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Offers economists' opinions on the forecasted United States budget surplus and their recommendations for spending. History of the US deficit and projected surplus; Proposed Republican and Democratic budgets; Views of Allen Sinai, Pete Domenici, John Kasich, Lawrence Summers, Fritz Hollings and Alicia Munnell.

Reports that `Time' magazine's Board of Economists does not foresee either heightened inflation or a large increase in interest rates in the United States in June of 1999. Views of Vincent Farrell, Chief Investment Officer at Spears, Benzak, Salomon & Farrell; Thoughts about what the Federal Reserve may or may not do; Comments from Abby Joseph Cohen, Chair, Investment Policy Committee, at Goldman Sachs; Views about the gross domestic product.

Examines the extent to which computerization improves efficiency. Example of new computers for New York Presbyterian Health Care; Labor and the impact of computers on the United States economy; Business implications of these issues; Ways computers improve life; Troubles quantifying computers' benefits; Four goals executives have for their investments in computer power; Undermeasuring productivity gains; Other reasons to computerize.

Reports that the biggest problem with the United States economy is a shortage of skilled employees. Lists ways that an employer could find skilled workers; Advertising job openings on the Internet; Recruitment through job fairs; Bonuses to current employees for bringing in other workers; Offer of training to prospective employees; Tailoring jobs to meet the workers requirements.

Discusses events that occurred during the presidency of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. The addition of social programs and lower taxes which sent deficits soaring to new highs; The investments in stocks; The pressure that Reagan's military build-up and his attempt to create a Star Wars antimissible defense put on the Soviet Union; The de-escalation of the arms race during a series of summits between Reagan and Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev; News stories reported by `Time' magazine.

Focuses on President Franklin D. Roosevelt's (FDR) creation of the so-called New Deal during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The range of governmental agencies and work-relief projects that set the jobless to work constructing dams, bridges, highways and airports during the 1930s; The so-called New Deal as a reflection that Americans take care of their own; News stories covered by `Time' magazine during FDR's presidency.

Looks at how senior citizens are becoming victim to scams. How fraud against elderly people, especially women, is one of the biggest growth industries in the United States; The estimated amount of money that con men are bilking the elderly out of each year; The example of Ann Downs, who was scammed out of $74,000; The efforts to protect the elderly; The difficulty in prosecuting the frauds.

Discusses the status of the sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Paula Jones against United States President Bill Clinton, following the decision by the US Supreme Court to allow the suit to proceed. The reasons an out-of-court settlement may be the most likely outcome; The views of Bob Bennett, President Clinton's chief counsel; The reaction of President's Clinton's defense team to the Supreme Court's ruling; The history of the case. INSETS: Possible resolutions of the case.;The Clinton-Jones dance..

Examines the ominous backlash against health maintenance organizations (HMO) that is evident in early 1997 in the United States. The complaints of doctors, employee unions, patients, and the government against HMOs; The committee appointed by President Bill Clinton to draft a patient's bill of rights; The introduction in Congress of a comprehensive reform HMO-bill by Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.); The code of the American Association of Health Plans; HMO's reverence for the bottom line.

Examines the make-up of the US House of Representatives in the wake of the 1996 elections. The Republicans' control of the House; The use of House Speaker Newt Gingrich by Democratic candidates; Notable winners, including New York Democrat Carolyn McCarthy, Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich, Illinois Democrat Rod Blagojevich and others. INSETS: Dick Armey's on the march, by Karen Tumulty and Douglas Waller;The man with the plastic bucket, by Karen Tumulty.

Offers an inside look at how two major decisions by 1996 presidential candidates were made. Republican nominee Bob Dole's 15 percent tax-cut proposal; President Bill Clinton's signing of a welfare reform bill; What these decisions and the story of how they were reached say about each candidate.

Looks at welfare reform in the United States in light of the approval of a national welfare reform measure by both Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1996. Clinton's hesitancy to sign the bill; How Congressmen Dave Camp and John Ensign pushed to have Medicaid reform excluded from the welfare reform measure; Delineation of some aspects of the reform; Reform measures in Wisconsin and Maryland; Flexibility for states. INSET: Welfare success stories.

Examines how, in the material world, Americans are living well but are paying a high price in worry and in work. Comparison of America in 1970 and in the 1990s in regard to money, health, education, housing and more; Old workplace rules which no longer apply; Results of `Time'/CNN poll on Americans' economic satisfaction; Brief profiles of American families; Reasons for discontent.

Examines politics in Israel since the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The contrition of the radical right which is disassociating itself from what Israeli police consider a murderous conspiracy; The blow to Shin Bet, Israeli's internal-security service; Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition party leader, of the Likud; Rabin's successor, Shimon Peres; More. INSET: `We became more than friends' (interview with Yasser Arafat).

Analyzes how the federal grand jury indictment of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols contains only a bare-bones description of the charges against them. Role of Michael Fortier in the disaster and his commitment to testifying against the other indictees; Why the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would have found it difficult to target McVeigh and Nichols as potential terrorists; How the investigators got typewritten statements from McVeigh's sister; More.

Looks at efforts by Republicans to balance the federal budget by 2002. Quote from Pete Domenici, the Senate Budget Committee chairman; John Kasich, who heads the House Budget Committee; Plans for cuts in education and infrastructure; Possible impact on Social Security; Leon Panetta's criticisms of proposals which would cut the funding for Head Start; The controversy about school lunch funding. INSETS: `We are really catching a wave.';Two paths to zero deficit.

Describes Saigon in the final days of the Vietnam War. The evidence that South Vietnam could no longer hold off the armies from the communist North; The fall of Danang; The panic of South Vietnamese soldiers who were trampling women and children in an attempt to get on the last American 727 to leave the country; Declaration on April 24, 1975 by President Gerald Ford that the war was over; More.

Opinion. States that the $20 billion bailout of Mexico by the United States will be beneficial to both Mexico and the United States. The use of funds that President Bill Clinton can tap without congressional approval; Guarantees to the United States that the loans will be repaid; Discussion of why Americans cannot be indifferent to what happens in Mexico; Other aspects.

Discusses various aspects of the Chechnya war. The David and Goliath nature of the battle; The debacle that the Russian army suffered when it tried to storm the Chechen capital of Grozny; Actions by Boris Yeltsin; Acknowledgement by the United States and West European governments that Russia has a right to hold its country together; Predictions by Yeltsin's personal secretary, Victor Ilyushin.

Analyzes President Bill Clinton's new success in juggling foreign problems and asserts that it is more than just good luck. Clinton's Mideast trip to witness the Israel-Jordan peace treaty; Successes with North Korea, Haiti and Iraq; How Clinton has altered his approach to foreign issues.

Says that the United States has finally achieved top place in the world in business but the improvement in US workers' standard of living hasn't happened yet. The price of beating overseas competition; The contradictory public mood; Productivity index 1980-94; US share of world manufacturing exports; Median family income in 1993 dollars; Average weekly overtime hours worked; More.

Investigates payoffs by the CIA to a top Haitian thug, Emmanuel `Toto' Constant, and questions whether the agency has gone too far again. Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti (FRAPH), headed by Constant; Accusation by `Nation' magazine that US intelligence helped form FRAPH; Why Constant has escaped a crackdown on FRAPH; What the CIA got from its investment in Constant.

Deals with the planned taking over of Haiti by United States troops, either under fire or in a friendly takeover. President Clinton's television address on Thursday; The last minute diplomatic efforts by Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell and Sam Nunn; Raoul Cedras; Philippe Biamby; Joseph Michel Francois. INSET: Taking over Haiti (outline of invasion and occupation).

Reports on the continued flood of Cuban refugees floating toward Florida who are being picked up by United States ships and returned to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Why early arrivals feel betrayed; Fidel Castro's ability to provoke or stop the flow of refugees; Why President Bill Clinton refuses to negotiate; Attorney General Janet Reno. INSETS: Riding the freedom current (Straits of Florida currents);Stuck in Guantanamo.

Contends that Haitian Army Chief Raoul Cedras and President Bill Clinton keep pounding the war drums, but both sides hope for a peaceful resolution. Puppet President Emile Jonassaint; Lack of evidence of a final showdown; Easing of refugee pressure; `Time'/CNN poll results. INSET: An island full of fugitives, by Cathy Booth and Edward Barnes.

Looks at staff switches in the White House and speculates over whether gridlock has become the Clinton presidency's most intractable crisis. Chief of staff Thomas McLarty became Counsellor to President Bill Clinton and OMB head Leon Panetta stepped into McLarty's old job. David Gergin's move to the State Department; Alice Rivlin; Other possible moves. INSET: Minding the president (profile of Leon Panetta).

Examines the economic recovery and finds a split level surge in which mass layoffs are continuing side by side with new hiring and heavy overtime, many working at worse jobs for lower wages while others see pay raises fall behind inflation. Fundamental trends that are making the recovery lopsided; Cost cutting has held inflation in check; Government and economists putting their hope in a kind of snowball process; Examples.

Examines the perversity of the financial scene, as economic news improves and the markets continue their dive. Analysts' reasoning on last week's sudden bust in the stock and bond markets; Market professionals' concern over whether new investors will panic; Slowdown in stock and bond purchases; The Dow Jones fall between March 24-30, 1994; Predictions on what happens next.

States that a grand jury is attempting to determine if George Stephanopoulos tried to get Whitewater prober, Jay Stephens, dismissed. Possible charges of obstruction of justice; Stephens investigating collapse of Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan for RTC; Reaction of White House staff to Roger Altman's decision to recuse himself from matters relating to Madison; Testimony before special counsel Robert Fiske; President Bill Clinton's news conference.

Says the Clinton administration is in retreat, embarrassed by new disclosures and unable to head off congressional probes. President Bill Clinton stumping in New Hampshire, blames the Republican party for distracting the public's attention from health care and crime; Deal struck by Senate majority leader George Mitchell and Republican chief Bob Dole; Hearings of the House Banking Committee into the Resolution Trust Corporation's actions; Rose Law Firm.

Describes how fanatic Dr. Baruch Goldstein, who took precise steps carefully calculated to reach a clear, evil, goal, took his military-issue Galil assault rifle to the Ibrahim Mosque in Hebron last week and killed 39 worshipers, wounding another 70. Goldstein's death, allegedly at the hands of worshipers; Eyewitness reports of the massacre; Preliminary investigation by Israeli army; Ramifications; Anti-Arafat rioting; Other Israeli fanatics; The protesters.

States that NATO's pull-back-or-we-bomb ultimatum to Bosnia's Serbs looks genuine, but questions if will it help end the war. Reaction to revolting television scenes of 68 people blown to bits in Sarajevo's central market; President Bill Clinton's strategy to keep Bosnia out of the headlines; The NATO ultimatum; Why NATO has to attack this time if the Serbs defy them; Fear the United States will pressure Muslims to sign a peace; Details.

States that as Attorney General Janet Reno chooses a special prosecutor, new questions arise in the Whitewater case. The president has agreed to the appointment of a prosecutor to investigate the mess. White House aides turning aside Whitewater questions; How narrow or broad will the probe be; Matters meriting a special counsel's attention piling up; James McDougal and Madison Guaranty S&L; Profit or loss; Conflict of interest; The regulators.

Examines the possibility that the steady surge of business expansion and continuing drop in unemployment might continue at a steady pace through next year or beyond. Drop in the jobless rate in November; Why Clinton adviser Laura D'Andrea Tyson thinks the jobless rate will drop below its current 6.4%; Revised forecasts for the fourth quarter; Current surge in industries sensitive to the cost of borrowing; Substantive reasons for questioning the surge.

States it is no longer unusual to find professional and managerial types, highly skilled technicians, long-seniority office workers and laid-off factory hands looking for jobs in America and not finding them. Numbers of jobs on both sides of the border generated by passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement expected to be very small; Figures from a `Time'/CNN poll on finding jobs; Finding jobs but taking cuts in pay; Types of jobs expanding.

Questions why President Bill Clinton, who was making progress with Congress on the North American Free Trade Agreement, is risking giving last minute national television exposure to Ross Perot, NAFTA's loudest foe. Debate with Vice President Al Gore; Three proposed debates; Republican NAFTA supporters drafted by Clinton; Clinton's failure to capture the public's ear; Strange assortment of public figures in opposition; Why NAFTA is important.

Contends the bloody rebukes in Somalia, where 18 Americans were killed, and Haiti, where Justice Minister Guy Malary was assassinated, raise questions about the lack of guiding principles behind President Bill Clinton's zigzagging foreign policy. Retreat of troopship USS Harlan County from Haiti; UN Security Council approves what amounts to a blockade of Haiti; Actions of Lieut. General Raoul Cedras in Haiti; Mohammed Farrah Aidid; US policy shifts; Details.

Focuses on how America's goals in Somalia shifted from visions of charity for people in need to the deaths of 14 Army Rangers in an ambush in Mogadishu. Capture of helicopter pilot Michael Durant; Somali warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidid accepted what he called President Bill Clinton's offer of a cease-fire; Background of the United States operation in Somalia; The mini-war with Aidid; Details. INSET: Letters home (from Private First Class Richard Kowalewski, 20)..

Gives an overview of the maneuvering that has already begun over President Bill Clinton's proposed health-care program. Alternative plans outlined by Republican Representatives and Senators; Struggle over details predicted to be prolonged and sharp; Administration still trying to mollify the dubious and the displeased; Clinton adamant on some principles; Splintered interest groups; Profiles of five families and their health insurance (or lack of it).

Argues it is possible for Israelis and Palestinians to learn to live side by side and make the region bloom. Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin have put to paper the idea that they will attempt to live in peace. Israel a garrison state since its 1948 founding; Opportunity to be a normal nation; Breakthrough result of simple realism; Not possible to overstate the difficulty of getting Arafat and Rabin to recognize the rights of the other; Rejectionists; Details.

States Vice President Al Gore's `National Performance Review,' which will be released this week, will recommend sweeping changes in the way the federal bureaucracy draws up its budget, organizes its departments and agencies, buys equipment and supplies and hires, promotes and fires employees. Attempts of previous administrations to produce reforms; Publicity events planned by the administration; Savings needed; Details. INSET: Bureaucratic horror show, by Wendy Cole..

Provides, in words and pictures, a look at the damage done by floodwaters north of Cairo, Illinois, where the crest of 46 ft. above normal on the Mississippi River is expected to pass by Friday. The deeper channel south of Cairo to New Orleans should be able to carry all the water without overflowing. Parts of nine state inundated by the Mississippi, Missouri and tributary rivers; Estimates of damage; Deaths; Details. INSET: The extent of the damage (two maps)..

Surveys a number of companies and states that are forging ahead with their own plans to cut health care costs, streamline care and extend coverage to more of the uninsured. Comments from Roger Tracy, director of community-based programs at the University of Iowa College of Medicine; States in no mood to wait for the feds to enforce uniformity; Jump in Medicaid spending; Managed care; Health-care alliances; Covering the uninsured; Standardized insurance; Details.

Describes the arrest in New York by FBI agents of a total of eight men, all described as Muslim fundamentalists, charged with conspiracy to carry out bombings of the United Nations headquarters and the Holland and Lincoln tunnels under the Hudson River. FBI use of an informant within the circle around Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman; Missile attack in Baghdad may do little to allay fears of terrorism in the US; Details. INSET: Crisis in the tunnel: One scenario..

Gives an inside look at what the Clinton health-care plan contains so far. A six-page briefing paper from the White House lays out the basic structure of a radical overhaul of health care and provides talking points for pitching the plan to skeptics. Determination to build in tremendous flexibility; Administration seriously considering price controls on insurers, health-care providers and prescriptions; Some confusion and opposition unavoidable; Details.

The article reports on the efforts of Federal Reserve Chairman of the Board Paul Volcker to control inflation in the midst of high interest rates in the U.S. It mentions that interest rates crippled and endangered the economic program of the government and cash-squeezed consumers who shop on credits but Volcker plans to deprive inflation of its monetary fuel. It notes that Volcker continuously search for lasting and long-term inflation relief that racked down the economy for more than a decade.

The article focuses on the budget message delivered by U.S. President Ronald Reagan for the fiscal period of 1983. It notes that in the message, Reagan has insisted for an increase in military spending and has proposed slashes in social spending as well as no huge tax increases in the budget. It also highlights the fear of the Congress that the proposed programs of the president will spread recession and will inflate deficits.