A German issue. The cover story and lead editorial assess the record of Chancellor Helmut Kohl, now the longest-serving German leader since Bismarck. Kohl handled unification magnificently, says the Economist, but he will secure his legacy as a statesman only if the European Monetary Union succeeds. Kohl's girth and appetite are the subject of numerous wry comments. Also, the lead business story says the privatization of the German telephone company reflects the maturation of German capitalism. German businesses are finally learning the importance of efficiency and equity.

     The New Republic endorses Bill Clinton. A long editorial praises Clinton for "restor[ing] public trust in government" by tackling deficit reduction, pushing free trade, and agreeing to welfare reform. On the downside, the president has ducked the entitlement crisis, and the magazine predicts that a Democratic Congress led by "old-school liberal barons" could "sink a second Clinton term." The editorial also slobbers over TNR favorite son Al Gore. Also, the agenda for the next four years: Eleven writers tell Clinton why he should push their pet project. (Andrew Sullivan urges a saner gays-in-the-military policy, Gregg Easterbrook urges a saner environmental policy, etc.)

     The Times Mag advocates national-education standards, arguing that standards are the best way to guarantee more students learn the basic math and reading required for the information economy. The article rips the voucher programs favored by Dole (they might destroy public schools) and tepidly recommends the charter schools favored by Clinton (they won't be effective without standards). Also, an interview with Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Doris Meissner, filled with softball questions. ("Q: A lot of proposals floating around state legislatures are aimed at throwing the children of illegal immigrants out of public schools. Do you find such ideas helpful?") A photo essay observes the Secret Service on the campaign trail. And, the country-music industry searches for the Next Big Thing (enough of Garth Brooks, already).

     Newsweek certifies the Lippo affair as a major scandal by putting James Riady on the cover. The story untangles the connections between Clinton and the Indonesian Riady family, suggesting that the Riadys' contributions to the Democratic Party bought access to Clinton and Gore, as well as top-level administration jobs for their friends. Clinton and colleagues are "too tolerant of the kind of money-grubbing they vowed four years ago to stop," chides the magazine. Another story bemoans the huge rise in "soft money" donations to both parties, and takes Bob Dole to task for doing favors for donors such as the Gallo wine company. Also, an article explains why the Dow is a lousy indicator of stock market performance (much less the economy): The sample of Dow stocks is too small; the weight given to some stocks is too large. And Newsweek marvels at young people who act like old people (cigars, martinis, and golf, oh my!)

     Time's cover story about the Bill Moyers/PBS series Genesis: A Living Conversation echoes Newsweek's inside piece from last week. Like Newsweek, Time lavishly praises the series for its reinterpretation of Genesis. The new reading, which puzzles over God's cruelty and the patriarchs' flaws, is "exhilarating," says Time (though it admits that some religious viewers may consider it old news). In an attached essay, Robert (The Moral Animal) Wright considers Genesis from the perspective of evolutionary biology. Time pays homage to another ancient classic: A long review raves about a new translation of Homer's Odyssey. And an article exposes how powerful anti-Castro Cuban-Americans, including Clinton's sister-in-law, have shaped Clinton's hard-line Cuba policy.