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The massive coastal fortresses that served as slave trading posts during the 16th to the 18th centuries have become the backbone of Ghana's tourism industry. Jennifer Ludden reports that for many African Americans, visiting the forts is a highly emotional experience. Some are coming away from the official tours both angry and disappointed by the seemingly casual attitude shown by their Ghanain guides to a painful chapter of their history.

Robert talks to Christopher Andrew, who collaborated with former KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin to write the book, The Sword and The Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB. The book details how for 20 years Mitrokhin copied information from top secret documents in the KGB archives, and gives a rare inside view of the soviet spy operation. (7:45) The Sword and The Shield is published by Basic Books, September 1999.

Host Lynn Neary talks to Sherrie Tucker author of Swing Shift: All-Girl Bands of the 1940's and former trumpet player Clora Bryant. The book gives the history and first hand accounts of the "all-girl" big bands of the World War II era. (7:19) Sherrie Tucker's book, Swing Shift: All-Girl Bands of the 1940's is published by Duke Univ Pr (Txt); ISBN: 08223

This week Chase Manhattan Corporation announced it would merge with J.P. Morgan and Company. Although the new company will be called J.P. Morgan Chase & Company, the merger closes a chapter on the storied history of the 150-year old Morgan bank. Scott speaks with Fortune Magazine's editor-at-large Joe Nocera about the end of banks as we know them.

In two of the most anticipated races of the Olympics, Michael Johnson and Cathy Freeman triumphed in the men's and women's 400 meters, fulfilling historic expectations. Freeman, the Australian who lit the Olympic cauldron, became the first Aboriginal athlete to win an individual medal. Johnson succeeded in defending his 400 meter title, the first male sprinter to do so. The win places him among the top runners in Olympic history. NPR's Howard Berkes reports.

NPR's Melissa Gray reports on the history behind one of literary America's cult classics... A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. The book follows the exploits of the over-educated Ignatius J. Reilly as he seeks employment and social revolution in his hometown of New Orleans. The book has been in print for 20 years, but fans still know little about its author or his inspiration.

Anne Garrels talks with All Things Considered's Noah Adams about the U.N. Millennium Summit, which is being called the largest gathering of world leaders in history. President Clinton addressed the summit today, delivering an impassioned appeal for peace in the Middle East. The president was holding separate meetings later with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, hoping to revive prospects for a final peace agreement.

Scott talks to film historian James Chapman about the enduring popularity of James Bond movies. The first Bond movie, Dr. No debuted in l962, and 19 sequels later, the series shows no sign of dying off, even if five different actors have played the part of 007. James Chapman is the author of a new book., License to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films. (Columbia University Press).

American Jazz Pianist Sir Roland Hanna died Wednesday at age 70. Hanna was known for playing in diverse styles that reflected much of the history of jazz piano. In addition to performing, he composed more than 400 pieces for jazz ensembles. NPR's Felix Contreras has this remembrance.

Commentator Sam Fulwood says Virginia Governor George Allen's decision to declare April Confederate History and Heritage month was done for short term political gains without any consideration for the long term damage it could have on race relations. Allen's move serves only to push people further into the color-coded camps at the extremes of the race debate. His decision to honor the Confederacy without any mention of slavery was dishonest.