Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Reagan Years (1981-1988)
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Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Reagan Years (1981-1988)
Ronald Reagan’s presidency, from Reagonomics and the invasion of Grenada in his first term, to the Iran-contra scandal and reconciliation with Soviet leader Mihail Gorbachev in his second. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American jo...
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Gorbachev's perilous experiment
Misgivings over Gorbachev's liberalisation proposals as observers fear further splits from satellite nations.
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Yasser Arafat's speech at the UN, 1988
Yasser Arafat's speech at the UN, the denial of his visa by US secretary of state George Schultz, and the view that Palestinians are moving towards re...
Fears over US deficit
The economy will be the first challenge facing the new president when his term starts in January.
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A dirty campaign
Slander and innuendo are nothing new in campaigning - but the rhetoric will soon be erased.
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The 1988 presidential election
An overview of the ballot paper in the 1988 presidential elections, George Bush's "inevitable" victory, and the issues that proved most important for...
George H W Bush vs Michael Dukakis
A review of George H W Bush and Michael Dukakis' presidential campaigns, key values and demographics, and predicted performances before the 1988 elect...
The Bess Myerson trial begins
The 1988 trial of Bess Myerson, the former Miss America and head of consumer affairs to New York City, accused of tax fraud and bribing a judge.
Baseball and politics in 1988
With the 1988 presidential race and World Series drawing to a close, Alistair Cooke looks at the baseball metaphors used by George H W Bush and Michae...
Testing public opinion
Quavering Quale affects voters' views on choice for president.
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1988 televised debates, and Thatcher in 1979
The polished nature of the Bush/Dukakis debates, the 'American-style' of Margaret Thatcher's public relations in 1979, and Jimmy Carter's negative rev...
Looking good on TV
As the presidential candidates debate on TV, political prowess seems to be in the eye of the beholder.
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Hurricane Gilbert
The impact of Hurricane Gilbert on Jamaica and Central America, and the 1938 hurricane that destroyed a large part of the forests of New England, as d...
The Democratic outsider
Jimmy Carter's rise to prominence of in 1976, and Michael Dukakis' struggle to establish a new and attractive identity for himself ahead of the 1988 p...
Yellowstone National Park, 1988
Too strange to be believed, the natural phenomena that prompted the founding of the US national parks.
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Etiquette for presidential candidates and the heat wave of Summer 1988
Remembering when presidential candidates only spoke about policy, and when Adlai Stephenson broke the rule. And could the hot summer be the result of...
Dan Quayle for vice president
Alistair Cooke reflects on why George H W Bush may have chosen Dan Quayle as vice-presidential candidate, and the constitutional powers of the vice pr...
President Reagan’s final Republican Convention
President Reagan gives his farewell address at the Republican convention in Kansas. A heat wave, drought and forest fires continue to cause problems a...
Ed Koch, Mayor of New York
A look at the problems faced by New York's mayor Ed Koch, his weekly interrogation by the public on TV and his attempts to fight drug use and keep New...
Day care and recreation
As the 1988 election looms closer, day care becomes a prime issue. Alistair Cooke reflects on the unexpected success of the newspaper USA Today, found...
America's polluted waters
Alistair Cooke reports on the polluted state of America's waters, coastline and lakes, its effect on the wildlife and the reactions of the public.
Democratic National Convention, 1988
Michael Dukakis is nominated as the Democrat presidential candidate, but divisions within the party are exposed at the 1988 Democratic convention.
Indict and remand
Alistair Cooke reflects on protection rackets in 1930s Manhattan, the meaning of indict and remand, and the purpose and history of the US Grand Jury.
Iran Air Flight 655
An Iranian airliner carrying 290 civilians is shot down by US missiles over the Persian Gulf, killing all on board.
Seeing justice done
Historic judgment in Iran-Contra legal wrangle is reduced to a series of melodramatic videotape clips.
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Goodbye to men's clubs
Writing on the wall for men's clubs as judges rule they infringe personal liberties.
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The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door of 1963
Cooke recalls the moment when the segregationist George Wallace, Governor of Alabama, attempted to prevent a black student enrolling at the University...
Bush will win it
George Bush may have to play down his preppy background, but he's still looking like a winner.
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Golf in Russia
As the West's sport becomes tainted by money-grubbing, the Soviets announce their first golf course.
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Nancy Reagan's astrologer, 1988
Former White House aide Donald Regan makes public the First Lady's intrusion on policy and appointments.
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Lame duck President Reagan, 1988
Considered a lame duck since his farewell State of the Union address in January 1988, Cooke muses on the real power of outgoing President Reagan.
The forgotten William Le Queux
On hearing of the death of double agent Kim Philby (1912 -1988), Cooke reflects on the influence of forgotten Edwardian spy writer William Le Queux (1...
Irving Berlin turns 100, 1988
As songwriter Irving Berlin turns 100 Alistair Cooke considers why his extraordinary life and unlikely longevity should make us wary of those claiming...
George H W Bush nominated
Alistair looks at the background of George H W Bush, the new Republican presidential candidate, and who he might face in the upcoming presidential ele...
Stanton Delaplane (1907-1988)
A tribute to the travel writer and Pulitzer prize-winning columnist renowned for his scoop on the 'ding dong daddy of the D-car line' about a bigamist...
The Augusta National, 1988
Enjoying a different pace of life at the Augusta National, a Georgia Shangri-La.
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Correspondents answered
Replying to listeners who have been unable to pick up on an intended humorous tone.
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Democrat agony
Bush a shoe-in for Republicans but Democrat agony continues as Jackson and Dukakis run neck-and-neck.
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Warnings for Gorbachev
Misgivings over future of Gorbachev and modernising reforms voiced by commentators.
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California public health laws
Alistair Cooke is in California, where farmers and manufacturers are facing a drought and tougher rules on illegal immigrants and public health.
1988 presidential primaries
The 1988 presidential primaries are underway, the Democrats are ambivalent about their contenders, and California aims to curb developers in Orange Co...