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Alex Van Oss visits the nation's oldest lending library, the 250-year-old Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Newport, Rhode Island. Still in its original neo-classical building, the Redwood is steeped in history and contains numerous antique books. Heirloom portraits and Greek sculptures adorn the hallways. Thomas Jefferson was an early visitor. Henry and William James were regular brousers, as were Edith Wharton, Emma Lazarus, and Julia Ward Howe.

Russia has released of a Hungarian World War Two prisoner after 53 years. Andras Tamas had been diagnosed as psychotic by his captors, and ended up in a Russian psychiatric hospital. Two weeks ago, the head of the Hungarian National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology brought Tamas home to Hungary. Robert talks with Giles Whittell, the Moscow Bureau Chief for The Times of London, about his visit with Tamas in Budapest.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews the new film, Bring it On.

Still enjoying the lift provided by his speech at the Democratic national Convention, Vice President Al Gore campaigned through the Midwest this week in an open-collared shirt and an upbeat mood. NPR's Anthony Brooks reports that Gore is borrowing heavily from his father's populist campaign style and, for the moment at least, it seems to be working.

NPR News Correspondent Richard Gonzales reports on a ruling by Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that persecution because of sexual preference must be considered a legitimate reason for the INS to grant an immigrant political asylum.

Commentator Amy Dickinson heads for her hometown in New York state every summer. She sent us this audio postcard about this year's vacation -- and how her quiet getaway has changed.

Film Director Arthur Penn. At the age of 77, he's just been hired as executive producer of the TV show Law and Order. The appointment is seen as a breakthrough for the elderly in Hollywood. Penn's films include Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man, The Miracle Worker, Alice's Restaurant and The Missouri Breaks. His film career lost steam in the 80s, and he went to Broadway. His shows included Two for the Seesaw and The Miracle Worker.

President Clinton is visiting Nigeria. Scott speaks with NPR's Mike Shuster.

Campaigning has posed a new challenge this week for Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush, who has seen his pre-eminent position in the polls slip for the first time since March. Bush has also struggled to keep his focus on the issues he believes will carry him to victory, including his tax cut plan. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Robert Siegel speaks with sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the WBNA. The professional women's basketball league is in the midst of it's championship final series. The Houston Comets may win the title for the fourth straight year after defeating the New York Liberty last night to take the first game in the best of three series. This is the league's fourth year and while its growth may have reached a plateau, there's still a lot of enthusiasm for the game.