Thanks to Lexis, here are the articles (with opening paragraphs) that the New York Times ran on its front page four years ago this morning. As late as 8:45 that morning, this was the news of the day. One minute later, it was all completely forgotten.

No issue of a newspaper has ever become irrelevant more quickly.

* * * * * *

Key Leaders Talk of Possible Deals to Revive Economy
By ALISON MITCHELL and RICHARD W. STEVENSON

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 – Key figures in both parties responded to the darkening economic outlook today by exploring possible compromises on additional tax cuts, and the Democratic chairman of the Senate Budget Committee suggested that such a deal could involve the politically perilous step of tapping temporarily into the Social Security surplus.

Pressure mounted on President Bush to drop his cautious approach to dealing with the weakening economy, much of it from within his own party. Republicans are voicing growing concern that the White House has underestimated public unease about the economy and the threat it poses to members of Congress up for re-election next year.

Confronted with polls showing that support for Republicans was eroding even before the government reported on Friday that the unemployment rate had surged, nervous Republicans moved on a variety of fronts.

City Voters Have Heard It All As Campaign Din Nears End
By JIM DWYER

The first time the phone rang, Victoria Ehigiator was elbow deep in a sink of soapy dishes. She dried her hands and picked up the phone. It was Al Sharpton on the line, calling about the primary election. He said his piece, and she went back to the dishes. A few minutes later, the phone rang again, and she lifted herself from the bubbles once more.

That time it was Fernando Ferrer. And then it was Gloria Davis. Followed by Adolfo Carrion.

As one digitized caller after another dropped into her home, thanks to new technology that can swamp the telephones in a ZIP code or an entire city with the actual voice of, say, Ed Koch, urging a vote for Peter Vallone, Ms. Ehigiator started to suspect that very few people in New York were not running for something — whether it was mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president or City Council.

And as for those few who weren’t candidates, they all seemed to be calling her about those who were.

Scientists Urge Bigger Supply Of Stem Cells
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 – A panel of scientific experts has concluded that new colonies, or lines, of human embryonic stem cells will be necessary if the science is to fulfill its potential, a finding that is likely to inflame the political debate over President Bush’s decision to restrict federally financed research to the 64 stem cell lines that are already known to exist.

In a 59-page report that examines the state of human stem cell science, the panel also endorsed cloning technology to create new stem cells that could be used to treat patients. Mr. Bush strongly opposes human cloning for any reason, and the House of Representatives voted in July to outlaw any type of cloning, whether for reproduction or research.

The report by the National Academy of Sciences, perhaps the nation’s most eminent organization of scientists, is scheduled to be made public on Tuesday morning at a news conference in Washington. It does not address Mr. Bush’s policy directly, though it strongly supports federal financing for stem cell research.

Nuclear Booty: More Smugglers Use Asia Route
By DOUGLAS FRANTZ

ISTANBUL, Sept. 10 – The police in Batumi, a Black Sea port in Georgia, heard a rumor in July that someone wanted to sell several pounds of high-grade uranium for $100,000. The most tantalizing aspect of the tip was that one of the sellers was reportedly a Georgia Army officer.

All sorts of scoundrels have tried nuclear smuggling in recent years. Many are amateurs; most of what they try to peddle proves useless for making bombs.

But the possible involvement of an army officer gave the Batumi case a measure of deadly seriousness, beyond its status as another example of how the smuggling of nuclear material has shifted to Central Asia.

Traced on Internet, Teacher Is Charged In ’71 Jet Hijacking
By C. J. CHIVERS

Thirty years after a black-power revolutionary hijacked a jetliner from Ontario to Cuba and disappeared, Canadian and federal authorities matched the fingerprints he left on a can of ginger ale in the airplane with those of a teacher in Westchester County and charged the teacher with the crime yesterday.

The teacher, Patrick Dolan Critton, 54, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was charged with kidnapping, armed robbery and extortion in United States District Court in Manhattan. He is facing extradition to Canada, where a detective had tracked him down through a simple Internet search.

The authorities said that Mr. Critton, a fugitive for 30 years, had been hiding in plain sight for the last seven years, working as a schoolteacher, using his real name, raising two sons and mentoring other children. Even one of the police officers who arrested him said he had the appearance and demeanor of a gentleman.

But as a young man, the authorities said, Patrick Dolan Critton was a revolutionary with a taste for the most daring of crimes.

In a Nation of Early Risers, Morning TV Is a Hot Market
By BILL CARTER

How much morning television can one nation watch?

Ever since the owlish Dave Garroway ambled through the “Today” program on NBC starting in 1952, sometimes accompanied by a chimpanzee, television screens have greeted awakening Americans with the combination of hard news, feature reports and soft celebrity interviews that has come to be known as the morning news program.

But the competition for bleary eyes has grown more intense as media conglomerates have awakened to the idea that changing lives, heightened interest from advertisers and other factors have made the morning one of the few areas of growth in the television business.

School Dress Codes vs. a Sea of Bare Flesh
By KATE ZERNIKE

MILLBURN, N.J., Sept. 7 – In the tumult of bare skin that is the hallway of Millburn High School, Michele Pitts is the Enforcer.

“Hon, put the sweater on,” she barks at a pair of bare shoulders.

“Lose those flip-flops,” to a pair of bare legs.

One student waves her off as Mrs. Pitts crosses her arms in a “Cover that cleavage” sign. “You talked to me already,” the girl insists, then promises, “Tomorrow!” as she disappears around a corner.

Baseball caps, a taboo of yesteryear, pass by unchallenged, having slipped in severity on a list of offenses that now include exposed bellies, backs and thighs. For Mrs. Pitts, the assistant principal, there is simply too much skin to cover.

With Britney Spears and CosmoGirl setting the fashion trends, shirts and skirts are inching up, pants are slipping down, and schools across the country are finding themselves forced to tighten their dress codes and police their hallways.

* * * * * *

Here are the editorials that ran in the paper that morning, with opening paragraphs:

The Politics of Panic
The summer has barely ended, but President Bush and his Congressional allies are already frantically rewriting their script for the fall. This was supposed to be a season for Mr. Bush to talk about “values,” not fiscal policy. But with a sinking economy, evanescing surplus and tottering budget, Republicans are going back to the drawing board. Some, like Trent Lott, the Senate minority leader, want to cut the capital gains tax. House Republicans are talking about broad spending cuts. The White House says Mr. Bush would listen to these and other ideas to revive the economy. There is a whiff of panic in the air, and panic can lead to bad policy.

Spoiling the Broth
When Frank Flynn, a Columbia University professor of organizational behavior, drafted a fictitious letter to 240 New York restaurants, he did so in the hope of studying “vendor response to consumer complaints.” The letter stated that he had been stricken with “extended nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps” in each of the restaurants after a wedding anniversary dinner. Those symptoms were nothing compared with the headache Professor Flynn must have had last week when he realized how badly his research had gone awry. His letter caused a reign of terror in many of the city’s top restaurants, as management tried to ferret out the culprits. If his subject had been culinary paranoia or perhaps the temper of the high-profile chef, the letter would have been perfectly crafted.

Primary Choices
This list summarizes The Times’s recommendations in some primary races throughout New York City and Nassau County today. All are Democratic primary choices except for the borough presidency in Staten Island, where there is only a Republican primary. Poll hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Mayor
Mark Green

Public Advocate
Betsy Gotbaum

Comptroller
William Thompson

[etc.]

* * * * * *

Here’s the summary of the paper’s contents that appeared on the inside front page.

NEWS SUMMARY

INTERNATIONAL A3-15

Nuclear Smugglers Turn To Central Asian Routes
The appearance of a relatively large quantity of uranium, nearly four pounds, on the black market in Georgia, a former Soviet republic, has underscored concerns within the American government that trafficking in nuclear material has shifted from Europe to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Turkey. A1

New Fighting on Eve of Talks
Two soldiers were slain by Palestinian snipers near a checkpoint separating the Palestinian town of Tulkarm and Israel. Israeli tanks shelled Palestinian security positions outside Jenin in the West Bank. Both sides were still discussing plans for truce talks tentatively set for today. A3

Afghan Fighter’s Fate in Doubt
There were conflicting reports that Ahmed Shah Massoud, the leader of the last remaining opposition to the ruling Taliban, had survived a suicide bomber’s attack on Sunday. A15

Suicide Bombing in Istanbul
Two police officers were killed and at least 20 people were injured when a suicide bomber set off a powerful explosion in the busy Taksim Square district, officials said. A3

Russia Firm on Missiles
Defense Minister Sergei B. Ivanov expressed Moscow’s resolve to oppose America’s missile defense plans on a day when President Bush was on the telephone to President Vladimir V. Putin seeking to buttress their personal relationship. A14

Joseph R. Biden Jr., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that plans for missile defense sacrifice national security for the sake of a “theological” belief and that the effort to make such a system work would cost astronomical sums. A14

Irregulars Labeled Terrorists
The Bush administration designated as a terror group the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, a right-wing paramilitary group responsible for hundreds of killings. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell is to meet with President Andres Pastrana today. A10

East Timor Vote Approved
The United Nations certified the results of East Timor’s first democratic election and a newly chosen constituent assembly prepared to start drafting a Constitution. A15

World Briefing A8

NATIONAL A16-21

Key Leaders in Congress Discuss Further Tax Cuts
Prominent figures in both political parties responded to the darkening economic outlook by exploring possible compromises on additional tax cuts. The Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee suggested that a deal could involve the politically perilous step of tapping the Social Security surplus temporarily. The White House and some Capitol Hill Republicans also talked of spending cuts. Polls show that support for Republicans is eroding. A1

Dole to Seek Senate Seat
Elizabeth Dole is expected to announce her candidacy today for the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated after the 2002 election by Jesse Helms, a fellow Republican. A16

Driver Beaten After Boy’s Death
The driver of a tow truck that accidentally hit and killed a 4-year-old boy in Los Angeles was severely beaten over the weekend by a crowd of more than 20 people, the police said. A16

OBITUARIES C17

SCIENCE TIMES F1-12

Call to Expand Cell Pool
A panel of scientific experts concluded that new colonies, or lines, of human embryonic stem cells will be necessary if the science is to advance. The finding is likely to inflame the political debate over President Bush’s decision to restrict federally financed research to the 64 lines already known to exist. A1

Findings on Arsenic in Water
The National Academy of Sciences has concluded that arsenic is so dangerous in drinking water that stringent levels set by the Clinton administration and later suspended by the Bush White House were justified but perhaps not strict enough. A20

G.P.S. Not Reliable, U.S. Says
The Global Positioning System — which airlines plan to use to land flights in zero visibility, railroads want for avoiding train collisions and ships use to navigate shoals — is vulnerable to interference and even “spoofing” by enemies, the Transportation Department said. The report suggested that older technologies should be maintained as backups. A21

Health & Fitness F5

NEW YORK/REGION B1-7

30 Years After a Hijacking, A Suspect Is Arrested
A teacher in Westchester County, Patrick Dolan Critton, 54, was arrested in connection with the 1971 hijacking of a Canadian airliner to Cuba. Canadian investigators tracked him down through the Internet. A1

New Charges for Jailed Mayor
State prosecutors charged Philip A. Giordano, 38, the three-term mayor of Waterbury, Conn., with raping the two girls, aged 9 and 10, with whom federal prosecutors said he had repeated sexual encounters this year. If convicted of the new charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. B1

Last Chance for Votes
The six major candidates running to succeed Mayor Giuliani ranged across the city in a final burst of politicking before today’s vote. B1

FASHION B7-8

ARTS E1-10

SPORTS D1-8

Denver Defeats New York
The Broncos beat the Giants, 31-20, to inaugurate a new Denver stadium. D1

EDUCATION

The Fashion Police Get Tough
Shirts and skirts are inching up, pants are slipping down, and schools across the country are finding themselves forced to tighten their dress codes and police their hallways. A1

Incest Verse Prompts Recall
The New York City Board of Education recalled a Maya Angelou book that had been sent under a Mayor Giuliani initiative to libraries for children in kindergarten through third grade. A poem in the book uses explicit language about incest. Officials cited a clerical error in explaining how the book was put on the list. B2

Catholic School Strike Looms
Teachers at 10 Catholic high schools in New York City and its suburbs threatened to go on strike as early as today over pay and delays in talks. B3

BUSINESS DAY C1-16

U.S. Accuses Firm of Sex Bias
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a sex-discrimination suit against Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in the case of a highly paid bond saleswoman who was fired. The commission chairwoman said as many as 100 other women had also been victims of bias within a single division since 1995. C1

Bitter Gucci Fight Over
The French billionaire Francois Pinault took effective control of the Gucci Group with an agreement to buy much of the stake held by a rival tycoon, Bernard Arnault. C1

Nikkei Plunge Alarms Investors
The Nikkei stock index, which has lost 25 percent of its value this year, is in danger of falling below the 10,000 barrier, a level last seen in 1984. It could even drop below the Dow Jones industrial average, a situation not seen since 1957, the opening days of Japan’s economic boom. C1

A Comeback on Wall Street
The stock market rallied from early losses in the day. The Dow, which plunged 3.5 percent last week, closed down just 0.34 point, at 9,605.51, after beginning the day down as much as 112 points. The Nasdaq gained 7.68 points, to 1,695.38, and the S.& P. 500 rose 6.76 points, to 1,092.54. C9

More High-Tech Jobs Cut
Qwest Communications, the operator of large fiber optic and local telephone networks, said it would eliminate 4,000 jobs, or 6 percent of its work force, by early 2002. C6