SPECIAL SECTION

Person of the Year (Person Of The Year)

For sticking to his guns (literally and figuratively), for reshaping the rules of politics to fit his ten-gallon-hat leadership style and for persuading a majority of voters that he deserved to be in the White House for another four years, George W. Bush is TIME's 2004 Person of the Year

Don't Call It A Dynasty (Person Of The Year)

But that's what the Bush family is. So just how has America's most enduring political family endured, and who's next in line?

Paths of Power (Person of the Year)

The President comes from a long line ofachievers, from financiers to judges topoliticians. Today the bonds of familyform a nationwide network of influence

The Rove Warrior (Person Of The Year / The Strategist)

No adviser has ever dominated the White House like Karl Rove. So what does the President see in him, and what's he planning to do next?

Paying Homage (Photo Essay / Photo Essay)

After his recent annual physical at Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center, the President visited injured troops. TIME photographer CHRISTOPHER MORRIS was there

Grading the President (Person Of The Year)

A 21st century visionary? A failed adventurer abroad? Six scholars suggest how history will judge George W. Bush's first term in office--and compare him with his predecessors

PEOPLE

Worst Ideas Of 2004

Sure, they seemed like the right thing to do in the moment--like that fourth drink on New Year's Eve. But now it's clear: these are some of the year's most dubious judgment calls

BRIEFING

A Season Cursed (Notebook)

From baseball's 'roid rage to hockey's non-season, a year of sports disappointments

Why He Popped The Question (Notebook)

TIME interviews the National Guard specialist who asked Donald Rumsfeld the now-infamous question about armor

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

People Who Mattered 2004 (People Who Mattered 2004)

Two truth seekers, a First Lady and her son, Presidents (and wannabes), a marrying mayor and five housewives--all are part of our gallery of those who made a difference. Oh, and just for fun, a horse

Blogs Have Their Day (The Bloggers)

How three amateur journalists dethroned an icon and turned the mainstream media upside down, all without quitting their day jobs

10 Things We Learned About Blogs (The Bloggers)

Radio had its golden age in the 1930s. In the 1950s, it was television's turn. Historians may well date the golden age of the blog from 2004 — when Merriam-Webster.com's most searched-for definition was blog. How long can it last? Who knows? Here's what we discovered about the new medium this year

Face Of Terror (The Insurgent)

How Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi transformed the Iraq insurgency into a holy war and became America's newest nightmare

Box Office Shepherds (The Filmmakers)

Mel Gibson and Michael Moore made very different movies with the same message: The truth shall make you free

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Kissing The Sky (Architecture / Architecture)

It used to be that the only way to build a skyscraper was up. But now the tall building is being totally reimagined and taken in some very unusual directions. Look out below

O Come, All Ye Fight-ful (Movies / Movies)

While audiences go on heist adventurs with Nicolas Cage (in National Treasure) and George Clooney (in Ocean's Twelve), the critics' groups, as usual, are celebrating the holidays with awards for a lot

YOUR TIME

Happy New Gear! (Lifestyle / Lifestyle)

A forecast of the hot trends, gizmos and DVDs of early 2005

LETTERS

ESSAY