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Today is the 80th anniversary of the first recording of jazz. It was issued on Victor Records, and featured five New Orleans musicians - The Original Dixieland Jazz Band. John McDonough reports on how the raucous music was received at the time, and on the significance of the historic event for the future of recorded jazz. (7:30) (STEREO) Note: To locate Original Dixieland Jazz Band recordings. "ODJB: 75th Anniversary" RCA Bluebird catalog #61098-2. "Complete ODJB" on French RCA (Part of the Jazz Tribune series) catalog #66608-2.

In the 1960s, the nation became accustomed to getting its White House news not just from Washington, but from a ranch in Texas owned by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. The LBJ Ranch was succeeded by President Richard Nixon's seaside residence at San Clemente California. Now, Americans will again have a "Western White House," this time in Crawford County, Texas, between Dallas and Austin: the home of President-elect George W. Bush. NPR's John Burnett paid a visit and gave us this report.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill has resigned, and will leave office within weeks. O'Neill has been a chief adviser to President Bush on the flagging economy. Senior White House economic adviser Larry Lindsey is also expected to give up his post. Hear more from NPR's Bob Edwards and NPR's John Ydstie.

Ten of Wall Street's top brokerage firms agree to pay fines of about $1.5 billion to settle conflict-of-interest allegations. The firms were accused of misleading investors with bad research, and have agreed to changes in their research divisions. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli, NPR's Michele Norris and Columbia University law professor John Coffee.

Robert talks with Mark Miravalle, a professor of Mariology at Fransican University of Steubenville, about his petition to the Pope. Miravalle wants the Pope to proclaim the Virgin Mary a co-redemptrix. He says the Virgin mary is the "advocate for the people of God" and cooperates fully with her son, Jesus Christ, in the redemption of mankind. He has hope that Pope John Paul II will ratify his petition because the Pope has described Mary as co-redemptrix on six occasions during his papacy. Also, he has dedicated his papacy to her, giving her credit for saving him from an assassination attempt in 1981.

Robert talks with Robert Dallek, Professor of History at Boston University and author of Hail to the Chief: The Making and Unmaking of American Presidents about why Richard Nixon didn't challenge John F. Kennedy in 1960 over ballots in Illinois. One theory is that a challenge in Illinois would have invited Democratic challenges in other states. Another theory is that because of the missile gap with the Soviet Union, a challenge would have been bad for the country. (4:15)Hail To the Chief is published by Hyperion Press, 1996.

For the first time in 30 years, streams and wetlands throughout the United States could lose Clean Water Act protections under a proposal expected this week from the Bush administration. NPR’s John Nielsen reports.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) challenge their colleagues to support limits on gases contributing to climate change. The bill would affect power plants, manufacturers, petroleum refiners and other large-scale commercial sources. Stiff opposition is expected from many in Congress, the Bush administration and industry groups. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

One of the few new ideas in health care this year is a piece of John Kerry's health plan that would have the federal government take over the costs of patients with "catastrophic" illnesses. Kerry and some analysts say it would reduce premiums and help shore up the employer insurance system. Critics say it would just get the government even more involved in health care. NPR's Julie Rovner reports.

Sen. John Kerry seeks to define his campaign by his combat experience in the Vietnam War -- a tour of duty that earned him three Purple Hearts and a Bronze and Silver star for valor. But Kerry's campaign has come under fire by a group of GOP-linked activists who question his wartime conduct in a television ad. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows President Bush and his Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry, running dead even at 47 percent among both registered and likely voters, with Kerry wiping out the president's edge over the past few weeks. Andrew Kohut of Pew discusses the results with NPR's Melissa Block.

President Bush defends his decision to invade Iraq despite a U.S. weapons inspector's report that the country had no illicit weapons. His rival, Sen. John Kerry, said the president refuses "to face the truth." Hear NPR's Robert Siegel, NPR's Melissa Block and NPR's Scott Horsley.

Gen. John Abizaid, the new head of U.S. Central Command, calls the daily attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq a "classical guerrilla-type campaign" -- a characterization that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has repeatedly resisted. Abizaid blames most of the attacks on mid-level Baathists, and says the resistance is becoming more coordinated. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

U.S. troops in Iraq are facing increasingly sophisticated "guerrilla-type" resistance from remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime, Gen. John Abizaid says. The U.S. military's new commander in Iraq also warns that U.S. troops should be prepared to remain in the country for at least the next 90 days. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

The last of the 20,000 troops of the 1st Marine Division pull out of Baghdad and head south as the Army moves in to take charge of the Iraqi capital. The handover comes as tensions rise between the Marines and Baghdad residents, who express frustration with lawlessness and lack of electricity. Hear NPR's John Burnett.

The surge in Baghdad's sectarian violence in recent weeks means Iraq is closer to civil war, according to two of the Pentagon's most senior generals. Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command, and General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In 1985, punkers John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X teamed with guitarist Dave Alvin of the Blasters to record country and rockabilly music. Twenty years later, they're back with The Modern Sounds of the Knitters.

Chief justice nominee John Roberts takes questions from senators seeking definitive answers on issues from abortion to the environment to stopping a war. But Roberts refused to say whether, for example, he would vote to overturn or restrict abortion rights.

Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee grill chief justice nominee John Roberts about his views on issues from cloning to discrimination. The morning session completed nearly 20 hours of testimony from Roberts over four days.

The military judge in the cases of three soldiers accused of abusing prisoner at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison will allow the defense to interview U.S. Central Command head Gen. John Abizaid and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the ranking general in Iraq. Col. James Pohl made his rulings during pre-trial motions in the three courts-martial in Baghdad. NPR's Emily Harris reports.