CURRENT ISSUE
August 2008
Features
The Great Wall of China Is Under Siege
China’s ancient 4,000-mile barrier, built to defend the country against invaders, is under renewed attack
Parties to History
Four Political Conventions That Changed America
1912 Republican Convention
Return of the Rough Rider
1948 Democratic Convention
The South Secedes Again
1964 Republican Convention
Revolution From the Right
1968 Democratic Convention
The Bosses Strike Back
A Passion for Tomatoes
Which is more nutritious, the commercial variety that goes into ketchup or the precious heirloom beloved by gourmets? Why has a Florida genetic engineer developed a tomato that tastes like wintergreen? Undeterred by this summer's salmonella scare, a culinary correspondent still has a passion for tomatoes
Richard Misrach's Ominous Beach Photographs
A new exhibition of oversized photographs by Richard Misrach invites viewers to have fun in the sun. Or does it?
Leopold and Loeb's Criminal Minds
In defense of murderers Leopold and Loeb, attorney Clarence Darrow thwarted a nation's call for vengeance
Departments
Olympic Athletes Who Took a Stand
For 40 years, Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos have lived with the consequences of their fateful protest
A Wildlife Mystery in Vietnam
The discovery of the saola alerted scientists to the strange diversity of Southeast Asia's threatened forests
Who Do You Love?
Bo Diddley's beat changed the course of rock music. And his lyrics evoked a history that reached all the way to Africa
Paul Polak, Social Entrepreneur, Golden, Colorado
His new book advocates helping the world's poorest people one tool at a time
Photo Find
With a rolleiflex camera, a pioneering botanist documented his fieldwork—and created art
Laurie Anderson
The celebrated performance artist discusses Andy Warhol, NASA and her work at McDonald’s
What's Up
Smithsonian exhibitions highlight the secrets of soil, lavish interiors and Chinese landscape paintings