the-beltway issues affecting African Americans with Ron Walters, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland and the author of eight books, including White Nationalism, Black Interests; and Tara Wall, director of outreach communications for the Republican National Committee. They discuss the impact of illegal immigration on employment possibilities; the president's social security proposals; and the potential for Republicans to take away the centuries-old option for minority-party filibusters.

Political Corner: Immigration and Employment, the 'Nuclear Option'

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Politics

Negroponte Vows to Improve Intel Efforts

President Bush's choice for director of national intelligence vows to improve intelligence-gathering efforts and stresses he will not preside over a status quo. John Negroponte also said the law establishing his position gives him "substantial authority."

Negroponte Vows to Improve Intel Efforts

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Senate Weighs Negroponte Nomination

The Senate Intelligence Committee holds a hearing on John Negroponte's nomination as the nation's first director of intelligence. Negroponte received relatively gentle questioning and is expected to be confirmed for the post.

Senate Weighs Negroponte Nomination

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Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close

Former State Department Official Blasts Bolton

The Senate Foreign Relations committee holds a second day of confirmation hearings on John Bolton, President Bush's nominee for U.N. ambassador. The committee heard testimony from former top State Department official Carl Ford, a Republican who accused Bolton of abusing his authority as undersecretary of state.

Former State Department Official Blasts Bolton

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Senate Panel Grills Intel Chief Nominee Negroponte

NPR's Madeleine Brand talks with NPR's David Welna about Tuesday's confirmation hearings for John Negroponte, President Bush's nominee to be the first national intelligence director. Negroponte was ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations, and has been criticized by detractors for what they see as tacit support of right-wing "death squads" during his tenure as ambassador to Honduras during the Reagan administration.

Senate Panel Grills Intel Chief Nominee Negroponte

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