December 26, 2005 | Vol. 166 No. 26

The Good Samaritans (Persons of the Year)

For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are TIME's Persons of the Year.

When Opposites Attract (Partners of the Year)

Actually, Bush and Clinton discovered they were not so different after all while on the road raising relief money. Inside an improbable friendship

"I Even Like The Arguments" (Partners of the Year)

Earlier this month in New Orleans, after announcing $90 million in hurricane-recovery grants, George Bush and Bill Clinton sat down for their first joint print interview, with TIME's Michael Duffy, who covered both Presidents when they were in office. The two men were in a good mood, referring and deferring to each other throughout the 30-minute session and recalling a joint adventure on the high seas. Here are some excerpts

"We Just Go Off" (Persons of the Year)

That's how Bono described the late-night sessions he and the Gateses have when they get together. In an interview with Josh Tyrangiel in Omaha last week, the rapport between the rocker and the tech lords was easy and their curiosity about one another's worlds genuine.

After the Cheers (Local Heroes of the Year)

Erwin and Jack, Indonesia

The Kid in Charge (Local Heroes of the Year)

De'monte Williams, New Orleans

Dive, He Said (Local Heroes of the Year)

Richard Jones, Biloxi

Babes in Arms (Local Heroes of the Year)

Gail Gibson, New Orleans

In Case of Emergency... (Local Heroes of the Year)

Dr. Peter DeBlieux, New Orleans

A Cabbie's Luck (Local Heroes of the Year)

Ihsanullah Khan, Pakistan

Savior Priest (Local Heroes of the Year)

Father Ranjeevan Xavier, Sri Lanka

The Constant Charmer (Persons of the Year)

The inside story of how the world's biggest rock star mastered the political game and persuaded the world's leaders to take on global poverty. And he's not done yet

From Riches to Rags (Persons of the Year)

Imagine a kinder, humbler Microsoft—one designed to spend money, not make it. That's the kind of philanthropy Bill and Melinda Gates have invented. The story of a very risky venture

From the Editor (From the Editor)

People Who Mattered 2005 (People Who Mattered)

A rapper, a spy, two U.S. Presidents (one fictional) and the movie icon we love to hate are all part of our gallery of those who made a difference