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President Bush criticizes remarks by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) that seemed to endorse the nation's segregated past. Lott praised retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond's segregationist campaign for president in 1948. Bush termed the comments "offensive" and "wrong." Hear from NPR's David Welna and David Hampton of the Jackson, Miss. Clarion-Ledger.

Robert Siegel and Michele Norris read from some of this week's letters.

NPR's David Welna reports on the latest developments about Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott. Today, President Bush weighed in on the matter for the first time, saying that Lott's comments -- which seemingly endorsed the views held by Strom Thurmond when Thurmond ran for president on a segregationist platform in 1948 -- were "offensive" and "wrong." Mr. Bush made his comments before an enthusiastic Philadelphia audience made up of many minorities. But the President refused to ask for Lott's resignation as leader.

A new off-Broadway play is all about hats -- sort of. Based on a book of photos by photographer Michael Cunningham and journalist Craig Marberry, Crowns tells the story of six African-American women through the hats they wear to church. On Weekend Edition Saturday, Jeff Lunden reports. Online, view a photo gallery of costume sketches for the play.

Cardinal Law resigns as Archbishop of Boston as controversy persists over his handling of sex-abuse allegations against the Roman Catholic clergy. The move comes after 58 priests called for Law to step down. The Archdiocese's financial problems remain. Hear from NPR's Bob Edwards, John Allen of The National Catholic Reporter and NPR's Duncan Moon.

President Bush signs executive orders to help religious groups get federal money for charitable activities. The move advances the president's so-called "faith-based initiatives" while bypassing Congress. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Boston's Cardinal Law will comply with a subpoena to appear before a grand jury investigating the church-abuse scandal. The move comes on the heels of a legal settlement with New Hampshire church officials who admit they violated criminal laws. NPR's Tovia Smith reports.

NPR's Jack Speer reports President Bush is naming former Goldman Sachs investment banker Stephen Friedman as his top economics adviser. Friedman is being appointed to the White House job despite an aggressive campaign to torpedo his candidacy by some conservative Republicans.

President Bush is set to announce a plan to vaccinate all Americans against smallpox. The general population won't be offered the inoculation until 2004. Meanwhile, soldiers and "first-response" personnel prepare for early inoculations. NPR's Joanne Silberner reports.

NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports the United States and Chile have reached an agreement on terms of free trade between the two countries. Both the U.S. Congress and the Chilean parliament must approve the plan. The agreement would lift tariffs on most goods.