Time

, 16

COVER: Who ambushed whom when the anchorman took on the Vice President?

An on- the- air contretemps featuring George Bush and CBS' s Dan Rather may help the Vice President bury his "wimp" image and strengthen his Iowa campaign. -- Rather' s high- strung and combative style make him television' s most controversial anchorman. -- In the kingdom of television, there are a thousand different styles, rituals, protocols. See NATION.

38

WORLD: Israel' s foreign friends recoil at its crackdown on Palestinians

Some leaders of the U. S. Jewish community, which provides Israel with vital financial and political support, grow openly critical of the army' s harsh tactics. -- While Sandinistas and contras meet in San Jose, lobbying intensifies in Washington, and Congress nears a critical vote on rebel aid. -- Colombia' s Attorney General becomes the latest victim of the billionaire drug traffickers.

62

LIVING: Christian Lacroix, the new king of fashion, brings back the fun

Since opening his own house a year ago, the designer has conquered the field with his sexy, theatrical creations and restored the magic to couture. Following his triumphant costuming of American Ballet Theater' s Gaite Parisienne, Lacroix has good news for women who wish they could afford his outfits: a ready- to- wear line is due in March.

28

Nation

What the campaign has revealed about the candidates' fitness to be President. -- The FBI draws fire for new political snooping.

48

Economy & Business

Carl Icahn juggles Texaco, TWA and USX. -- Hypermarkets have it all -- at a discount. -- Can an elephant learn to dance?

56

Medicine

Researchers try to determine if an aspirin a day will keep the heart doctor away. -- Should college students take AIDS tests too?

58

Profile

Physicist Stephen Hawking is confined to a wheelchair, a prisoner in his own body, but his creative mind freely roams the universe.

70

Cinema

Two radiant actresses illuminate The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Director Phil Kaufman' s evocation of sex, death and love.

72

Health & Fitness

A low- calorie, cholesterol- free, natural fat substitute is unveiled, heralding a new era of phony foods -- and guilt- free gluttony.

83

Theater

Phantom of the Opera opens on Broadway to magical expectations -- and meets them. -- Director Peter Brook takes on Chekhov.

86

Essay

It is right and good to listen to Central American views on Nicaragua. But in the end, the U. S. needs the courage to decide for itself.

6 Letters

12 American Scene

57 Newswatch

61 People

71 Milestones

73 Books

80 Food

Photograph by Harry Benson