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Alan Cheuse reviews the latest book by Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood. It's called The Blind Assassin (1:45) The Blind Assassin is published by Bantam Doubleday.

NPR's Brian Naylor talks to two House members who came to Washington as House revolutionaries -- and who are leaving, as promised, after three terms, honoring their campaign pledge.

The presidential campaign took a turn for the ugly today, as the two campaigns swapped charges and ads. Republican George Bush accused Democrat Al Gore of "changing his tune" on Hollywood and having a tendency to "make up facts." The Gore campaign fired back with an ad accusing Bush of making up his facts of his own in a negative television ad. NPR's Andy Bowers is in Sunnyvale, California, where Gore today talked about his plan for making prescription drugs more affordable.

In a report from the annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting in Prague, NPR's Julie McCarthy says managing director Horst Koehler is eager to show that the IMF has become more attentive to the needs of Third World nations it is trying to help. Asian nations in particular felt the IMF imposed unduly harsh conditions in exchange for debt relief during their financial crisis in the late nineties. Faced with planned protests by an array of activists, Koehler also said the IMF is now listening to the concerns of a broad range of non-governmental organizations.

NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr wonders why America, so ready to help the world's poorest nations through food aid, is hesitant to help them through debt relief.

Misty Hyman, an American, defeated Australia's Susie O'Neill Wednesday for the gold medal in the 200 meter butterfly. O'Neill, nicknamed Madame Butterfly by her countrymen, was heavily favored in the race, and Hyman, a first-time Olympian, reacted to her victory with joyous disbelief. Americans fared well in the pool, also capturing gold in the women's 4x200 freestyle relay. Jenny Thompson anchored the US team, winning her seventh career gold medal. Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands won swimming's glamour event, the 100 meter freestyle, making him the surprise star of the swimming competition. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

Next we hear an excerpt from Natural Law candidate John Hagelin, in an address given yesterday at the American University in Washington, D.C.

Independent Counsel Robert Ray announced today that his office has ended its investigation of the Whitewater land deal, and found insufficient evidence to charge President and Mrs. Clinton with wrongdoing. That conclusion had been expected, based on indications from the previous Whitewater independent counsel, Kenneth Starr. Ray's statement also says he found no evidence that Mrs. Clinton intentionally withheld billing records from her private law practice that had been sought by the independent counsel, and that turned up months later in a room at the White House.

Harriet Baskas visits the Barber Museum in Canal Winchester, Ohio, which is home to the Barbering Hall of Fame. On display are numerous barber chairs, barber shop polls, razors, clippers, and other items associated with the barbering arts.

Noah talks with BBC reporter Jacky Rowland about Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's campaign trip to Montengro today. Milosevic called pro-western leadership and Serbian opposition "rabbits, rats and even hyenas." Montenegro's leadership is boycotting the upcoming Yugoslav election.

NPR's David Welna reports that for weeks, free of charge, Chicagoans have been able to pick up ping pong paddles and play at any one of three hundred tables set up around the city. It's an attempt to let residents and visitors have some fun whenever the mood and wind seem right.

Every Wednesday this election season, All Things Considered is airing excerpts of speeches by presidential candidates. Today we hear first from Republican candidate George W. Bush, in portion of a speech delivered Monday in Little Rock, Arkansas.