Sitting down to interview Margaret Thatcher for this week's cover story, London Bureau Chief Bonnie Angelo was struck by the subtle ways in which the Prime Minister had changed during her nearly two years in office. Says Angelo, who interviewed Thatcher for TIME'S cover on her election in May 1979: "That first meeting took place in Mrs. Thatcher's bare, cramped campaign headquarters just before the elections; she was aggressive, and a bit edgy. This time, in the Prime Minister's study at 10 Downing Street, she was more relaxed, yet very much in command. All the slings and arrows that come with political leadership have strengthened her somehow. She seems to thrive on the challenge." Angelo, who covered six U.S. Presidents, from Eisenhower to Carter, in 20 years as a Washington correspondent, finds Thatcher unique among the leaders she has interviewed. Says she: "Mrs. Thatcher never equivocates; she is almost evangelistic in her fervor, unwavering in her beliefs. U.S.-style consensus politics would be anathema to her: she doesn't simply state her views -- she is determined to convince you." To better understand Britain's embattled Conservative leadership and the turmoil in the Labor Party, Angelo spoke with politicians from Brighton to Blackpool, from far left to far right.

Meanwhile, Correspondent Arthur White delved into the life of a young radical leader, and Frank Melville traced the evolution of Thatcher's economic policies. Correspondent Erik Amfitheatrof interviewed dozens of distressed workers. He found a surprising number who say they are sticking with Thatcher no matter how painful the consequences --and for some the consequences are painful indeed. Says Amfitheatrof: "One metalworker who had just been laid off at a plant near Manchester despaired of ever finding another job in his field. His father had worked at the plant before him. 'My family's always been in engineering,' he told me. Then he showed me his hands: 'You feel it. It's in your hands and your blood.' " Associate Editor Marguerite Johnson, who wrote the main story, and Reporter-Researcher Val Castronovo found themselves torn between admiration for Thatcher's bravado and sympathy for the plight of Britons. Says Johnson: "Thatcher's gamble has produced one of the most gripping political stories in Europe in years."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.