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Many politicians cite the late President Ronald Reagan as a major inspiration for their career choice. Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA) was a high school student when he volunteered for Reagan's first campaign for California governor in the 1960s. Paul Begala became active in Democratic Party politics after hearing Reagan speak at the University of Texas in the 1970s. They share their memories with NPR's Susan Stamberg.

Sen. John McCain's iconoclastic views on immigration policy have made him an unpopular member of his own party in his home state of Arizona. But his stand comes out of long experience in the state most affected by illegal immigration, and he has managed to champion immigration reform despite Arizona GOP opposition.

CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies today before the Senate Intelligence Committee about the videotaping of the agency's interrogations of detainees. Those tapes were subsequently destroyed, and members of Congress from both parties hope to use the closed door session to find out why.

NPR's Brian Naylor reports from Capitol Hill, where President-elect George W. Bush met with congressional leaders of both parties. Bush's visit emphasized his desire to have a good working relationship with Democrats as well as Republicans, and everyone involved said the meeting was successful. But Bush has yet to convince many Republican lawmakers over the need for his $1.3 trillion tax cut. And there is still a lingering resentment among some Democrats who have questioned Bush's "legitimacy."

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports on President Clinton's third and final visit as president to Ireland. He met in Dublin with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic, Bertie Ahern. Ahern praised Clinton for his role in brokering the 1998 Good Friday peace accord for Northern Ireland. Before leaving for Belfast, President Clinton urged the parties there to overcome their differences and push the peace process forward. Catholics and Protestants in the British province are deadlocked over the issues of paramilitary disarmament and police reform. The disputes are threatening to scuttle the power-sharing government they established under the Good Friday accord.

Progressives in the Democratic party have agreed to drop two years of free community college in the latest compromise to get President Biden's spending plan through.

Today's announcement by Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) comes after weeks of debate over whether he was fit for the position. Lott's comments at Sen. Strom Thurmond's (R-SC) birthday party set off a national debate on race. NPR gathered a group of people who work together at the Historical Society of Washington, DC to talk about the implications of Lott's remarks, and where America goes from here.

Opposition leader Mwai Kibaki swept to a historic win in Kenya's presidential and general election, ending nearly 40 years of rule by President Daniel arap Moi's KANU party. Weekend Edition Sunday host Liane Hansen talks with NPR's Jason Beaubien about the significance of Kibaki's win, and what it means for Kenya.

Polls predict gains for India's Hindu nationalist BJP Party as elections are held in the turbulent western state of Gujarat. Last March, the worst Hindu-Muslim violence in decades left more than 1,000 people dead. The BJP's leader is accused of condoning violence against Muslims. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports.

NPR's David Welna traveled home with Kentucky Congressman Ken Lucas, the state's only Democratic representative in Washington, D.C. and reports on Lucas' meetings with his constituents. The visits came just days before President Bush was to address a joint session of Congress on his new budget proposals. Lucas, whose district voted for Bush, is one of the most conservative members of his own party, and is one of the Democrats whom the president is hoping to win over. The two-term House member says that he and his district are in sync on most of issues.