February 15, 2004

Pres Bush aides and Republican officials say his political advisers are completing plans for more aggressive stage of his re-election drive, seeking to discredit Sen John Kerry and promote Bush's record and character with television advertisements and more visible role for Bush himself; Bush has told associates he wants to get more assertive in drawing distinctions with Democrats and defending his tenure as he travels nation; strategy shift, to be executed in next few weeks, comes amid Republican anxiety about Bush's declining poll numbers, uncharacteristic administration missteps and torrent of criticism of Bush from energized Democrats apparently unifying around Kerry; photo (M)

Roy E Disney, crusading to oust Walt Disney Co chairman and chief executive Michael D Eisner, has cast self as traditionalist who wants to return company to values of his late uncle, Walt Disney; it is unclear whether his bid for 'wholesome family entertainment,' notably short on details, is realistic; he has become hero to thousands of frustrated Disney fans and employees who view company as American icon; photos (M)

Confessions of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, rogue Pakistani scientist, have shed light on vast underground quietly spreading atomic bombs; Pres Bush has proposed seven-point plan to shut down black market, declaring that ease with which Iran, Libya and North Korea got help from Khan showed that US must 'prevent governments from developing nuclear weapons under false pretenses'; some experts praise plan for its emphasis on cooperation with other nations; critics cite administration's unilateral agenda of acquiring new nuclear arms, antimissile systems and space weapons; International Atomic Energy Agency dir Mohamed ElBaradei proposes 'multinational controls' on making materials that can be used for nuclear arms; analysts say nuclear black market may turn out to be so extensive that shock of discovery will prompt tough reforms to limit spread of atomic weapons; photo (M)

Frank Rich praises Janet Jackson for baring breast at Super Bowl and then refusing to apologize, while 'wimp' Justin Timberlake acceded to CBS demand to beg pardon; says reaction to event was absurd, given that show had already featured crotch-biting dog, flatulent horse, potty-mouthed child, and cheerleaders ripping off their skirts; notes that blame is assigned only to CBS and MTV, not to NFL, which is heavily into 'sex business,' nor to audience, which has option of tuning out; photo (M)

Jon Pareles finds that exhibits at music museums are designed to please celebrity worshipers, but ignore seedy and ugly sides of business and its stars because cities that help build music museums want 'snazzy, inoffensive' family attractions; also sees unfortunate imbalance in assignment of exhibit space; discusses several specific museums belonging to 64-member Music Museum Alliance; photos (M)