Time
12
COVER: Oliver North turns the tables on his congressional inquisitors
In a stunningly theatrical appearance, the outspoken Marine cloaks himself in honor and injured virtue. He insists he followed the orders of the President' s top advisers. -- Despite a wave of Olliemania, a Time poll shows that Americans find North more sympathetic than credible. -- This week the man most likely to implicate Reagan, John Poindexter, takes the stand. See NATION.
36
WORLD: An American- backed dictator in Panama faces mounting unrest
General Manuel Antonio Noriega rules the Latin American country from behind the scenes as its military commander. Now some Panamanians are demanding that he make an exit. -- Six technicians go on trial in the Soviet Union to face charges that they caused the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. -- Tapes reveal a bizarre plot by Ferdinand Marcos to invade the Philippines.
52
BUSINESS: Air passengers fume over increasing lapses in safety and service
As millions of travelers take to the air during the peak summer travel season, the Government is recording a surging number of consumer complaints, delayed flights, near midair collisions and air- traffic- control errors. The airlines are scrambling to improve conditions in the hope of easing growing indignation in Congress. -- Scandal dethrones the ZZZZ Best carpet- cleaning king.
30
Nation
The Soviets may intend to make sdi a summit issue. -- Would- Be First Lady Kitty Dukakis confesses to a former drug dependency.
63
Law
Is reckless transmission of the AIDS virus comparable to attempted murder? The courts try to cope with a new deadly weapon.
64
Living
Bumper- to- bumper traffic clogging America' s expressways has forced frustrated drivers to experience life in the slow lane.
67
Design
With a furniture, housewares and clothing empire on both sides of the Atlantic, Britain' s designing Conran family is a real- life dynasty.
71
Books
Lawyer Scott Turow makes a smashing fiction debut with his gritty Presumed Innocent. -- What does it take to be culturally literate?
75
Cinema
From France comes Jean de Florette, an enthralling film that succeeds by using old- fashioned techniques and timeless values.
78
Music
Elvis died a decade ago, and buried beneath the commemorative hype are reissued recordings that remind listeners why he was the king.
4 Letters
8 American Scene
68 Press
69 Milestones
70 Environment
76 People
Cover: Photograph by Terry Ashe