Radio Letter From America was a weekly series on Radio 4 which ran from the mid-1940 to the mid-2000s in which the broadcaster and journalist Alistair Cooke commented on the week's news from the United States in a fifteen minute essay. Documenting the history of the country over the past five decades, every episode of filled with contemporary details often glossed over in hindsight.
Across its 58 year history, 2869 episodes were broadcast of which about 1,550 survive, 900 in the BBC's own archives and another 650 previously thought lost until they were revealed by two listeners who'd been diligently recording ever episode for decades. Home taping might have been killing music but it was saving this precious speech radio.
Every extant episode is now available on the BBC website. Unfortunately, like In Our Time, they're locked into a programme page format which isn't easily navigable when that many episodes are involved and so I decided to create the following chronology to make them more accessible and create the ability to easily skip to a particular year and re-experience that history through the words of Alistair Cooke.
To that end, I've also augmented the radio episodes with transcripts of lost episodes from elsewhere as well as Cooke's US-related journalism from other outlets, notably The Guardian where he was a foreign correspondent from 1947 to 1972 and which led him to be on the ground during these historic moments, like the Montgomery bus boycott and RFK's assassination. Those entries will be marked with their source and in italics. Enjoy.
A generation has come and gone since Chariot, Carlos, Carlitos, and Charlie became the most famous actor in the world. But Charlie Chaplin at fifty is essentially and physically the same dapper midget who first made the movies come to life for the western world [The Atlantic].
1946
24 March 1946
After a sobering month or more in Britain, I came back to the United States with a couple of thousand GI brides [excerpt of the transcript of the lost episode].
1947
A fragment from 1947
A fragment preserved from Cooke's talk, reflecting on the importance of democratic capitalism and a free economy to Americans.
1948
There is often a heartless contradiction between American ideals and the general willingness to accept them in action [The Guardian].
04 November 1948
The American people went to bed early to-day in the echo of a thunderbolt [The Guardian].
03 November 1948
Even American Presidential campaigns must come to an end [The Guardian].
1949
09 April 1949
One week ago, Lazarus the rooster was a nameless 3½lb. bird being carried home by a Los Angeles housewife for the entirely normal purpose of cooking and eating, with pepper and salt to taste [The Guardian].
01 October 1949
Into a dingy courtroom walked a familiar figure nicely done up in a grey suit and a check bow tie. His identity was clinched when the judge heaved the shoulder of his gown and heard the marshal cry, "Humphrey Bogart on complaint of Robin Roberts." [The Guardian]
1950
20 March 1950
US liberty under threat: Alistair Cooke on the origins of McCarthyism [The Guardian].
25 October 1950
Al Jolson died in San Francisco last night too late to hit the headlines of the morning papers, but in the evening papers to-day he swept everything before him, including President Truman at the fifth anniversary of the United Nations [The Guardian].
19 January 1951
Television in America, 1951
How a new daily diet of television in America is changing people's lives, as reported by Alistair Cooke.
21 October 1960
1951
Television in America, 1951
How a new daily diet of television in America is changing people's lives, as reported by Alistair Cooke.
1952
08 December 1952
08 December 1952
"There are many limitations," said General Eisenhower in Seoul, after a flight of 11,000 miles, a three-day tour of the front, a round of sessions with American and Korean diplomatists, and a dogged quizzing of every Allied Army, Navy, and Air Force commander in the war zone [The Guardian].
1953
08 January 1953
This year has been a harrowing one in America in many ways, but in one respect it shook off at least an infamous if waning habit. It was the first year on record that there was no lynching in the United States [The Guardian].
18 August 1953
Mr Lester Pearson called the seventh General Assembly back into session this afternoon for the sole purpose of arranging the political conference on Korea required by Article 60 of the truce agreement [The Guardian].
05 November 1953
William Kapell (1922-1953)
A tribute to American Pianist William Kappell, the best pianist of his generation, and what music means to Americans.
William Kapell (1922-1953)
A tribute to American Pianist William Kappell, the best pianist of his generation, and what music means to Americans.
1954
08 February 1954
Mr Truman came bouncing before an audience of liberal and Left-wing Democrats here last night to accuse President Eisenhower of "one of the greatest hoaxes in American history" in leaving the American people to infer that most, or many, of the 2,200 Government employees whom the Administration had released since it took office were guilty of disloyalty or subversion [The Guardian].
25 March 1954
US astounded at magnitude of Bikini Atoll explosion [The Guardian].
01 April 1954
With the promise of spring and the first warm wind from the west there came also, this last week, the shattering explosion from Bikini [in the south Pacific] ... an explosion 700 times as powerful as the one that devastated Hiroshima [excerpt of the transcript of the lost episode].
10 April 1954
Known communists will be barred from the service and all new officers and enlisted men must sign loyalty questionnaires [The Guardian].
12 June 1954
Senator Joseph McCarthy was all over the front pages again this morning, but the instinct that put him there was for once not his [The Guardian].
29 November 1954
'I plan to renew my efforts to dispel the deception that has been foisted upon the American people', says former US State official [The Guardian]
1955
07 March 1955
Alistair Cooke reported Billy Graham’s New York campaign for the Manchester Guardian on 7 March 1955 [The Guardian].
16 April 1955
Alistair Cooke reports on the historic news that the 166-year war against polio is almost certainly at an end [The Guardian].
20 July 1955
The atom can indeed be stripped of its military casing and adapted to the arts of peace, says the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission [The Guardian].
1956
16 November 1956
Alabama Negroes Celebrate Victory [Guardian].
1957
16 January 1957
A tribute to Humphrey Bogart [The Guardian].
12 June 1957
Mayflower II sailed into Provincetown, Massachusetts, shortly after noon to-day, and its log could well have reproduced the original one of William Bradford: "After long beating at sea they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod; the which being made and certainly known to be it, they were not a little joyful." [The Guardian]
21 August 1957
Gossip magazine articles under legal scrutiny for exposing the private lives of the famous [The Guardian].
08 September 1957
500th letter
Alistair Cooke remembers Lindsay Wellington, the BBC head who came up with the idea of weekly letters to help people in the UK understand American life in 1946.
500th letter
Alistair Cooke remembers Lindsay Wellington, the BBC head who came up with the idea of weekly letters to help people in the UK understand American life in 1946.
1959
21 September 1959
Khrushchev goes to Hollywood [The Guardian].
13 October 1959
Committee hears testimony of TV producer who said that 75% of contestants were coached [The Guardian].
1960
08 July 1960
"Are you certain that you are ready for the country, or that the country is ready for you?" That, said Mr Truman a week ago, was what he had written to "Senator Joseph Kennedy". The error passed unnoticed until a reporter asked him later "if that was a Freudian slip." The name "of the young man," Mr Truman replied, "is John." [The Guardian]
21 October 1960
Senator John Kennedy sat in an open car from Bowling Green to Rockefeller Center yesterday through blizzards of ticker-tape and such a booming wave of cheers that people uptown, the path of a warm southern wind, put their heads out of windows and thought the Russians had landed [The Guardian].
27 October 1960
US "Prestige" Report in Full [The Guardian].
11 November 1960
Talk of statistical skulduggery [The Guardian].
13 November 1960
Resuming 'cordial relations' after the unpleasantness [The Guardian].
20 December 1960
What President-elect John Kennedy is planning to propose to Congress will be a test of his strategic guile [The Guardian].
1961
20 January 1961
The presidential inauguration [The Guardian].
18 May 1961
When the word got out that Gary Cooper (who died on Saturday, aged 60) was mortally ill, a spontaneous process arose in high places not unlike the first moves to sanctify a remote peasant [The Guardian].
1962
21 January 1962
Big brains
How New York construction was brought to a halt by the Electrician's Union strike, and why the computer or 'the big brain' will soon change how people work.
Big brains
How New York construction was brought to a halt by the Electrician's Union strike, and why the computer or 'the big brain' will soon change how people work.
06 August 1962
A woman of integrity [The Guardian].
27 August 1962
24 November 1963
Assassination of J F Kennedy, 1963
The assassination of John F Kennedy, the first president of the television age, and the style, grace and fun he brought to the White House.
22 August 1965
The LA Watts riots, 1965
The Watts riots in Los Angeles - were they an uprising by black Americans angry at their treatment or simply criminally motivated looting and violence?
09 June 1968
Bobby Kennedy's assassination, 1968
An eyewitness account of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy on June 5, 1968 in Los Angeles, and the collective-guilt aftermath for America.
The most independent of the movie-makers, Goldwyn has a sure feel for what is artistic and irresistibly entertaining at the same time [The Guardian].
1963
26 March 1963
Champion's death three days after title bout stirs debate on whether boxing should be banned [The Guardian].
16 May 1963
Major Gordon Cooper is the first American astronaut to take a nap in space and the last one to take part in a solo orbital mission [The Guardian].
18 June 1963
The United States Supreme Court decided this morning that the reading of the Lord's Prayer or any other religious text as a part of the daily curriculum of a school supported by public funds is unconstitutional [The Guardian].
22 November 1963
New York - President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was shot during a motorcade drive through downtown Dallas at 1p.m. (6p.m. British time) this afternoon [The Guardian].
24 November 1963
Assassination of J F Kennedy, 1963
The assassination of John F Kennedy, the first president of the television age, and the style, grace and fun he brought to the White House.
17 Decmber 1963
This is still a melancholy city, with so many public buildings topped by so many flags flapping at half-mast in the cold air. On a meadow south of the White House, a great Christmas tree, flanked with one tree for every State in the Union, will not light up until the twenty-third, when the proclaimed 30 days of mourning is over [The Guardian].
29 December 1963
On the final days of the official mourning period for Kennedy [transcript of lost letter].
1964
27 February 1964
Cassius Marcellus Clay, by his own admission the greatest man in the history of the human race, could not have surprised the world more if last night God had parted the skies and ridden down on a thunderbolt to present him in person with the title of heavyweight champion of the world [The Guardian].
13 April 1964
Alistair Cooke reflects on a historic Oscars night, as Poitier becomes the first African American best actor winner [The Guardian].
22 October 1964
While Senator Goldwater in the flesh was in Pikesville, Maryland, last night pounding away at the Administration's "soft deal for communism," his television image was standing before the swelling pipe organ of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City chanting a dirge for the decay of public and private morality and strongly hinting that the disturbing increase in juvenile delinquency was due to the knowledge that "the boss does it, why shouldn't I?" [The Guardian].
23 October 1964
Alistair Cooke is bowled over by Audrey Hepburn in the film version of My Fair Lady [The Guardian].
28 October 1964
Emotional plea to 'kinfolks' [The Guardian].
1965
17 January 1965
President Johnson's inauguration, 1965
President Lyndon B Johnson's inauguration for his own full first term, and some earlier notable inaugurations, including Washington and Jefferson's.
17 January 1965
President Johnson's inauguration, 1965
President Lyndon B Johnson's inauguration for his own full first term, and some earlier notable inaugurations, including Washington and Jefferson's.
21 May 1965
The appearance this morning of a semi-millionaire professor has set the academic world agog and Wall Street agape [The Guardian].
30 May 1965
Clay vs Liston Fight
How the debacle of the Cassius Clay/Sonny Liston boxing prize fight tarnished one of the elements of American culture - sportsmanship.
30 May 1965
Clay vs Liston Fight
How the debacle of the Cassius Clay/Sonny Liston boxing prize fight tarnished one of the elements of American culture - sportsmanship.
02 June 1965
Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi were ignored in a promotional tourism map given out by Reynolds Tobacco Company [The Guardian].
15 August 1965
Today Watts, one of the eighty or hundred small towns that interlock across the beach meadows, the mountains, and inland valleys of Southern California to form the weird urban complex known as Los Angeles, was said to be becalmed or cowed or smouldering, according to the colour and temperament of one's informant [The Guardian].
22 August 1965
The LA Watts riots, 1965
The Watts riots in Los Angeles - were they an uprising by black Americans angry at their treatment or simply criminally motivated looting and violence?
1966
21 August 1966
Honeymoon with President Johnson, 1966
Democracy demonstrated - how the President of the United States had to make way for Mr Meyer Sugarman's wedding night.
Honeymoon with President Johnson, 1966
Democracy demonstrated - how the President of the United States had to make way for Mr Meyer Sugarman's wedding night.
10 November 1966
Ronald Reagan is, for the moment, a brighter star in Republican politics than he ever was in the cinemas [The Guardian].
1967
26 October 1967
26 June 1967
After hours of talks with President Johnson, Soviet premier Alexei Kosygin mentioned that he wanted "to get outdoors." A visit to Niagara Falls was duly arranged [The Guardian].
26 October 1967
Who are hippies? [excerpt of the transcript of the lost episode].
24 December 1967
Christmas 1967
Senator Jacob Javits' parking fine, Mayor Lindsay and the water commissioner, and a President Truman Christmas story.
24 December 1967
Christmas 1967
Senator Jacob Javits' parking fine, Mayor Lindsay and the water commissioner, and a President Truman Christmas story.
1968
24 March 1968
1000th letter - American reactions to Vietnam, 1968
The national mood begins to change over the Vietnam war - how America began to move from early indifference to the recognition of a nightmare.
24 March 1968
1000th letter - American reactions to Vietnam, 1968
The national mood begins to change over the Vietnam war - how America began to move from early indifference to the recognition of a nightmare.
07 April 1968
Cooke reflects on the assassination [transcript of a lost episode]
08 April 1968
Europe gets the story from the flaring headlines and the juicier agency pictures [The Guardian]
06 June 1968
At midnight on June 4 a score or so of newspaper men were in a room adjoining the hotel pantry through which Senator Kennedy was going to talk to them after his victory speech in the ballroom of the Hotel Ambassador, Los Angeles. Alistair Cooke was among them. Here is his account of the scene [The Guardian].
07 June 1968
The body of Robert Francis Kennedy was gently lifted aboard the plane sent here this morning by President Johnson, and Los Angeles added its name to the list of cities whose previous history has been defaced, for the time being, by all too memorable acts of violence: Dallas, Detroit, Memphis [The Guardian].
09 June 1968
Bobby Kennedy's assassination, 1968
An eyewitness account of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy on June 5, 1968 in Los Angeles, and the collective-guilt aftermath for America.
10 June 1968
In the aftermath of Robert Kennedy's assassination, Alistair Cooke reflects on the debate over public violence in America, including calls for gun control and curbs on violent TV shows [The Guardian].
11 June 1968
Alistair Cooke on how the assassination of Robert Kennedy ensured a predictable outcome for the previously enthralling 1968 presidential election campaign [The Guardian].
13 June 1968
Alistair Cooke on the resumption of the 1968 US presidential election campaign following the assassination of Robert Kennedy [The Guardian].
1969
19 August 1969
19 August 1969
There was relief today when a camp-out involving twice the number of forces engaged in the Battle of Gettysberg broke out on the country town of Bethel, New York, and went home [The Guardian].
30 November 1969
The My Lai massacre revealed, 1969
The American reaction to hearing of the horror of the Son My massacre (My Lai) in Vietnam, and parallels with Hiroshima and the Allied devastation of Dresden.
30 November 1969
The My Lai massacre revealed, 1969
The American reaction to hearing of the horror of the Son My massacre (My Lai) in Vietnam, and parallels with Hiroshima and the Allied devastation of Dresden.
1970
24 April 1970
24 April 1970
In every big and little city of America yesterday, vast throngs of people, the young, the old, the brash, the solemn, and the bland packed the avenues and malls and main streets in a celebration, half gay, half ghoulish, of Earth Day, the first mass reminder of our decaying and polluted planet [The Guardian].
08 August 1970
The atom bomb warning of 1939
How two refugees warned Roosevelt of the German nuclear threat.
14 November 1970
Veteran's Day 1970
Why protests at Hunter College, New York, dishonour those who died for their country.
08 August 1970
The atom bomb warning of 1939
How two refugees warned Roosevelt of the German nuclear threat.
14 November 1970
Veteran's Day 1970
Why protests at Hunter College, New York, dishonour those who died for their country.
1971
10 July 1971
Louis Armstrong
A profile of trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971).
18 September 1971
Art Buchwald
The wit of Art Buchwald, a political satirist for the Washington Post.
30 October 1971
Taiwan and China
How the balance of power at the United Nations is changing, as Taiwan is forced out.
10 July 1971
Louis Armstrong
A profile of trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971).
18 September 1971
Art Buchwald
The wit of Art Buchwald, a political satirist for the Washington Post.
30 October 1971
Taiwan and China
How the balance of power at the United Nations is changing, as Taiwan is forced out.
1972
05 February 1972
American reactions to Bloody Sunday, 1972
News of 'Deep interrogation' used by the British against the IRA shocks Americans.
11 November 1972
Richard Nixon re-elected President, 1972
Why Americans chose Republican Richard Nixon on 7 November 1972.
30 December 1972
President Truman (1884–1972)
An obituary of President Harry S Truman (1884–1972).
05 February 1972
American reactions to Bloody Sunday, 1972
News of 'Deep interrogation' used by the British against the IRA shocks Americans.
11 November 1972
Richard Nixon re-elected President, 1972
Why Americans chose Republican Richard Nixon on 7 November 1972.
30 December 1972
President Truman (1884–1972)
An obituary of President Harry S Truman (1884–1972).
1973
27 January 1973
Roe v Wade
The US Supreme Court rules on abortion for all in Roe v Wade.
05 May 1973
Watergate hearings 1973
Can the Watergate hearings restore public trust in government?
12 May 1973
Watergate reporting
The impact of the reporting of the Watergate scandal.
19 May 1973
Sam Ervin and Watergate
How the tenacious lawyer Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina challenged Nixon.
26 May 1973
Watergate: Nixon's changing stories, 1973
Nixon's changing explanations of the events leading to Watergate.
25 August 1973
Nixon's Watergate speech, 1973
The polling that showed Nixon's speech on Watergate failed to persuade Americans.
19 October 1973
The inauguration of Gerald Ford as Vice President, 1973
The transition of power to Gerald Ford after the resignation of Vice President Agnew.
26 October 1973
Watergate investigators and Nixon
President Nixon's refusal to assist the Watergate investigators.
09 November 1973
Should Nixon resign?
Why the American policy in the state of Israel is failing to keep the home fires burning; and why an embattled President Nixon has more to fear from friends than foes.
14 December 1973
Nixon's tax returns go public
Nixon makes past tax returns public to quell claims of tax evasion - but his minimal returns don't quite add up.
27 January 1973
Roe v Wade
The US Supreme Court rules on abortion for all in Roe v Wade.
05 May 1973
Watergate hearings 1973
Can the Watergate hearings restore public trust in government?
12 May 1973
Watergate reporting
The impact of the reporting of the Watergate scandal.
19 May 1973
Sam Ervin and Watergate
How the tenacious lawyer Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina challenged Nixon.
26 May 1973
Watergate: Nixon's changing stories, 1973
Nixon's changing explanations of the events leading to Watergate.
25 August 1973
Nixon's Watergate speech, 1973
The polling that showed Nixon's speech on Watergate failed to persuade Americans.
19 October 1973
The inauguration of Gerald Ford as Vice President, 1973
The transition of power to Gerald Ford after the resignation of Vice President Agnew.
26 October 1973
Watergate investigators and Nixon
President Nixon's refusal to assist the Watergate investigators.
09 November 1973
Should Nixon resign?
Why the American policy in the state of Israel is failing to keep the home fires burning; and why an embattled President Nixon has more to fear from friends than foes.
14 December 1973
Nixon's tax returns go public
Nixon makes past tax returns public to quell claims of tax evasion - but his minimal returns don't quite add up.
1974
10 May 1974
Corruption
Avoiding corruption in politics, the temptations of advertising money, which can turn great actors into salesmen, and Earth Day's unexpected trash problems.
31 May 1974
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington - remembering not just a great jazz musician, but an elegant, articulate man of unassailable natural dignity.
07 June 1974
San Francisco: Detroit of the Pacific?
The skyscrapers that shattered the myth of San Francisco as a special city; and why it's important to understand the Stockholm syndrome in the Patty Hearst kidnap case.
09 August 1974
Nixon's resignation, 1974
Downfall of a president / how Nixon fatally underestimated the power of the people versus the presidential powers he has just been forced to give up.
16 August 1974
Nixon's resignation speech, August 1974
Disgraced President Nixon resigns. His resignation speech does not contain any sort of apology for his misconduct.
23 August 1974
Gerald Ford, the new man in the White House, 1974
Campaign biographies, and some new revelations about President Gerald Ford's past come to light, including the fact he was christened Leslie King Junior.
18 October 1974
Boston busing crisis, 1974
How Judge W Arthur Garrity Jr's enforced busing policy, attempting to desegregate schooling, came up against its greatest challenge in South Boston.
29 November 1974
TV news coverage, 1974
America's relentless TV news coverage and why we should learn from history that ignorant bliss does not pay off.
27 December 1974
Changing United Nations
How the Third World has taken over the United Nations show / and how Alistair Cooke helped introduce the people's game of golf to Mother Russia.
10 May 1974
Corruption
Avoiding corruption in politics, the temptations of advertising money, which can turn great actors into salesmen, and Earth Day's unexpected trash problems.
31 May 1974
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington - remembering not just a great jazz musician, but an elegant, articulate man of unassailable natural dignity.
07 June 1974
San Francisco: Detroit of the Pacific?
The skyscrapers that shattered the myth of San Francisco as a special city; and why it's important to understand the Stockholm syndrome in the Patty Hearst kidnap case.
09 August 1974
Nixon's resignation, 1974
Downfall of a president / how Nixon fatally underestimated the power of the people versus the presidential powers he has just been forced to give up.
16 August 1974
Nixon's resignation speech, August 1974
Disgraced President Nixon resigns. His resignation speech does not contain any sort of apology for his misconduct.
23 August 1974
Gerald Ford, the new man in the White House, 1974
Campaign biographies, and some new revelations about President Gerald Ford's past come to light, including the fact he was christened Leslie King Junior.
18 October 1974
Boston busing crisis, 1974
How Judge W Arthur Garrity Jr's enforced busing policy, attempting to desegregate schooling, came up against its greatest challenge in South Boston.
29 November 1974
TV news coverage, 1974
America's relentless TV news coverage and why we should learn from history that ignorant bliss does not pay off.
27 December 1974
Changing United Nations
How the Third World has taken over the United Nations show / and how Alistair Cooke helped introduce the people's game of golf to Mother Russia.
1975
07 March 1975
US import restrictions, March 1975
US import restrictions. Possible trade with Cuba. No support for Cambodia.
14 March 1975
Row over Cambodia aid
Congress unhappy over President Ford's demands for additional aid to battle-torn Cambodia.
21 March 1975
Women's Lib, 1975
Equal Rights amendment to the US constitution causes splits in both women's and men's liberation groups.
28 March 1975
Arab-Israeli peace deal collapses, March 1975
Arab-Israeli peace deal fails. King Faisal shot. Cambodia collapses. Kissinger's diplomatic efforts all end in failure.
16 May 1975
Cambodia gunboat diplomacy
Why did President Ford launch an attack on Cambodia? Arriving late to a news story allows you to ask the simple question.
23 May 1975
Global climate change
Forecasters claim global weather is cooling. Folk memory disagrees.
30 May 1975
English language problems
USA and the UK - two nations sharing a language, but not the same meaning.
06 June 1975
Doctors' strike
Doctors strike over rocketing insurance cover. Growing malpractice suits blamed.
13 June 1975
Big MAC saves New York
Big MAC - the new Municipal Assistance Corporation - to take control of New York City's troubled finances.
20 June 1975
Travel myths
Travel expectations very rarely live up to the reality.
27 June 1975
The Ford presidency
Ford is making a better job of his presidency than most voters expected.
04 July 1975
Tax exiles, July 1975
Noel Coward, Sean Connery, Tony Jacklin - why stars of stage, screen and sport have to become tax exiles. And how golfer Tom Watson avoided being struck by lightning.
11 July 1975
The Helsinki Accords
Helsinki Accords treaty - aimed at removing tension between Soviets and NATO countries - finally signed.
18 July 1975
US/USSR handshakes, 1975
American and Soviet astronauts Thomas Stafford and Alexei Leonov's symbolic handshake, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn's untimely intervention about the realities of the USSR.
25 July 1975
The secret of longevity
Summer heat in Manhattan. And a look at different approaches to ageing.
01 August 1975
Nuclear power
Warnings over safeguarding nuclear power so it can not produce weapons.
15 August 1975
Grain export boycott
Fears of inflation lead to dock workers' boycott of grain shipments to USSR.
22 August 1975
Ford on Portuguese revolution
Ford uses American Legion speech to warn Soviets on meddling in Portuguese revolution.
12 September 1975
Assassination attempt on Ford
President Ford is saved from assassination attempt in Sacramento, and the perils of taped broadcasting, when it comes to commenting on up-to-the-minute news.
26 September 1975
Patty Hearst arrest, 1975
Patty Hearst arrest. Media speculation about Hearst. Assassination attempts on President Ford by Squeaky Fromme and Sara Moore.
03 October 1975
Visit of Japanese emperor
Increased security surrounds visit of Japanese emperor, following attempts on President Ford's life.
10 October 1975
Networks refuse Ford air time
Ford's proposed TV speech on tax cuts judged 'illegal' by networks who refuse the president air time.
17 October 1975
Ford-Rockefeller squabble over NY finances
President and vice president can not agree over solution to New York city's financial problems.
24 October 1975
Russians win US grain deal
Soviets to buy US grain in new deal - but China signals fears over detente.
31 October 1975
New bonds deal for NY finances
New Yorkers vent anger at Ford's refusal of federal bail-out for bankrupt city. New bonds issue under discussion.
07 November 1975
Stand-off over NYC finances
Ford holds fast despite public opinion backing a financial bail-out for bankrupt NYC.
14 November 1975
Ford shakes up team
President Ford sharpens his advisory team as the line-up for the next presidential nomination begins.
21 November 1975
Reagan declares candidacy
Former California governor Ronald Reagan declares he wants Republican candidacy for next presidential election.
28 November 1975
Report uncovers CIA murder plots
Startling evidence of CIA plots to assassinate foreign leaders uncovered in Senate interim report.
05 December 1975
Hazards of ballet dancing
Ballet dancers and sports players suffer physical damage from their professions.
12 December 1975
NYC aid bill passed
Filibuster bid fails to derail the NYC aid bill which is passed by both Houses.
19 December 1975
Moynihan angry over UN's Zionist vote
Daniel Moynihan, US ambassador to the UN, hits out over security council's Zionist vote.
26 December 1975
Ford loses Angola aid vote
President Ford weakened by Senate refusal to back his offer of further aid to Angolan guerillas.
07 March 1975
US import restrictions, March 1975
US import restrictions. Possible trade with Cuba. No support for Cambodia.
14 March 1975
Row over Cambodia aid
Congress unhappy over President Ford's demands for additional aid to battle-torn Cambodia.
21 March 1975
Women's Lib, 1975
Equal Rights amendment to the US constitution causes splits in both women's and men's liberation groups.
28 March 1975
Arab-Israeli peace deal collapses, March 1975
Arab-Israeli peace deal fails. King Faisal shot. Cambodia collapses. Kissinger's diplomatic efforts all end in failure.
16 May 1975
Cambodia gunboat diplomacy
Why did President Ford launch an attack on Cambodia? Arriving late to a news story allows you to ask the simple question.
23 May 1975
Global climate change
Forecasters claim global weather is cooling. Folk memory disagrees.
30 May 1975
English language problems
USA and the UK - two nations sharing a language, but not the same meaning.
06 June 1975
Doctors' strike
Doctors strike over rocketing insurance cover. Growing malpractice suits blamed.
13 June 1975
Big MAC saves New York
Big MAC - the new Municipal Assistance Corporation - to take control of New York City's troubled finances.
20 June 1975
Travel myths
Travel expectations very rarely live up to the reality.
27 June 1975
The Ford presidency
Ford is making a better job of his presidency than most voters expected.
04 July 1975
Tax exiles, July 1975
Noel Coward, Sean Connery, Tony Jacklin - why stars of stage, screen and sport have to become tax exiles. And how golfer Tom Watson avoided being struck by lightning.
11 July 1975
The Helsinki Accords
Helsinki Accords treaty - aimed at removing tension between Soviets and NATO countries - finally signed.
18 July 1975
US/USSR handshakes, 1975
American and Soviet astronauts Thomas Stafford and Alexei Leonov's symbolic handshake, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn's untimely intervention about the realities of the USSR.
25 July 1975
The secret of longevity
Summer heat in Manhattan. And a look at different approaches to ageing.
01 August 1975
Nuclear power
Warnings over safeguarding nuclear power so it can not produce weapons.
15 August 1975
Grain export boycott
Fears of inflation lead to dock workers' boycott of grain shipments to USSR.
22 August 1975
Ford on Portuguese revolution
Ford uses American Legion speech to warn Soviets on meddling in Portuguese revolution.
12 September 1975
Assassination attempt on Ford
President Ford is saved from assassination attempt in Sacramento, and the perils of taped broadcasting, when it comes to commenting on up-to-the-minute news.
26 September 1975
Patty Hearst arrest, 1975
Patty Hearst arrest. Media speculation about Hearst. Assassination attempts on President Ford by Squeaky Fromme and Sara Moore.
03 October 1975
Visit of Japanese emperor
Increased security surrounds visit of Japanese emperor, following attempts on President Ford's life.
10 October 1975
Networks refuse Ford air time
Ford's proposed TV speech on tax cuts judged 'illegal' by networks who refuse the president air time.
17 October 1975
Ford-Rockefeller squabble over NY finances
President and vice president can not agree over solution to New York city's financial problems.
24 October 1975
Russians win US grain deal
Soviets to buy US grain in new deal - but China signals fears over detente.
31 October 1975
New bonds deal for NY finances
New Yorkers vent anger at Ford's refusal of federal bail-out for bankrupt city. New bonds issue under discussion.
07 November 1975
Stand-off over NYC finances
Ford holds fast despite public opinion backing a financial bail-out for bankrupt NYC.
14 November 1975
Ford shakes up team
President Ford sharpens his advisory team as the line-up for the next presidential nomination begins.
21 November 1975
Reagan declares candidacy
Former California governor Ronald Reagan declares he wants Republican candidacy for next presidential election.
28 November 1975
Report uncovers CIA murder plots
Startling evidence of CIA plots to assassinate foreign leaders uncovered in Senate interim report.
05 December 1975
Hazards of ballet dancing
Ballet dancers and sports players suffer physical damage from their professions.
12 December 1975
NYC aid bill passed
Filibuster bid fails to derail the NYC aid bill which is passed by both Houses.
19 December 1975
Moynihan angry over UN's Zionist vote
Daniel Moynihan, US ambassador to the UN, hits out over security council's Zionist vote.
26 December 1975
Ford loses Angola aid vote
President Ford weakened by Senate refusal to back his offer of further aid to Angolan guerillas.
1976
02 January 1976
Bicentennial year
Bicentennial year in the land of unbounded commercial opportunity.
09 January 1976
Anne Armstrong appointed London envoy
Former Nixon aide, Republican Anne Armstrong, appointed as US ambassador to the UK.
16 January 1976
Musical comedy
Sondheim's Japanese story a landmark production in US musical comedy.
23 January 1976
American political parties
How the Democrats and the Republicans all came from a federalist starting point / and how they're both trying to hang on to the overcrowded middle ground.
30 January 1976
Preconceptions about place
Understanding the world means losing some preconceptions about other places.
06 February 1976
Hearst jury selected
Patty Hearst bank robbery trial / jury selected two years after her original kidnapping.
13 February 1976
Gossip
The history of the word 'gossip', and what's being said about the disgraced ex-President Nixon accepting an invitation to go to China.
20 February 1976
Presidential campaign begins
Hopefuls line up for start of this year's presidential campaign.
27 February 1976
First primary in presidential campaign
First primary in election campaign. Results show only who the losers are, no indication of eventual winner.
05 March 1976
Massachusetts primary, March 1976
Massachusetts primary. Voters drift to the right. Bicentennial bull wins bad taste prize.
12 March 1976
Social surveys
Social surveys blow apart US stereotypes. Statistics can not explain individual concerns.
19 March 1976
The special relationship
Reassessing the 'special relationship' between the UK and US, in the light of British Prime Minister Harold Wilson's sudden resignation.
26 March 1976
Swine flu outbreak
President Ford backs plan to vaccinate entire US population against swine flu outbreak.
02 April 1976
Ford boosts defence spending
President Ford mixes campaigning with governing as he backs increased defence spending.
09 April 1976
Anxiety over Soviet superpower
Kissinger warns of risk to NATO from growing Soviet superpower.
16 April 1976
San Francisco transport strike
San Francisco transport workers' pay demands redefine accepted pay differentials.
23 April 1976
Spring heatwave, 1976
Spring heatwave. Congress wants more say on foreign policy. White exodus from New York.
30 April 1976
UN wasting money
UN wasting money. Director claims food programme spends more on management. Woodward & Bernstein publish 'Final Days' book on Nixon.
07 May 1976
Panama blunder by Reagan
Presidential candidate Reagan blunders over Panama Canal policy. Senator Goldwater's influence on Republican votes.
14 May 1976
US-USSR nuclear deal kept quiet
President Ford keeps US-USSR nuclear pact quiet. Suggestion that Ford is concerned about being seen as weak on foreign policy.
21 May 1976
Maintenance workers strike
Maintenance workers strike could end New York rent control.
28 May 1976
California's Proposition 15
Voters in California asked to back Proposition 15 which could limit the use of nuclear power and lead to a further energy crisis.
02 January 1976
Bicentennial year
Bicentennial year in the land of unbounded commercial opportunity.
09 January 1976
Anne Armstrong appointed London envoy
Former Nixon aide, Republican Anne Armstrong, appointed as US ambassador to the UK.
16 January 1976
Musical comedy
Sondheim's Japanese story a landmark production in US musical comedy.
23 January 1976
American political parties
How the Democrats and the Republicans all came from a federalist starting point / and how they're both trying to hang on to the overcrowded middle ground.
30 January 1976
Preconceptions about place
Understanding the world means losing some preconceptions about other places.
06 February 1976
Hearst jury selected
Patty Hearst bank robbery trial / jury selected two years after her original kidnapping.
13 February 1976
Gossip
The history of the word 'gossip', and what's being said about the disgraced ex-President Nixon accepting an invitation to go to China.
20 February 1976
Presidential campaign begins
Hopefuls line up for start of this year's presidential campaign.
27 February 1976
First primary in presidential campaign
First primary in election campaign. Results show only who the losers are, no indication of eventual winner.
05 March 1976
Massachusetts primary, March 1976
Massachusetts primary. Voters drift to the right. Bicentennial bull wins bad taste prize.
12 March 1976
Social surveys
Social surveys blow apart US stereotypes. Statistics can not explain individual concerns.
19 March 1976
The special relationship
Reassessing the 'special relationship' between the UK and US, in the light of British Prime Minister Harold Wilson's sudden resignation.
26 March 1976
Swine flu outbreak
President Ford backs plan to vaccinate entire US population against swine flu outbreak.
02 April 1976
Ford boosts defence spending
President Ford mixes campaigning with governing as he backs increased defence spending.
09 April 1976
Anxiety over Soviet superpower
Kissinger warns of risk to NATO from growing Soviet superpower.
16 April 1976
San Francisco transport strike
San Francisco transport workers' pay demands redefine accepted pay differentials.
23 April 1976
Spring heatwave, 1976
Spring heatwave. Congress wants more say on foreign policy. White exodus from New York.
30 April 1976
UN wasting money
UN wasting money. Director claims food programme spends more on management. Woodward & Bernstein publish 'Final Days' book on Nixon.
07 May 1976
Panama blunder by Reagan
Presidential candidate Reagan blunders over Panama Canal policy. Senator Goldwater's influence on Republican votes.
14 May 1976
US-USSR nuclear deal kept quiet
President Ford keeps US-USSR nuclear pact quiet. Suggestion that Ford is concerned about being seen as weak on foreign policy.
21 May 1976
Maintenance workers strike
Maintenance workers strike could end New York rent control.
28 May 1976
California's Proposition 15
Voters in California asked to back Proposition 15 which could limit the use of nuclear power and lead to a further energy crisis.
04 June 1976
Primary battle reaching climax
Both parties tense as presidential primaries reach climax with the Californian vote.
11 June 1976
Carter and Ford face conventions
Presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter faces friendly Democrat convention; sitting President Ford faces tougher battle at Republican gathering.
18 June 1976
Ford and Reagan battle for Republican nomination
Carter confident of Democrat party vote, Ford and Reagan battle over the Republican nomination.
25 June 1976
Italian elections
Relief in the West as Italy's Communist Party fails to make the electoral gains it had hoped for.
02 July 1976
Party conventions
The days of the political circus have gone - today's party conventions are dull affairs compared to past excitements.
09 July 1976
Britain's heatwave
The US heartland thrived once air conditioning became the norm - pity the Britons sweltering this summer with none.
16 July 1976
Private security firms
Use of private security firms expands. National Democratic convention held in NY at Madison Square Gardens. Programme recording incomplete.
23 July 1976
Special relationship especially warm
US-UK special relationship especially warm this summer. UK tourism figures boom.
30 July 1976
China earthquake
Massive earthquake in China. US offers of aid rebuffed by Chinese.
06 August 1976
Ford bounces back in opinion polls
President Ford bounces back in public opinion polls. Nominee Carter now not such a shoe-in.
13 August 1976
Republican convention Kansas
Conservative Senator Buckley joins hopefuls for Kansas Republican convention vote.
20 August 1976
Reagan loses Republican nomination
Reagan loses Republican nomination at Kansas convention. Reasons behind Chinese rejection of US aid following devastating earthquake.
27 August 1976
Jimmy Carter's background
This episode contains references to racially offensive character names. US press descend on Jimmy Carter's Georgia birthplace to find out more about the presidential hopeful's background.
10 September 1976
Double-deck bus trouble in NY
New York's blunder over ordering double-deck buses for city centre use.
17 September 1976
Vietnam asks for UN membership
Vietnam's request for UN membership delayed. Statistics on percentage of US voters who decline to use their votes in presidential elections.
24 September 1976
Carter Playboy interview, September 1976
Carter Playboy interview. Public reaction to Carter's 'adultery in my heart' admission.
01 October 1976
Unsporting manners
Unsporting manners. Violence erupts outside Yankee Stadium as police go on strike.
08 October 1976
Presidential candidates' TV debates
Carter v Ford presidential candidates debate issues on TV. Muted audience reaction to dull debates format.
22 October 1976
Politics v baseball
Baseball v politics. The World Series final clashes with US presidential hopefuls Carter and Ford TV debate.
29 October 1976
Presidential election polls, October 1976
Opinion polls on the forthcoming presidential election. The many things which can affect the way people vote on the day.
05 November 1976
Presidential election, November 1976
Carter wins presidential election November 1976. Breaks Republican stranglehold of rural America.
12 November 1976
Jimmy Carter elected president, 1976
How Americans feel about Jimmy Carter - the story revealed by the polling.
19 November 1976
Shining the light on payola
Carter promises more than the Sunshine laws to shed light on payola.
26 November 1976
Assassinations committee
New House select committee to investigate evidence in Kennedy and Luther King assassinations.
03 December 1976
Friedman warns on inflation
Nobel economist Milton Friedman warns incoming president on dangers of inflation.
10 December 1976
Bertram Lance appointed budget director
Bertram Lance appointed Director of the Office of Management and Budget. How job titles rarely explain how much power the holder actually has.
17 December 1976
Immigrant work ethic
Immigrant work ethic; does it change in subsequent generations? Prejudices about national character.
24 December 1976
Racial discrimination, 1976
Attorney General Griffin Bell's membership of private club with restricted membership. Racial discrimination in US clubs.
31 December 1976
Christmas in Vermont, 1976
Enjoying the fruits of his family's labours at a traditional New England Christmas gathering.
Primary battle reaching climax
Both parties tense as presidential primaries reach climax with the Californian vote.
11 June 1976
Carter and Ford face conventions
Presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter faces friendly Democrat convention; sitting President Ford faces tougher battle at Republican gathering.
18 June 1976
Ford and Reagan battle for Republican nomination
Carter confident of Democrat party vote, Ford and Reagan battle over the Republican nomination.
25 June 1976
Italian elections
Relief in the West as Italy's Communist Party fails to make the electoral gains it had hoped for.
02 July 1976
Party conventions
The days of the political circus have gone - today's party conventions are dull affairs compared to past excitements.
09 July 1976
Britain's heatwave
The US heartland thrived once air conditioning became the norm - pity the Britons sweltering this summer with none.
16 July 1976
Private security firms
Use of private security firms expands. National Democratic convention held in NY at Madison Square Gardens. Programme recording incomplete.
23 July 1976
Special relationship especially warm
US-UK special relationship especially warm this summer. UK tourism figures boom.
30 July 1976
China earthquake
Massive earthquake in China. US offers of aid rebuffed by Chinese.
06 August 1976
Ford bounces back in opinion polls
President Ford bounces back in public opinion polls. Nominee Carter now not such a shoe-in.
13 August 1976
Republican convention Kansas
Conservative Senator Buckley joins hopefuls for Kansas Republican convention vote.
20 August 1976
Reagan loses Republican nomination
Reagan loses Republican nomination at Kansas convention. Reasons behind Chinese rejection of US aid following devastating earthquake.
27 August 1976
Jimmy Carter's background
This episode contains references to racially offensive character names. US press descend on Jimmy Carter's Georgia birthplace to find out more about the presidential hopeful's background.
10 September 1976
Double-deck bus trouble in NY
New York's blunder over ordering double-deck buses for city centre use.
17 September 1976
Vietnam asks for UN membership
Vietnam's request for UN membership delayed. Statistics on percentage of US voters who decline to use their votes in presidential elections.
24 September 1976
Carter Playboy interview, September 1976
Carter Playboy interview. Public reaction to Carter's 'adultery in my heart' admission.
01 October 1976
Unsporting manners
Unsporting manners. Violence erupts outside Yankee Stadium as police go on strike.
08 October 1976
Presidential candidates' TV debates
Carter v Ford presidential candidates debate issues on TV. Muted audience reaction to dull debates format.
22 October 1976
Politics v baseball
Baseball v politics. The World Series final clashes with US presidential hopefuls Carter and Ford TV debate.
29 October 1976
Presidential election polls, October 1976
Opinion polls on the forthcoming presidential election. The many things which can affect the way people vote on the day.
05 November 1976
Presidential election, November 1976
Carter wins presidential election November 1976. Breaks Republican stranglehold of rural America.
12 November 1976
Jimmy Carter elected president, 1976
How Americans feel about Jimmy Carter - the story revealed by the polling.
19 November 1976
Shining the light on payola
Carter promises more than the Sunshine laws to shed light on payola.
26 November 1976
Assassinations committee
New House select committee to investigate evidence in Kennedy and Luther King assassinations.
03 December 1976
Friedman warns on inflation
Nobel economist Milton Friedman warns incoming president on dangers of inflation.
10 December 1976
Bertram Lance appointed budget director
Bertram Lance appointed Director of the Office of Management and Budget. How job titles rarely explain how much power the holder actually has.
17 December 1976
Immigrant work ethic
Immigrant work ethic; does it change in subsequent generations? Prejudices about national character.
24 December 1976
Racial discrimination, 1976
Attorney General Griffin Bell's membership of private club with restricted membership. Racial discrimination in US clubs.
31 December 1976
Christmas in Vermont, 1976
Enjoying the fruits of his family's labours at a traditional New England Christmas gathering.
1977
07 January 1977
Death with dignity law
State of California introduces 'death with dignity' law, otherwise known as the 'living will' legislation.
14 January 1977
Carter's inauguration preparations
Arguments flare over preparations for Jimmy Carter's presidential inauguration.
21 January 1977
President Carter inaugurated
President Carter's inauguration day spared the earlier snowstorms. Ground-breaking solar energy plan to warm the crowds fails to work.
28 January 1977
Government by the people
President Carter promises a public hotline to the White House aimed at giving more public say on issues.
04 February 1977
Severe winter weather
Severe sub-zero storms cripple many US states. Worst winter weather since 1888.
11 February 1977
First weeks of Carter presidency
The Carter family moves into the White House en masse. Changes made to the previous White House regime.
18 February 1977
Obscenity laws
How to ensure freedom of speech is maintained while curbing obscene publications. Cooke recalls meeting Mrs Simpson for the first, and last, time.
25 February 1977
Collective bargaining law
Labour and Carter row over change to collective bargaining legislation. Are US TV viewers seeing too much news?
04 March 1977
Equal Rights hold-up
Constitutional amendment to give Equal Rights to both sexes held up by states legislatures. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor and the audio recording is incomplete.
11 March 1977
Carter cuts aid deals
Russian reaction to Carter meeting dissident. President cuts aid over human rights abuses.
18 March 1977
Falling standards of literacy
Students study esoteric courses while basic literacy standards fall.
25 March 1977
When fact becomes fiction
One incident in a small Mexican town becomes a rumour which sees thousands of tourists cancel trips.
01 April 1977
Carter's popularity soars
President Carter gets a 70 per cent popularity rating in the polls.
08 April 1977
US-Soviet arms talks collapse
Warnings over human rights abuses leads to abrupt collapse of SALT talks between US and Russia.
15 April 1977
Presidential expectations
The high expectations we have of any president inevitably result in disappointment.
22 April 1977
Corporal punishment ruling
Landmark case sees Supreme Court allow teachers to use 'reasonable' corporal punishment.
29 April 1977
Carter's first Europe visit
Carter to make his first official visit to Europe as US President.
06 May 1977
Frost/Nixon TV interviews, May 1977
Frost/Nixon TV interviews. Compulsive viewing for massive US and UK audiences. Reveal Nixon's human failings.
13 May 1977
Carter on energy policy
President Carter issues warning on the US's over-consumption of energy and what this means for future generations.
20 May 1977
Health and safety
Growing number of health and safety warnings make everyday life a potential minefield.
27 May 1977
Kingman Brewster
Kingman Brewster leaves Yale to take up appointment as UK ambassador. Programme recording incomplete.
03 June 1977
Frost/Nixon interview cut
Perils of TV taping. Part of Frost/Nixon TV interview deleted from transmission.
10 June 1977
Royal Jubilee
US view of Queen's Jubilee. Mrs Carter visits Latin America. Anti-gay vote in Florida.
17 June 1977
Big cars are back
US drivers want big-car status despite fuel fears.
24 June 1977
New York car parking ban
Daytime car parking ban bids to ease pollution in midtown New York.
01 July 1977
Loss of sportsmanship
Sporting behaviour worsens as big money and TV deals takes over the major games.
08 July 1977
SALT talks
Strategic arms limitation talks with Russia. Carter announces go-ahead for Cruise missiles.
15 July 1977
New York blackout
New York blacked out during power outage. Shops looted in darkened streets.
22 July 1977
New York looting
Unemployment and poverty underlying causes of New York blackout looting.
29 July 1977
Urban problems are universal
Problems facing urban areas are not local, but universal.
05 August 1977
Media coverage of looting
Suggestion that radio coverage during NY blackout fuelled outbreaks of looting.
12 August 1977
Carter's energy bill
Carter's energy bill, aimed at reducing oil dependence, passed by Congress.
19 August 1977
Death of Elvis, August 1977
Death of Elvis. Carter's move away from liberal promises. Disquiet among black voters about Carter.
26 August 1977
'Son of Sam' killer caught
Son of Sam serial killer caught. Remembering the 1920s Sacco and Vanzetti case.
02 September 1977
Panama Canal treaty
Panama Canal treaty to be renegotiated. NY Mayor blamed for the city's economic problems.
09 September 1977
The rat race
How to quit the rat race and learn to live within your means.
16 September 1977
Anti-Semitism and WASPs
This episode contains references to racially offensive song lyrics. Looking back at historic anti-Semitism and the WASP community.
23 September 1977
Arrival of autumn
Myths and fallacies connected to the arrival of autumn.
30 September 1977
Ralph Nader tackles sport
US consumer champion Ralph Nader tackles sports organisers to ensure more say for fans.
07 October 1977
The political filibuster
Understanding the art of the political filibuster. Carter busts his own filibuster to force through energy policies.
14 October 1977
The World Series
The US fascination with their 'World Series', the baseball champion play-offs.
21 October 1977
The United Nations
As the UN grows into a sprawling organisation, is it failing to achieve its original aims? The sound quality of this programme deteriorates heavily towards the end due to the nature of how it was recorded.
28 October 1977
UN and plane hijacking
UN to debate the global problem of plane hijacking, following pilots' union threat to strike.
11 November 1977
Local issues
Vast difference between city and county issues come up during local elections campaign.
18 November 1977
Armed service pregnancy
Armed services expected to follow new air force ruling allowing pregnant servicewomen to keep posts.
25 November 1977
Sadat in Israel
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is first Arab leader to visit Israel, speaks in Knesset.
02 December 1977
US defence of Israel
Middle East peace talks stumble over US's moral commitment to defend the state of Israel.
09 December 1977
National miners' strike
Miners strike called as energy plans top national agenda. Middle East talks face crisis over securing oil supplies.
16 December 1977
Smallpox eradicated
UN's World Health Organisation announces smallpox has been eradicated from everywhere in the world.
23 December 1977
Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby
Two great talents who died in 1977 - remembering Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby.
30 December 1977
Britons are too happy
Survey finds Britons are happy - despite lack of national economic growth.
07 January 1977
Death with dignity law
State of California introduces 'death with dignity' law, otherwise known as the 'living will' legislation.
14 January 1977
Carter's inauguration preparations
Arguments flare over preparations for Jimmy Carter's presidential inauguration.
21 January 1977
President Carter inaugurated
President Carter's inauguration day spared the earlier snowstorms. Ground-breaking solar energy plan to warm the crowds fails to work.
28 January 1977
Government by the people
President Carter promises a public hotline to the White House aimed at giving more public say on issues.
04 February 1977
Severe winter weather
Severe sub-zero storms cripple many US states. Worst winter weather since 1888.
11 February 1977
First weeks of Carter presidency
The Carter family moves into the White House en masse. Changes made to the previous White House regime.
18 February 1977
Obscenity laws
How to ensure freedom of speech is maintained while curbing obscene publications. Cooke recalls meeting Mrs Simpson for the first, and last, time.
25 February 1977
Collective bargaining law
Labour and Carter row over change to collective bargaining legislation. Are US TV viewers seeing too much news?
04 March 1977
Equal Rights hold-up
Constitutional amendment to give Equal Rights to both sexes held up by states legislatures. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor and the audio recording is incomplete.
11 March 1977
Carter cuts aid deals
Russian reaction to Carter meeting dissident. President cuts aid over human rights abuses.
18 March 1977
Falling standards of literacy
Students study esoteric courses while basic literacy standards fall.
25 March 1977
When fact becomes fiction
One incident in a small Mexican town becomes a rumour which sees thousands of tourists cancel trips.
01 April 1977
Carter's popularity soars
President Carter gets a 70 per cent popularity rating in the polls.
08 April 1977
US-Soviet arms talks collapse
Warnings over human rights abuses leads to abrupt collapse of SALT talks between US and Russia.
15 April 1977
Presidential expectations
The high expectations we have of any president inevitably result in disappointment.
22 April 1977
Corporal punishment ruling
Landmark case sees Supreme Court allow teachers to use 'reasonable' corporal punishment.
29 April 1977
Carter's first Europe visit
Carter to make his first official visit to Europe as US President.
06 May 1977
Frost/Nixon TV interviews, May 1977
Frost/Nixon TV interviews. Compulsive viewing for massive US and UK audiences. Reveal Nixon's human failings.
13 May 1977
Carter on energy policy
President Carter issues warning on the US's over-consumption of energy and what this means for future generations.
20 May 1977
Health and safety
Growing number of health and safety warnings make everyday life a potential minefield.
27 May 1977
Kingman Brewster
Kingman Brewster leaves Yale to take up appointment as UK ambassador. Programme recording incomplete.
03 June 1977
Frost/Nixon interview cut
Perils of TV taping. Part of Frost/Nixon TV interview deleted from transmission.
10 June 1977
Royal Jubilee
US view of Queen's Jubilee. Mrs Carter visits Latin America. Anti-gay vote in Florida.
17 June 1977
Big cars are back
US drivers want big-car status despite fuel fears.
24 June 1977
New York car parking ban
Daytime car parking ban bids to ease pollution in midtown New York.
01 July 1977
Loss of sportsmanship
Sporting behaviour worsens as big money and TV deals takes over the major games.
08 July 1977
SALT talks
Strategic arms limitation talks with Russia. Carter announces go-ahead for Cruise missiles.
15 July 1977
New York blackout
New York blacked out during power outage. Shops looted in darkened streets.
22 July 1977
New York looting
Unemployment and poverty underlying causes of New York blackout looting.
29 July 1977
Urban problems are universal
Problems facing urban areas are not local, but universal.
05 August 1977
Media coverage of looting
Suggestion that radio coverage during NY blackout fuelled outbreaks of looting.
12 August 1977
Carter's energy bill
Carter's energy bill, aimed at reducing oil dependence, passed by Congress.
19 August 1977
Death of Elvis, August 1977
Death of Elvis. Carter's move away from liberal promises. Disquiet among black voters about Carter.
26 August 1977
'Son of Sam' killer caught
Son of Sam serial killer caught. Remembering the 1920s Sacco and Vanzetti case.
02 September 1977
Panama Canal treaty
Panama Canal treaty to be renegotiated. NY Mayor blamed for the city's economic problems.
09 September 1977
The rat race
How to quit the rat race and learn to live within your means.
16 September 1977
Anti-Semitism and WASPs
This episode contains references to racially offensive song lyrics. Looking back at historic anti-Semitism and the WASP community.
23 September 1977
Arrival of autumn
Myths and fallacies connected to the arrival of autumn.
30 September 1977
Ralph Nader tackles sport
US consumer champion Ralph Nader tackles sports organisers to ensure more say for fans.
07 October 1977
The political filibuster
Understanding the art of the political filibuster. Carter busts his own filibuster to force through energy policies.
14 October 1977
The World Series
The US fascination with their 'World Series', the baseball champion play-offs.
21 October 1977
The United Nations
As the UN grows into a sprawling organisation, is it failing to achieve its original aims? The sound quality of this programme deteriorates heavily towards the end due to the nature of how it was recorded.
28 October 1977
UN and plane hijacking
UN to debate the global problem of plane hijacking, following pilots' union threat to strike.
11 November 1977
Local issues
Vast difference between city and county issues come up during local elections campaign.
18 November 1977
Armed service pregnancy
Armed services expected to follow new air force ruling allowing pregnant servicewomen to keep posts.
25 November 1977
Sadat in Israel
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is first Arab leader to visit Israel, speaks in Knesset.
02 December 1977
US defence of Israel
Middle East peace talks stumble over US's moral commitment to defend the state of Israel.
09 December 1977
National miners' strike
Miners strike called as energy plans top national agenda. Middle East talks face crisis over securing oil supplies.
16 December 1977
Smallpox eradicated
UN's World Health Organisation announces smallpox has been eradicated from everywhere in the world.
23 December 1977
Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby
Two great talents who died in 1977 - remembering Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby.
30 December 1977
Britons are too happy
Survey finds Britons are happy - despite lack of national economic growth.
1978
06 January 1978
Domestic affairs
President Carter may discover his foreign policy ambitions have left domestic duties undone.
13 January 1978
Radio City to close
New York landmark and art deco 'jewel' Radio City is to close.
20 January 1978
Hubert Humphrey obituary
Remembering former vice president Hubert Humphrey who recently died. A political life well lived.
27 January 1978
Mayor Koch snowed under
New York's Mayor Koch under attack after snow storms hit the city.
03 February 1978
Foreign correspondents
Foreign correspondents' views may be skewed if they stick to their capital city bases.
10 February 1978
Dr Strangelove and the Soviet spy satellite
As a Soviet spy satellite fuelled by nuclear power plunges to earth above Canada, has military technology acquiring a momentum independent of human control?
17 February 1978
Fighter planes for Egypt
President Carter backs sale of US-built fighter jets to Egypt. Worst winter weather in north-east for decades.
24 February 1978
Ten years after Tet, February 1978
Ten years after Tet offensive. US public opinion shifts over foreign affairs. Muhammed Ali defeated as reigning world heavyweight boxing champion by Leon Spinks.
03 March 1978
Dollar slumps in Europe
Dollar slump in Europe as Carter faces stubborn Congress over energy.
10 March 1978
From Mexico
Why Letter from America can never be up to date anywhere in the world, and why US reports on Mexico are limited to jails and drugs.
17 March 1978
Holiday reading
What to read on holiday. The A to Z of surprises in the Manhattan telephone directory.
24 March 1978
Snow in Mexico
Unexpected snow storm during a Mexican holiday. History of Mexico and the enduring hate of the Spanish Conquest.
31 March 1978
Carter's broken promises
Carter's poll rating slip as his broken election promises mount up.
07 April 1978
New York financial crisis
New York hoping for Washington aid to tackle city's mounting financial crisis.
14 April 1978
Inflation fears
Americans believe inflation is the worst problem facing America.
21 April 1978
Panama treaty agreed
Casting vote saves Panama treaty after 13 years of negotiation over future of the canal.
28 April 1978
Protest and historical change
Capitalism, communism and historical change, the slant that hindsight gives history - Eldridge Cleaver, and protest over the years by college students.
05 May 1978
Modern weddings
Comparing two modern weddings to discover why it's best not to write your own order of service.
12 May 1978
Murder of Aldo Moro
Former Italian premier Aldo Moro murdered by extremist far left group, The Red Brigades.
19 May 1978
News timing
News events occur when they will - they rarely happen in time for a journalist's deadline. Programme recording incomplete.
26 May 1978
Proposition 13
Californians to vote on Proposition 13 change to local taxation. Bakke case comes to court.
02 June 1978
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon and other tourist attractions - especially New York's eccentric inhabitants.
09 June 1978
Cities' finance problems
Many US cities face underfunding problems - as citizens revolt against local taxation.
16 June 1978
Commencement
Explaining Commencement, known outside the US as Degree Day.
23 June 1978
Carter's civil defence policy
President Carter backtracks on civil defence. Debate over US policy on USSR.
30 June 1978
Bakke case ruling
Supreme Court ruling in Bakke case could make difficulties in future discrimination policy.
07 July 1978
Fourth of July
Workers claim an extra-long weekend break for this year's Independence Day celebration.
14 July 1978
US foreign policy unclear
President Carter sends out unclear messages on foreign policy. Ambassador Young's gaffe over political prisoners.
21 July 1978
Political prisoners
Russia points the finger at US 'prisoners of conscience' following Ambassador Young's gaffe.
28 July 1978
Billy Martin leaves Yankees
NY Yankees manager Billy Martin quits. Lesson in where the buck stops in the Western world.
04 August 1978
Joggers in Central Park
New York's Central Park is filled with those joining the new keep-fit craze of jogging.
11 August 1978
Using the First Amendment
When uses of the First Amendment perhaps allow freedoms which should be curtailed.
18 August 1978
Long Island life
Long Island history and the north-south divide. Albert Einstein's wartime stay in a rented cottage there.
25 August 1978
Carter vetoes defence bill
President Carter vetoes defence bill. Objects to proposed $2 billion nuclear aircraft carrier.
01 September 1978
Energy bill at risk
President Carter's energy bill at risk once again from Congress veto.
08 September 1978
New York's ethnic mix
The delicate political balancing act between the ethnic minorities which make up New York.
15 September 1978
Camp David summit
President Carter hosts Camp David summit with Israeli and Egyptian leaders.
22 September 1978
Muhammad Ali, September 1978
Muhammad Ali on Dick Cavett show September 1978. Rising popularity of Edward Kennedy.
29 September 1978
Carter boosted by summit
President Carter's popularity boosted by Egypt-Israel summit. Energy plans get more backing.
06 October 1978
Airlines back Laker
US airline chiefs back Sir Freddie Laker. Cheap flights have boosted industry-wide sales.
13 October 1978
Shevchenko's affairs
Mistress of defector Shevchenko claims that she is being paid with CIA money.
20 October 1978
Carter's three bills passed
President Carter's three main policy bills finally win Congress over.
27 October 1978
Inflation fears rise
Voters fear rising inflation as US business chiefs forecast recession.
03 November 1978
Mid-term elections
Local issues top vote-winners in coming mid-term elections.
10 November 1978
NY newspaper strike ends
New York newspapers back on the streets after three-month strike.
17 November 1978
Economic predictions, November 1978
Economic predictions. Has Carter seen a recession looming? Link between decadence and Depression.
24 November 1978
Mid-term election, November 1978
Mid-term election. Local issues skew public perception of Carter's term of office.
01 December 1978
Jonestown massacre
Jonestown massacre. 900 cult members die in Rev Jim Jones's jungle camp.
08 December 1978
Carter at the opera
Jimmy Carter first sitting president to attend Met opera - for a party fund-raiser.
15 December 1978
Human rights and the UN
Human rights and the not-quite United Nations - when oil comes before freedom.
22 December 1978
Carter and Taiwan
President Carter ends Taiwan defence treaty, recognising China. US conservatives unhappy with president's move.
29 December 1978
End of the year report, 1978
Gloomy end of year report. Prices rising, Russia worried over the US's turn to China and the Middle East still in turmoil.
06 January 1978
Domestic affairs
President Carter may discover his foreign policy ambitions have left domestic duties undone.
13 January 1978
Radio City to close
New York landmark and art deco 'jewel' Radio City is to close.
20 January 1978
Hubert Humphrey obituary
Remembering former vice president Hubert Humphrey who recently died. A political life well lived.
27 January 1978
Mayor Koch snowed under
New York's Mayor Koch under attack after snow storms hit the city.
03 February 1978
Foreign correspondents
Foreign correspondents' views may be skewed if they stick to their capital city bases.
10 February 1978
Dr Strangelove and the Soviet spy satellite
As a Soviet spy satellite fuelled by nuclear power plunges to earth above Canada, has military technology acquiring a momentum independent of human control?
17 February 1978
Fighter planes for Egypt
President Carter backs sale of US-built fighter jets to Egypt. Worst winter weather in north-east for decades.
24 February 1978
Ten years after Tet, February 1978
Ten years after Tet offensive. US public opinion shifts over foreign affairs. Muhammed Ali defeated as reigning world heavyweight boxing champion by Leon Spinks.
03 March 1978
Dollar slumps in Europe
Dollar slump in Europe as Carter faces stubborn Congress over energy.
10 March 1978
From Mexico
Why Letter from America can never be up to date anywhere in the world, and why US reports on Mexico are limited to jails and drugs.
17 March 1978
Holiday reading
What to read on holiday. The A to Z of surprises in the Manhattan telephone directory.
24 March 1978
Snow in Mexico
Unexpected snow storm during a Mexican holiday. History of Mexico and the enduring hate of the Spanish Conquest.
31 March 1978
Carter's broken promises
Carter's poll rating slip as his broken election promises mount up.
07 April 1978
New York financial crisis
New York hoping for Washington aid to tackle city's mounting financial crisis.
14 April 1978
Inflation fears
Americans believe inflation is the worst problem facing America.
21 April 1978
Panama treaty agreed
Casting vote saves Panama treaty after 13 years of negotiation over future of the canal.
28 April 1978
Protest and historical change
Capitalism, communism and historical change, the slant that hindsight gives history - Eldridge Cleaver, and protest over the years by college students.
05 May 1978
Modern weddings
Comparing two modern weddings to discover why it's best not to write your own order of service.
12 May 1978
Murder of Aldo Moro
Former Italian premier Aldo Moro murdered by extremist far left group, The Red Brigades.
19 May 1978
News timing
News events occur when they will - they rarely happen in time for a journalist's deadline. Programme recording incomplete.
26 May 1978
Proposition 13
Californians to vote on Proposition 13 change to local taxation. Bakke case comes to court.
02 June 1978
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon and other tourist attractions - especially New York's eccentric inhabitants.
09 June 1978
Cities' finance problems
Many US cities face underfunding problems - as citizens revolt against local taxation.
16 June 1978
Commencement
Explaining Commencement, known outside the US as Degree Day.
23 June 1978
Carter's civil defence policy
President Carter backtracks on civil defence. Debate over US policy on USSR.
30 June 1978
Bakke case ruling
Supreme Court ruling in Bakke case could make difficulties in future discrimination policy.
07 July 1978
Fourth of July
Workers claim an extra-long weekend break for this year's Independence Day celebration.
14 July 1978
US foreign policy unclear
President Carter sends out unclear messages on foreign policy. Ambassador Young's gaffe over political prisoners.
21 July 1978
Political prisoners
Russia points the finger at US 'prisoners of conscience' following Ambassador Young's gaffe.
28 July 1978
Billy Martin leaves Yankees
NY Yankees manager Billy Martin quits. Lesson in where the buck stops in the Western world.
04 August 1978
Joggers in Central Park
New York's Central Park is filled with those joining the new keep-fit craze of jogging.
11 August 1978
Using the First Amendment
When uses of the First Amendment perhaps allow freedoms which should be curtailed.
18 August 1978
Long Island life
Long Island history and the north-south divide. Albert Einstein's wartime stay in a rented cottage there.
25 August 1978
Carter vetoes defence bill
President Carter vetoes defence bill. Objects to proposed $2 billion nuclear aircraft carrier.
01 September 1978
Energy bill at risk
President Carter's energy bill at risk once again from Congress veto.
08 September 1978
New York's ethnic mix
The delicate political balancing act between the ethnic minorities which make up New York.
15 September 1978
Camp David summit
President Carter hosts Camp David summit with Israeli and Egyptian leaders.
22 September 1978
Muhammad Ali, September 1978
Muhammad Ali on Dick Cavett show September 1978. Rising popularity of Edward Kennedy.
29 September 1978
Carter boosted by summit
President Carter's popularity boosted by Egypt-Israel summit. Energy plans get more backing.
06 October 1978
Airlines back Laker
US airline chiefs back Sir Freddie Laker. Cheap flights have boosted industry-wide sales.
13 October 1978
Shevchenko's affairs
Mistress of defector Shevchenko claims that she is being paid with CIA money.
20 October 1978
Carter's three bills passed
President Carter's three main policy bills finally win Congress over.
27 October 1978
Inflation fears rise
Voters fear rising inflation as US business chiefs forecast recession.
03 November 1978
Mid-term elections
Local issues top vote-winners in coming mid-term elections.
10 November 1978
NY newspaper strike ends
New York newspapers back on the streets after three-month strike.
17 November 1978
Economic predictions, November 1978
Economic predictions. Has Carter seen a recession looming? Link between decadence and Depression.
24 November 1978
Mid-term election, November 1978
Mid-term election. Local issues skew public perception of Carter's term of office.
01 December 1978
Jonestown massacre
Jonestown massacre. 900 cult members die in Rev Jim Jones's jungle camp.
08 December 1978
Carter at the opera
Jimmy Carter first sitting president to attend Met opera - for a party fund-raiser.
15 December 1978
Human rights and the UN
Human rights and the not-quite United Nations - when oil comes before freedom.
22 December 1978
Carter and Taiwan
President Carter ends Taiwan defence treaty, recognising China. US conservatives unhappy with president's move.
29 December 1978
End of the year report, 1978
Gloomy end of year report. Prices rising, Russia worried over the US's turn to China and the Middle East still in turmoil.
1979
05 January 1979
White Christmas in Vermont
Christmas holiday in Vermont, the state which knows how to cope with snow.
12 January 1979
Pol Pot regime falls
Cambodia's Pol Pot regime toppled by Vietnamese incursion.
19 January 1979
Shah flees Iran
Shah of Iran loses power, flees country with famaily. Exiled Ayatollah expected to return from Paris.
26 January 1979
Carter's austere budget
President Carter unveils austerity budget in bid to curb inflation.
02 February 1979
Chinese state visit
Carter welcomes Deputy Premier Deng on first Chinese state visit to US for 30 years.
09 February 1979
Chinese visit rattles USSR
Chinese deputy premier's visit to US threatens detente with USSR.
16 February 1979
Oil rationing threat
Threat of oil rationing as Ayatollah Khomeini takes over as Iran leader.
23 February 1979
Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information Act reveals government is collecting computer data on US citizens.
02 March 1979
Jane Byrne voted Chicago mayor
Surprise win for Democrat outsider Jane Byrne in Chicago mayoral vote.
09 March 1979
Mexico strikes oil
US eyes vast new oil finds in Mexico.
16 March 1979
Carter's popularity slumps
President Carter losing support of both public and his own party.
23 March 1979
How Texas became American
Why Mexico still resents losing Texas and her western territories to the US.
30 March 1979
Inflation at 14.4 per cent
Rising inflation hits Carter's poll ratings, despite uplift from signing of Egypt-Israeli peace deal.
06 April 1979
Three Mile Island Accident
Everyone has an opinion on nuclear energy now. The political fallout of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident on March 28, 1979, and how it might impact on future energy policy.
13 April 1979
Government unable to vouch for nuclear safety
Government admits being unable to guarantee nuclear reactor safety. Public support for nuclear power industry slumps.
20 April 1979
Lee Marvin property suit
Film star Lee Marvin sued by ex-partner citing California property rights.
27 April 1979
Press freedom
Press freedom challenged as CBS 'Sixty Minutes' programme is sued for libel.
04 May 1979
US v UK elections
UK elections become 'Americanised' as the public relations men move in.
11 May 1979
William Safire on Thatcher
US columnist William Safire satirises what Thatcher's election victory will mean for Britain.
18 May 1979
Petrol shortage in US
Nationwide petrol shortage blamed on US oil companies.
25 May 1979
Harvey Milk killing
Gay outrage at lenient sentence for killer of Harvey Milk.
01 June 1979
O.J.Simpson, sports star
The 20,000-to-1 chance of becoming a black sports star like O.J.Simpson.
08 June 1979
Pope visits Poland
Pope John Paul II returns to his Polish homeland.
15 June 1979
John Wayne obituary, 1979
Remembering John Wayne, the actor who came to stand for something fundamentally good - and American.
22 June 1979
The murder of Bill Stewart in Nicaragua, 1979
Seeing Bill Stewart, a news reporter, shot dead in Nicaragua in front of TV cameras, brings home the horror to Americans.
29 June 1979
Gromyko's threat to SALT treaty
US Senate fury over Soviet foreign minister Gromyko's threat to sink SALT treaty.
06 July 1979
Carter silent on oil crisis
Lost for words? President Carter cancels planned nationwide TV speech on oil crisis.
13 July 1979
Skylab crash lands
US Skylab crash lands into ocean after Western Australia fears of impact.
20 July 1979
Cabinet resignation call
Carter calls for US Cabinet resignations in bid for fresh thinking.
27 July 1979
Carter reshuffles his team
Carter reshuffles his closest advisers amid speculation he is preparing his election campaign team.
03 August 1979
The politics of plain speaking
President Carter talks to the people on US tour, and shows why, when times are tough, it pays to speak plainly.
10 August 1979
Small earthquake in 'Frisco
Small San Francisco earthquake sparks big headlines. Small announcement of Irish peace talks sparks Whitehall annoyance.
17 August 1979
Young's final diplomacy
Resigning Andrew Young's last act of diplomacy before leaving his UN ambassadorial role.
24 August 1979
Stagnant economy warning
US Congress warns of economic stagnation as productivity declines.
31 August 1979
Murder of Lord Mountbatten
Murder of Lord Mountbatten prompts need for clearer understanding of the Irish troubles among US voters.
07 September 1979
Dalai Lama visits US
No official recognition for Dalai Lama's first visit to US.
14 September 1979
Soviet troops in Cuba
Arrival of 3,000 Soviet troops in Cuba seen as provocation to US and could stall SALT talks.
21 September 1979
Jean Seberg and the FBI, 1979
The detestable confession that confirms that the actress Jean Seberg's life was destroyed by J Edgar Hoover's 'dirty tricks' branch of the FBI.
28 September 1979
Dubious poll results
Doubt cast on polls which give widely differing results of President Carter's standing with the general voter.
05 October 1979
Pope John Paul II's visit
The national rejoicing during Pope John Paul II's visit to the US, the biography of the Pope, and Catholicism in America.
12 October 1979
A common language?
The many differences between the American and English languages.
19 October 1979
New York Times mistake
Mistaking a neutron for a neutrino, the New York Times has to apologise for its reporting of the Nobel Prize; and marking the death of Uncle Tom, actor Clarence Muse.
26 October 1979
No more nukes
Anti-nuclear power protests strengthen in wake of Three Mile Island accident.
02 November 1979
Interest rates rise
Interest rates rise to 15% amid worldwide claims of 'economic nationalism' by the US.
09 November 1979
Pork barrel politics
President Carter uses presidential patronage to counter Kennedy's challenge for leadership.
16 November 1979
Tehran hostage crisis
President Carter's standing as statesman rises after response to Tehran hostage crisis.
23 November 1979
American embassy hostages stalemate
Diplomacy rendered impotent by success of Iran's terrorist seizure of US hostages.
30 November 1979
Bungle claim over Iran hostage crisis
Carter now accused of 'bungling' decision to allow Shah into US for medical treatment, prompting hostage seizure.
07 December 1979
Public back Carter on hostage crisis
Kennedy blasts Shah while public back President Carter's careful handling of the hostage crisis.
14 December 1979
US and Iran
Need for oil wipes out any backing for US response to Khomeini's takeover of Iran.
21 December 1979
Cambodian refugee crisis
Cambodian refugees face starvation as Russian- and Chinese-backed regimes block humanitarian aid.
28 December 1979
Iran sanctions stalled in UN
American patience eroding over slow-moving resolution to hostage crisis.
1980
04 January 1980
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Russia's invasion of Afghanistan shakes President Carter's belief in détente.
11 January 1980
Carter boosts arms budget
Carter changes liberal policy re arms spending following Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
18 January 1980
Call for Olympics boycott
President Carter considers pros and cons of boycotting the coming summer Olympics in Moscow.
25 January 1980
UN vote condemns Soviets
Hopes that massive UN vote against Soviet invasion could sway diplomatic solution.
01 February 1980
Carter steals rivals' thunder
President Carter's annual speech turns into a 'state of the world' triumph.
08 February 1980
The Canadian Caper in Tehran, 1979
America shows gratitude to Canada after it was revealed that the Canadian embassy in Tehran rescued six US diplomats during the seizure of the US embassy on 4th November 1979.
15 February 1980
Carter's ultimatum under fire
President Carter's Olympic boycott threat over Soviet invasion comes under fire.
22 February 1980
New Hampshire, the political weathervane
Why the weather is a factor in the New Hampshire primary 'beauty contest' stakes.
29 February 1980
Iran hostage crisis goes on
Iran refuses negotiation attempt over US hostages the country is holding.
07 March 1980
Foreign policy wobbles
New foreign policy wobble as US cites 'mistake' on voting intentions over Israel.
14 March 1980
Inflation fuels alarm over policies
President Carter not suffering primary defeats, despite fears over raging inflation. . Programme recording incomplete.
21 March 1980
Illinois crucial in presidential race
Why the Illinois 'beauty contest' is so important to those aiming for the White House in a presidential election year.
28 March 1980
Kennedy's brief triumph
Surprise at Senator Kennedy's landslide win at the New York Democrat primary.
04 April 1980
Extension of primary elections
Bid to curb power of the party bosses led to extension of primary elections - with the result that this year's presidential race faces 38 primaries.
11 April 1980
New York transport strike
Bargaining details behind the transport strike which has left New York train-free for days.
18 April 1980
Kennedy's last stand
Senator Kennedy talks tough as he faces last major showdown in the Democrats' primaries.
25 April 1980
Iranian hostage rescue attempt, 1980
How will President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the Americans being held hostage by Iran affect the forthcoming election?
02 May 1980
Why Vance quit
Point of principle lay behind resignation of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance following secrecy over hostage rescue attempt.
09 May 1980
Recession may finish Carter
Recession timing bad for Carter's hopes of a second term.
16 May 1980
Car sales slump
Massive slump in US-made car sales signals recession is biting.
23 May 1980
Mount St Helens erupts
Mount St Helens eruption blights farming across north and west while the southern state of Florida erupts into race riots over Cuban refugee influx.
30 May 1980
Puerto Rican immigration
The 1950s flood of Puerto Ricans to New York should act as a warning over the new arrivals from Cuba.
06 June 1980
Republicans solid for Reagan
For once, the Republican party is solidly united for one candidate while the Democrats lose backing for both Carter and Kennedy.
13 June 1980
Carter's visits fail to ignite campaign
President Carter's flying visits to crisis-torn areas seen only as political and fail to boost his standing.
20 June 1980
Isao Aoki, golfing hero
Unusual technique of Japanese champion Isao Aoki gives hope to millions of golfing duffers.
27 June 1980
Unemployment looms in Hollywood
As the recession begins to bite, even Hollywood is facing the prospect of rising unemployment.
04 July 1980
The Supreme Court
Alistair Cooke reflects on the wide-ranging functions of the US Supreme Court which has ultimate jurisdiction in America and takes its authority from the US Constitution.
11 July 1980
Row over abortion ruling
Ruling over whether abortions should be state-funded is likely to spark further equal rights amendments.
18 July 1980
Reagan wins Republican nomination
Republican convention endorses the nomination of 70-year-old Ronald Reagan as its presidential candidate.
25 July 1980
Bush to be Reagan's running mate
Ford loses out to Bush as running mate for Reagan in race for the White House.
01 August 1980
Carter ratings lowest ever
Democrat convention faces disarray over lowest-ever popularity ratings by sitting President Carter.
08 August 1980
Covering the 1980 presidential campaign
Cooke looks back at his own coverage of previous Democratic nomination campaigns including Truman and Dewey in 1948; and the current battle between Jimmy Carter and Edward Kennedy.
15 August 1980
Jimmy Carter is nominated for re-election
Edward Kennedy makes the best speech of his career at the Democratic Party conference, after losing his challenge for the party's nomination to incumbent President Jimmy Carter.
22 August 1980
America's Electoral College
Why size matters when it comes to vote-counting by the US Electoral College.
29 August 1980
Energy assistance bill
Surprise swing of Republican voting in favour of the cold north over energy assistance bill.
05 September 1980
American know-how
America's lead in the technological revolution has been lost during the past thirty years as Europe and the Far East steam ahead.
12 September 1980
Candidates consider TV debate
Three-way TV debate for presidential candidates could leave Carter at a disadvantage.
19 September 1980
Small car sales boom
US car makers to concentrate on making smaller cars as sale of thrifty foreign imports boom.
26 September 1980
Candidates claim victory in TV debate
Polls will chart Carter's performance in TV debate while the other two candidates both claim victory.
03 October 1980
Independents switch to Reagan
Campaign sees Carter's support slipping as independent voters switch to Reagan.
10 October 1980
The book-selling business
How the book-selling business creates a bestseller from a book which isn't selling.
17 October 1980
The World Series gets the vote, 1980
The World Series gets the popular vote while the presidential candidates get mean with each other.
07 November 1980
Ronald Reagan's victory, 1980
As Ronald Reagan wins the 1980 US presidential election, Alistair Cooke reflects on the causes of Jimmy Carter's downfall.
14 November 1980
Why the pollsters got it wrong
Humiliation for pollsters who made completely wrong call on the presidential election.
21 November 1980
Reagan's political honeymoon
President-elect Reagan turns his honeymoon period into a Washington courtship ritual.
28 November 1980
Reagan's charm offensive
President-elect Reagan wins over Washington with his charm offensive.
05 December 1980
The waiting game
Hostages and the growing Polish crisis will prove to be among Reagan's first presidential headaches.
12 December 1980
John Lennon's assassination
The shooting of John Lennon on the 8th December 1980 sparks a debate over the need for national gun control law in America.
19 December 1980
Haig joins Cabinet
Nixon's top aide is offered senior post - but the hearings on his fitness to serve could be damaging.
26 December 1980
Chrysler financial crisis deepens
Auto workers call on Reagan's help as jobs are threatened by Chrysler cash crisis.
1981
02 January 1981
Winter in Vermont
Learning to live with winter temperatures way below zero in Vermont.
09 January 1981
Reagan chooses cabinet, 1981
Reagan's choice of a wealthy cabinet means a slow start for the new administration.
16 January 1981
Haig questioned by Senate committee
General Haig faces five-day appearance before Senate committee.
23 January 1981
President Reagan’s inauguration, 1981
As President Reagan's inauguration takes place, 52 US hostages are released in Iran.
30 January 1981
Press overkill on hostages return
Saturation coverage by TV networks as the hostages return from Iran.
06 February 1981
The new First Lady
Nancy Reagan is copied - and cartooned.
20 February 1981
A meeting of minds, 1981
Thatcher's visit to the new president is anticipated as a love-fest.
27 February 1981
Inflation dips slightly
Public excitement over drop in inflation rate - but economists show less enthusiasm.
06 March 1981
Meet the neighbours
President Reagan to visit Canada amid fears over environment.
27 March 1981
US looks to Far East
Moves for better US-Far East relations.
03 April 1981
Assassination attempt on Reagan
President Reagan survives an assassination attempt by John Hinckley on 30th March 1981.
10 April 1981
Protecting the president
Calls for better protection after Reagan assassination attempt.
17 April 1981
Columbia space shuttle, 1981
Space shuttle Columbia makes first return landing.
24 April 1981
Reagan budget-cutting campaign, 1981
Axe falls on government spending as Reagan's budget cuts begin.
01 May 1981
Remembering Jack Thum, 1981
Mickey Rooney portrays professional clown Jack Thum.
08 May 1981
Grain embargo stalls
Embargo on grain exports to Russia fails.
22 May 1981
New York bomb threats
Mystery blitz of bomb threats after Kennedy Airport device kills man.
29 May 1981
Reagan at West Point
President Reagan addresses graduates at West Point.
05 June 1981
Reagan's policies stalled
Election promises fade as reality scuppers new administration's plans.
12 June 1981
Surgeons' insurance costs soar
Rising cost of malpractice insurance sees surgeons quitting.
26 June 1981
US-China relations warm
Arms deal announced as US relations with communist China warm.
03 July 1981
Reagan wins budget cuts
Surprise as House clears suggested budget cuts on single vote.
17 July 1981
British city riots
America shocked by violence erupting across the UK.
24 July 1981
Ottawa economic summit
Secrecy surrounds Ottawa summit talks.
31 July 1981
Royal wedding spectacle
US audiences applaud the theatre of the royal wedding.
07 August 1981
Baseball strike, 1981
The 1981 Major League Baseball strike comes to an end.
14 August 1981
Reagan breaks air strike
Air controllers strike broken by President Reagan.
21 August 1981
Neutron bomb backlash
Europe reacts angrily to Reagan's announcement of new bomb programme.
28 August 1981
Libyans challenge US aircraft
Reagan talks tough over Libyan intercepts of US airplanes.
04 September 1981
Fruit fly battle
California under siege by fruit flies.
11 September 1981
Inner city decay
Power outage highlights problem of urban infrastructure decay.
18 September 1981
First woman Supreme Court judge
Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first woman Supreme Court judge.
25 September 1981
Illegal immigration, 1981
Huge increase in illegal immigrants from Mexico entering the US.
02 October 1981
US reviews Soviet military strength
Soviet military strength ahead of US, report finds.
09 October 1981
Death of Anwar Sadat (1918-1981)
President Sadat of Egypt is assassinated in a year of political assassination attempts.
30 October 1981
Video tape copyright claim
Film studios win copyright claim against video taping.
06 November 1981
Abortion an issue again
Attorney General suggests making abortion illegal.
20 November 1981
Reagan backtracks on missiles
President suggests US and Soviet re-think on land-based missiles.
27 November 1981
Reagan vetoes budget
Presidential veto over budget sees government workers sent home.
04 December 1981
Video games craze
Newest craze in US is for Japanese video games.
11 December 1981
US-China relations
Special relationship between West Coast Americans and the Chinese.
18 December 1981
Martial law in Poland
US impotent as martial law imposed on Poland.
25 December 1981
US budget deficit
Reagan's economic plans result in massive budget deficit.
1982
01 January 1982
President Reagan and the Middle East
A review of Ronald Reagan's concerns in the Middle East.
08 January 1982
Polish propaganda
Reading between the lines of news from Poland.
22 January 1982
Reagan faces reality
Low ratings reflect the president's change of heart over many electoral promises.
29 January 1982
Franklin D Roosevelt and the New Deal
A recollection of FDR's re-evaluation of the need for social reform.
27 August 1982
Reagan's 'revenue' increases
How the new flexible president won his 'revenue' increases which will help balance the books.
03 September 1982
Reagan backs Palestinian autonomy
President appears on TV to assert his belief that Palestine needs to become autonomous.
10 September 1982
Labor Day parade
President should take note of huge turnout which demonstrated workers' frustration over tax and jobs.
24 September 1982
US impotent in Lebanon conflict
US recognises its impotence in the Middle East as a nuclear deterrent can not impose demands on warring sides; a large standing army would have more power.
01 October 1982
New York immigrants
Massive increase of immgrants arriving into New York widens the ethnic mix of the city.
08 October 1982
National Football League strike 1982
The complex rules and tactics of American football, and how a pay dispute led to the 1982 strike by the players of the National Football League, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 October 1982
Jobless are main elections issue
While the president crosses the US to woo voters, unemployment remains the main issue in local elections.
29 October 1982
Reaganomics 'a gimmick'
Democrats' delight as Nobel Prize winner writes off the president's economic plans as 'a gimmick'.
05 November 1982
Mid-term elections
Mid-term elections see Reagan lose support in the House - so a more pragmatic approach to bills is likely.
12 November 1982
Vietnam veterans' memorial, 1982
Washington opening of new memorial which speaks volumes about the war America did not win.
19 November 1982
Voting for equal rights
Women vote against Republicans following loss of Equal Rights Act.
26 November 1982
Airline cartel claim
Transatlantic price-fixing between major airlines put Laker out of business claims law suit.
03 December 1982
Kennedy quits presidential bid
Edward Kennedy decides against running as Democrat candidate in the next presidential election.
10 December 1982
Congress vote on MX missile
Extra funding for MX missile gets Congress go-ahead despite fears over bases.
17 December 1982
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which forced foreign automobile manufacturers to build their models for export to America in America, with American parts and labour.
24 December 1982
The Dull Men's Club, 1982
Forget chic or trendy, the founder of the Dull Men's Club says we should be proud of being boring.
31 December 1982
China's spoilt brats
China admits its 'one child' rule has led to a generation of - mainly male - spoilt brats.
1983
07 January 1983
Puerto Rican bombing in NY
Puerto Rican terrorist group wanting independence claim New York bombings.
14 January 1983
Satellite communication
The future of global communication via satellite - and the man who foresaw it all, Arthur C. Clarke.
21 January 1983
Florida's changing fortunes
Florida's dependence on the service industries sees a change in fortune as tourist figures drop.
28 January 1983
Reagan u-turn on economy
President changes tack about economy and says government must take the lead in boosting growth.
04 February 1983
Fear of appeasement, 1983
Fears of a return to 'Munich mentality' block genuine talk on arms control.
18 February 1983
China-US relations
Why the West Coast view of China differs from the capital's.
25 February 1983
Who's next for President?
As Reagan enters his third year, it's time to look at possible contenders for the next election.
04 March 1983
Financial crisis of 1933
The 50th anniversary of the financial crisis of 1933 that caused President Roosevelt to demand that all of the banks across the United States close their doors.
11 March 1983
Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul II
Press coverage of Queen Elizabeth's sightseeing tour of California is dwarfed by that of Pope John Paul II's visit to Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
18 March 1983
Reagan being Reagan again
Economic recovery sees Reagan shift his rhetoric back to the right-wing after 'Let Reagan be Reagan' calls.
25 March 1983
The Squeal Rule
Proposal to inform parents of contraceptive use for minors is nicknamed the 'Squeal Rule'.
01 April 1983
Reagan's 'Star Wars' speech
Reagan's rhetoric reaches new heights with his bid for a 'Star Wars'-style missile platform.
08 April 1983
Intelligent computers
Intelligent computers - looking to a future of seriously smart machines.
15 April 1983
Chicago's first black mayor
Democrat candidate Harold Washington is elected Chicago's first black mayor in undeclared race battle for votes.
22 April 1983
Slimmer social security
President Reagan signs new social security bill despite his original claims of harder cuts.
29 April 1983
El Salvador crisis
Fears of Soviet aid for opposition prompt US to consider assisting El Salvador's embattled government.
06 May 1983
Literacy rates falling
Immigration may be to blame for falling literacy rates highlighted by new national commission report.
13 May 1983
Williamsburg summit
International monetary conference plan comes after French endorsement of arms policy at Williamsburg summit.
20 May 1983
Mayor Feinstein to stay
San Francisco mayor Diane Feinstein holds on to her post after handgun row ends in vote.
27 May 1983
Bishops call for nuclear ban
Reagan faced with Catholic anti-nuclear vote after bishops call for ban.
03 June 1983
Thatcher plans second term
Mrs Thatcher hopes for a second term - eyes are now on Reagan to see if he will do the same.
10 June 1983
Margaret Thatcher's re-election and the 'special relationship', 1983
Margaret Thatcher's dedication to the 'special relationship' between Britain and America, and journalist James "Scotty" Reston's correct prediction on Thatcher's re-election.
17 June 1983
Sally Ride, new role model
Sally Ride, America's first female astronaut, becomes an unwilling role model.
24 June 1983
Paul Volcker, head of the Fed
Paul Volcker, head of the Federal Reserve, and the second most important man in the US.
01 July 1983
Connecticut bridge collapse
Following a fatal bridge collapse in Connecticut, US faces massive bill for rebuilding as major faults are found in ageing infrastructure.
08 July 1983
Briefing-gate to be investigated
Reagan's popularity rating could be hit by criminal investigation into who stole Carter's briefing papers.
15 July 1983
Chrysler repays loan
Chrysler startles US by repaying government bail-out loan in record time.
22 July 1983
President Reagan's social programmes
A switch from Democrat to Republican in the southern states, the gender gap in the support of President Reagan, and the rise in government spending on social programs.
29 July 1983
Intervention in Central America
Public opposition to an increased military presence in El Salvador and Nicaragua, the manoeuvres of American troops in Honduras, and the US desire for peace at any price.
05 August 1983
Equal rights crusade goes on
Senator Sam Ervin becomes new opponent in ongoing fight for Equal Rights Amendment.
12 August 1983
The arrest of Dave Winfield
The difficulty in legislating against home video taping, the arrest of New York yankee Dave Winfield for killing a seagull, and the marital aspirations of American women in 1983.
19 August 1983
Andrei Berezhkov's non-defection
Was Russian teenager Andrei Berezhkov persuaded to withdraw his pleas for help to defect to the West?
26 August 1983
Benigno Aquino assassinated
Shocking assassination of Benigno Aquino presents President Reagan with dilemma over Philippines bases.
02 September 1983
Reverend Jesse Jackson
Reverend Jesse Jackson steps into the political spotlight by trying for the Democrat nomination.
09 September 1983
Korean Airlines flight 007
The shooting down of Korean Airlines flight 007 by the Russian military, the escalating Soviet presence in Scandinavia, and questions over the ability of Uri Andropov to command.
16 September 1983
US troops in Lebanon
Congress queries continued presence of US troops in Lebanon. President requested to invoke War Powers Act.
23 September 1983
Fear of Russia returns
President Reagan under pressure as fear of Russia returns following the shooting-down of the Korean airliner.
30 September 1983
The America's Cup
America's Cup won by the Australians - and the members of the New York Yacht Club get the news second-hand.
07 October 1983
Andrei Gromyko and the United Nations
The end of a boycott against Aeroflot after the shooting down of Korean flight 007, the absence of Andrei Gromyko at the UN, and the plan to install US missiles in West Germany.
14 October 1983
Boycotts can backfire
When the oldest form of retaliation - the boycott - turns out to have unforeseen consquences which hit home markets hardest.
21 October 1983
Barbara McClintock
A profile of Nobel Prize winning scientist Barbara McClintock, and her biological and biochemical research that lead to an advanced understanding of the behaviour of genes.
28 October 1983
Invasion of Grenada
Reagan facing serious questions over decision to invade Grenada, a member of the British Commonwealth.
04 November 1983
Grenada press ban lifted
Press begins to uncover the fuller, and more complex, story of the Grenada invasion.
11 November 1983
Martin Luther King Day
Rosa Parks' refusal to recognise segregation, the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, and the passing of a bill to recognise Martin Luther King Jr Day as a national holiday.
18 November 1983
Defending freedom
Anxiety after Grenada invasion as it becomes clear that US forces are now thinly stretched across the globe.
25 November 1983
The Day After
The Day After, a television movie depicting the effect of a nuclear attack on Kansas City, and the anticipation of and reaction to the first screening of it in November 1983.
02 December 1983
Joe Polowsky's funeral, 1983
Old soldier wanted to be buried where his band of brothers met up with the Russians in 1945 - when they were our allies.
16 December 1983
President Alfonsin of Argentina
US hopes of new talks follow installation of Argentina's first democratically-elected president, Alfonsin.
23 December 1983
NORAID and the Harrods bombing
The American contributions to NORAID, a fund set up to fund arms and provide financial assistance to IRA members in jail, and the aftermath of the Harrods bombing.
1984
01 January 1984
1984 and the nuclear threat
Opinion polls reveal the American public's fears over inflation, unemployment, the corporate and governmental use of new technology and an imminent nuclear war with the USSR.
06 January 1984
Syrians free US soldier
Rev Jesse Jackson persuades Syrians to release captured US soldier after official channels fail.
13 January 1984
Charles Wick's secret tapes
Reagan buddy Charles Wick, head of the US information agency, found to have made secret tape recordings of phone calls.
20 January 1984
Home videotaping gets the OK
Movie makers lose court action against home video taping. Supreme Court rules no copyright law has been infringed.
27 January 1984
Do Russians want Reagan out?
As the race for the White House begins in earnest, would the Soviets prefer to deal with someone other than Reagan?
03 February 1984
Reagan wants second term
President Reagan announces he will join the race for a second term in the White House.
17 February 1984
Chernenko is Soviet leader, 1984
New Soviet leader Chernenko described as in poor health even as he assumes office.
24 February 1984
Americanisms
Alistair Cooke examines the Indian roots of some American vocabulary and the variations between some American words and their English usage.
02 March 1984
John Glenn and the presidency
Astronaut Glenn comes down to earth after poor showing in first vote for Democrat presidential nominations.
09 March 1984
Smiley Ratliff's escape bid, 1984
British government foils attempt by US millionaire Smiley Ratliff to buy his own Pacific island.
16 March 1984
'Where's the beef?'
Advertising slogan 'Where's the beef' is taken up by Democrats in the race for the presidential nomination.
23 March 1984
No school prayers
Senate fails to support suggested constitutional amendment which would have ushered in school prayers across the US.
30 March 1984
Holiday in San Francisco
Cooke visits San Francisco, where he spent his honeymoon during the Alcatraz mutiny of 1946, and the destination of a recent visit by French President Mitterrand.
06 April 1984
Argentina bailed out
Consortium's backing will aid new Argentine government's attempts to rebuild the country's floundering economy.
13 April 1984
CIA mines Nicaragua ports
President Reagan snubs claims that the CIA mining of Nicaraguan ports has damaged shipping from around the world.
20 April 1984
Ed Meese investigation
Special prosecutor appointed to look into financial background of Ed Meese, the president's choice as next attorney general.
25 May 1984
Tougher smoking warnings
Cigarette packaging to carry tougher health warnings as more research is publicised into the effects of passive smoking.
01 June 1984
Beware stereotypes, 1984
Latest national statistics prove that basing our assumptions on stereotypes will inevitably prove us wrong.
08 June 1984
Democrat prospects dim
In-fighting between Democrat candidates has weakened the party's chances in the coming presidential election.
15 June 1984
D-Day anniversary
One-sided remembrance of the 40th anniversary of D-Day reflects President Reagan's chauvinistic view of foreign affairs.
22 June 1984
Misleading headlines
Misleading headlines skew findings of support for the President's policies in Central America.
29 June 1984
Jesse Jackson in Cuba
The Reverend Jesse Jackson meets Fidel Castro in Cuba and negotiates the release of 22 US prisoners from Cuban jails, much to the embarrassment of the Reagan administration.
06 July 1984
Rise in drinking age
Raising the drinking age to 21 across the states will help to cut drink-driving deaths, says President Reagan.
13 July 1984
Convention histories
As the Democrats get ready to crown their chosen leader, look back to a time when political conventions were full of surprises.
20 July 1984
Reporting party conventions
The dramatic 1940 Republican Convention where outsider Wendell Wilkie beat the favourite, and the advantages to reporters of live television coverage of conventions.
27 July 1984
Ferrero nominated
Democrat convention ends with Mondale-Ferraro as running mates for the forthcoming presidential elections.
03 August 1984
Fishing for votes
When being poor at sports can help a man who's fishing for votes.
10 August 1984
James Mason remembered, 1984
Remembering James Mason, the character actor who wouldn't play the Hollywood game.
17 August 1984
Republicans head for Texas
How will the new ethnic mix of Dallas react to the influx of Republicans when the convention comes to town?
24 August 1984
Mondale's wobbly leadership
Walter Mondale's wobbly leadership a talking point as the Republicans' glitzy convention takes over Dallas.
31 August 1984
Alfred Knopf (1892-1984)
The life of Alfred Knopf, publisher of, among others, Thomas Mann and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and according to Cooke "simply the best publisher of the twentieth century".
07 September 1984
Car workers to strike
Strike calls as car company bosses pocket bonuses while the workers still suffer from pay cuts.
14 September 1984
Mondale gets mad
Democrat nominee Mondale gets fighting mad over unemployment and national debt - but the polls still show his support is slipping away.
21 September 1984
Oklahoma ends liquor ban
Oklahoma - where prohibition ruled until 1959 - to finally allow liquor to be openly sold.
28 September 1984
Reagan meets Gromyko
Washington observers interpret meeting between Reagan and Gromyko as sign that Soviets foresee a second term for the president.
05 October 1984
Gangsters in Chicago
Alistair Cooke looks at mafia involvement in alcohol during prohibition, cattle during World War II and in the heroin trade, as an international ring of gangsters is arrested.
12 October 1984
Old Man Reagan, 1984
1984 Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale questions President Reagan's age suitability in a televised election debate.
19 October 1984
Political TV commercials
How the young are getting their political understanding - from 30-second TV commercials.
26 October 1984
Being 'on welfare'
Confused messages about poverty levels in the US come from media reports misinterpreting the official figures.
02 November 1984
Bodyguards and personal security
In the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, Cooke looks at the increased personal security for public figures over the years and the role of bodyguards.
09 November 1984
George Gallup (1901-1984)
The achievements of George Gallup, inventor of the Gallup poll, a method of measuring public opinion, and responsible for revolutionary change in the democratic process.
16 November 1984
Senator Jesse Helms
Senator Jesse Helms ponders whether to take the foreign affairs chair, or continue to rally support for the tobacco growers.
30 November 1984
George Aiken of Vermont
An upright man - in his walk, and his ways. Remembering Senator George D. Aiken, the politician who could never be bought.
07 December 1984
Texas A&M University
Not your average university - the Texas A&M does things on a grander scale.
14 December 1984
China denies move to capitalism
Good news or bad news? China's main daily newspaper rebuked for 'flawed' story of the country's potential move to a capitalist economy.
21 December 1984
Cholesterol-free Christmas, anyone?
Keep cutting your cholesterol, say the experts - just as the Christmas eating binge beckons.
1985
11 January 1985
Budget cuts continue
Reagan's election promises on spending will be overtaken by Congress ready to trim more from proposed budget.
18 January 1985
The strong dollar and Lindsay Wellington
The falling value of the British pound in comparison to the US dollar, and the death of Lindsay Wellington, the former head of the BBC in North America.
25 January 1985
Inauguration parade cancelled
Plunging temperatures force cancellation of Reagan's second term inauguration parade.
01 February 1985
Defending Kingsley Amis
Defending Kingsley Amis - and free speech - against some of the top women in American publishing.
08 February 1985
New Zealand bans US navy
New Zealand's new premier brings in promised nuclear ban - resulting in a US navy destroyer being turned away from port of call.
15 February 1985
US farming in crisis
Farm bankruptcies rise as prices fall and Reagan sticks to planned cuts on subsidies.
22 February 1985
General Westmoreland libel case
Vietnam commander General Westmoreland's libel case against CBS ends in stalemate.
01 March 1985
Meese takes oath of office
Months of investigations end with Reagan's choice confirmed by Senate vote.
08 March 1985
America's acid rain
Reagan in top-level talks to halt US acid rain falling on Canada.
15 March 1985
Reagan budget defeated
President Reagan's cost-cutting budget soundly defeated by the Senate committee which instead demands defence spending is trimmed.
22 March 1985
Strong dollar hits jobs
Jobs hit as strong dollar means US exports are too pricey for world markets.
29 March 1985
MX funding agreed
Job creation given as reason why vote on MX funding went Reagan's way.
05 April 1985
Street crime fears
As the Bernhard Goetz trial nears, how far should self-defence go when it comes to street crime?
12 April 1985
Politicising the dictionary
Row over the new Russian version of the Oxford dictionary which contains politically-slanted definitions.
19 April 1985
Anniversaries to remember
Uproar over president's anniversary plans to visit German war cemetery but not a concentration camp.
26 April 1985
Senator Sam Ervin
Rememering Sam Ervin, the Southern senator whose skilful chairmanship steered the Watergate hearings to the downfall of a president.
03 May 1985
Contra aid cut off
Defeat for the president as House cuts off aid to Nicaragua's Contras amid fears of another Vietnam.
10 May 1985
Voters back Bitburg visit
President Reagan's visit to Bitburg military cemetery proves to be a political asset.
17 May 1985
Trade deficit with Japan
Japanese imports soar as American shoppers ignore pleas to buy 'Made in America' goods.
24 May 1985
Defining death
New legislation to clarify definition of death to avoid indecision over when life support should be ended.
31 May 1985
Simpler taxes suggested by president, 1985
President Reagan's plan to make the tax structure simpler hits the right note across the US.
07 June 1985
Hotel strike in New York
New York hotel workers strike is latest row over the new two-tier pay structure.
14 June 1985
Being a good politician
How the ability to be a good loser is essential to anyone wishing to be a good politician.
21 June 1985
TWA plane hijack
Hijackers demand release of Israeli prisoners in exchange for passenger hostages from TWA plane.
28 June 1985
No comment
The press - and the country - does not always have the right to know everything that is going on to resolve the hostage crisis.
05 July 1985
TWA hostages released
President obliged to deny making a deal with the Israelis to prompt release of the TWA hostages.
12 July 1985
Sport and tax avoidance
Top sports players who leave home to avoid paying taxes.
19 July 1985
Reagan has surgery
President Reagan's surgery tops the news agenda; but there was a time when the president's health was a private matter.
26 July 1985
South Africa boycott
Zulu chief Buthelezi wades US row over South Africa business boycott.
02 August 1985
Francis Perkins and the US deficit
A profile of Francis Perkins, the first woman cabinet officer in America, and columnist William Safire's grim evaluation of President Reagan's plan for the mounting US deficit.
09 August 1985
The president's nose
The president's skin cancer removal prompts reminders on the perils of sun bathing.
16 August 1985
General Douglas MacArthur and the Japanese surrender
The 40th anniversary of the surrender of the Japanese at the end of the Second World War, the devastating hurricane in Galveston, Texas, and a profile of General Douglas MacArthur.
23 August 1985
Moscow's spy dust
Soviets admit to using chemical powder to trace movements and contacts of Americans living in Moscow.
30 August 1985
Kevin Curren and Flushing Meadows
The defeat of Kevin Curren by Boris Becker at the 1985 Wimbledon tennis tournament, and the controversy surrounding the new home of the US tennis championship at Flushing Meadows.
06 September 1985
Hurricane Elena, 1985
Hurricane Elena's path of destruction along the Florida coast, and the proposed raise in the legal drinking age from 18 or 19 to 21 in all but fifteen states.
13 September 1985
Summer's end, September 1985
End of summer sees the holiday cottages empty and normal life resume in the coastal towns.
20 September 1985
On the 40th anniversary of the United Nations
The 40th anniversary of the United Nations, the history of the organisation, and the security arrangements for the 1985 meeting of the Security Council in New York.
27 September 1985
1985 Mexico City Earthquake
The aftermath of the 1985 earthquake in Mexico, the Canadian concern over the sulphur emissions from power plants in the American Mid-West, and the threat of hurricane Gloria.
04 October 1985
Hurricane Gloria
Living through Hurricane Gloria - thanks to the warnings from the weather forecasters.
11 October 1985
Achille Lauro hijack
Americans seen to condone Israel attack on PLO following hijacking of Achille Lauro cruise ship.
18 October 1985
Cholesterol discovery wins Nobel prize
University of Texas duo win Nobel prize for their work on cause of cholesterol build-up.
25 October 1985
Limousine envy, 1985
Spectacle of world leaders competing for limo one-upmanship sums up the problem of the United Nations.
01 November 1985
US labour unions
Labour unions lose power as disputes are settled by agreement rather than coercion.
08 November 1985
Tennessee jails crisis
Tennessee judge demands that state resolves prison overcrowding so he can continue sentencing.
15 November 1985
Old hatreds
This time of remembrance begs the question of whether there is a set amount of time before old hatreds fade away.
22 November 1985
California's sea otters
Not extinct, just hiding - California's sea otters return to their native waters.
29 November 1985
The computer age, 1985
Computers are changing the way we live - but can they work out how we can live together?
06 December 1985
Making assumptions
Surveys question what we think must be so - which is why we should never make general assumptions.
13 December 1985
Some stories don't date
You may think that today's news is fresh, but check the headlines and you'll see that some things just don't change.
20 December 1985
Paul Castellano shot dead
Mafia family head killed in daylight shooting, confirming prejudice about crime and New York's Italian-Americans.
1986
03 January 1986
Reagan's Russian broadcast
Reagan speaks to the Russians, Gorbachev to the Americans, in the first direct broadcasts to each nation.
10 January 1986
Sanctions against Libya
Gaddafi's public support of airport terrorists prompts US into imposing sanctions against Libya.
17 January 1986
Martin Luther King day
Three years after it became law, a national holiday to celebrate the civil rights' leader is observed across the US.
24 January 1986
Loans warning on economy, January 1986
International debt is threatening the stability of the world economy, warns MIT expert.
31 January 1986
Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger disaster, 1986
Alistair Cooke reflects on the life and death of Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian astronaut who was killed in the space shuttle Challenger disaster on 28th January 1986.
09 February 1986
The US budget
Which hand holds the US purse strings / is it the president's, or that of Congress?
14 February 1986
Philippines election queried
US queries organisation of snap election called by Philippines dictatorial President Marcos.
21 February 1986
Reagan blunders over Marcos election
Reagan statement about 'fraud on both sides' of Philippines election seen as huge blunder which could have left opposition to Marcos in a dangerous position.
28 February 1986
Marcos overthrown by people power
Watching people power overthrow a dictator - and the new CNN news network showed us how it happened.
07 March 1986
Floods in California
Homes and crops wiped out after massive flooding leaves northern California under water.
14 March 1986
International airlines in trouble
The battle for market share of intercontinental air travel leaves major players in financial crisis.
21 March 1986
Loving Los Angeles
Time to reconsider that smug, cliched view of the cultured city of Los Angeles.
28 March 1986
US-Libya missile battle
Political storm follows naval battle between US and Libya in Gulf of Sidra.
04 April 1986
Americans stay at home
After US-Libya stand-off, the threat of terrorism - aided by low fuel prices at home - see American travellers stick to their own continent.
13 April 1986
TV violence
When religion clashes with real-life fixtures, which wins? Does watching violent television or film lead to real acts of violence?
18 April 1986
US attack on Libya
Britain is the only Western European country to back US air strikes against terrorism headquarters in Libya.
25 April 1986
US bombing of Libya, 1986
Alistair Cooke on the aftermath of the US air raid on Libya of 15th April 1986, and the demands of pianist Vladimir Horowitz during his first visit to the USSR.
02 May 1986
Ukraine nuclear disaster
Western Europe - in the direct line of contamination - clamours for more information about Ukraine nuclear power plant accident.
09 May 1986
Growing US deficit
Reagan gets thumbs-up from voters through tax cuts - despite national deficit rocketing into hundreds of billions.
16 May 1986
Michael Deaver case
US ethics committee to investigate allegations of improper lobbying by former White House aide Michael Deaver.
23 May 1986
Chernobyl nuclear disaster, 1986
Alistair Cooke on the political aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, differences in its reporting, and what lessons Gorbachev and Reagan can learn from the disaster.
30 May 1986
Yakima Canutt, 1986
In praise of the little-known name behind the thrilling stunts of many big-name movie stars.
06 June 1986
Americans fly abroad again
Resurgence of American bookings to European holiday spots as terrorism fears abate.
13 June 1986
Ozone loss and cancer
Time to stay out of the sun? Special Senate report links ozone loss with increasing skin cancers.
20 June 1986
Supreme Court changes
Reagan's surprise announcement of new Supreme Court appointments could sway judgments on abortion.
27 June 1986
Sounding American, 1986
An expert opinion on why Americans can't sound English - and the English can't sound American.
04 July 1986
Independence Day celebrations, 1986
Alistair Cooke looks at how Americans now celebrate Independence Day; and the current debates on immigration policy at the time of the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
11 July 1986
A popular president
Never take anything for granted - like why a president's popularity has nothing to do with his policies.
25 July 1986
Drug addiction spreading
Mrs Reagan's 'Say no to drugs' campaign isn't enough to tackle the growing social problem of addiction.
01 August 1986
Averell Harriman (1891-1986)
A tribute to politician and diplomat Averell Harriman, former US Ambassador, Governor of New York and a leading official in the Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy administrations
08 August 1986
A small earthquake
How to get on with Californian life when the next earthquake could well be the expected Big One.
15 August 1986
Drought hits farmers
Government set to bail out farmers after worst drought for decades devastates crops and livestock.
22 August 1986
Hotels for the homeless
New York mayor to look at suggestion to house the city's homeless in empty hotel rooms.
29 August 1986
Keeping secrets
Despite the 'public knowledge' promised by the constitution, there are times when keeping decisions secret is the best policy.
05 September 1986
Labor Day parades end
Reagan's stand on air traffic controllers' strike blamed for loss of labour union power which has seen membership fall dramatically.
19 September 1986
Tougher drug laws
Politicians seen to join the 'rush to righteousness' as the anti-drugs crusade takes on a vote-catching twist.
26 September 1986
United Nations in decline
Public confidence in the United Nations at its lowest as it loses its ability to adjudicate on international troubles.
03 October 1986
US interference in UK politics
Labour policy on nuclear weapons could change US-UK alliance, says Weinberger.
10 October 1986
The Third Man
Remembering three great men who resigned high office on points of principle.
17 October 1986
Reykjavik Summit, October 1986
President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev's disarmament summit in Reykjavik ends in failure after Reagan's refusal to abandon the Strategic Defence Initiative.
24 October 1986
James McGill Buchanan
Politicians - and the rest of us - work only out of self-interest, says Nobel prize-winning economist.
31 October 1986
A Boston wake
Exuberant in the face of defeat, the Boston Red Sox lose the World Series but hold a splendid wake.
07 November 1986
Democrats take Senate
Reagan may get a bumpy ride in his last two years as Senate goes to the Democrats in off-year elections.
14 November 1986
Teflon President on sticky ground
Sharp criticism from both sides as president comes clean about arms deal to Iran amid hostage negotiations.
21 November 1986
The Iran-Contra scandal revealed, 1986
America reacts to revelations of a US arms for hostages deal with Iran. Arbitrageur Ivan Boesky admits insider trading on Wall Street and is fined $100 million.
28 November 1986
An unhappy Thanksgiving
No mention of politics in the president's Thanksgiving address - despite it being the main item on most news menus.
05 December 1986
The credibility gap
As closed Senate meetings look at covert activities, it's time to work to avoid a crippled presidency.
12 December 1986
Voters believe Reagan lied, December 1986
Reagan describes press as 'sharks' while polls show Americans changing attitudes towards White House.
19 December 1986
Mayor Clint Eastwood
Citizen Clint - the Carmel mayor who has not yet resorted to a tough-guy act.
26 December 1986
Presidential memory loss
A problem solved - perhaps the 76-year-old president is suffering from short-term memory loss.
1987
02 January 1987
Dairy buy-out
Way of life ends as dairy farmers take up federal buy-out to cut excess milk production.
09 January 1987
Economic variations
Western economies are heading for another crash, warns economics professor Kenneth Galbraith - but not everyone agrees that the good times are too good to be true.
06 March 1987
Reagan and the Iran-Contra scandal
Has President Reagan redeemed himself in the eyes of the public after taking responsibility for the arms for hostages deal made with Iran?
20 March 1987
Presidential press conferences
Beleaguered Reagan holds his first press conference for months on the thorny subject of Iran-Contra.
27 March 1987
Farewell to stereotypes
Gorbachev's new era of glasnost could foster better Soviet-US understanding.
03 April 1987
Surveillance and espionage in the Cold War
The case of US marine Clayton Lonetree accused of espionage in Moscow reminds Cooke of how electronic surveillance was feared at the founding of the UN in 1945.
10 April 1987
US-Canada relations sour
President Reagan visits the US's big neighbour to the north while anger rages over America's production of acid rain.
17 April 1987
Playing nuclear chess
Secretary of State Shultz returns from arms limitation talks which have the ring of a top-notch game of political chess.
24 April 1987
Ethics in government
As former White House aide Michael Deaver's trial begins, a look at how widespread is corruption in government.
01 May 1987
Garbage disposal
Rethink needed on rubbish disposal as landfill solution proves to be polluting water resources.
08 May 1987
In the money
From horse racing through gold and tennis to making movies, the big money continues to grow and grow.
18 May 1987
The return of Richard Nixon, 1987
The re-emergence of Richard Nixon into public life after Watergate, and the dubious behaviour of some officials within the current Reagan administration.
05 June 1987
Election envy
No million-dollar campaigns, no shocking TV ads, no buttons or bows. No wonder Americans envy the British election system.
12 June 1987
Alan Greenspan
The quiet economist who is about to become the central banker of the world.
18 June 1987
2000th Edition
Health scares, ozone damage and the Americans' fear of dying are reflected on by Alistair Cooke in the 2000th edition of the programme.
26 June 1987
Fred Astaire, 1987
Small in stature, a giant on the screen - an appreciation of the life and work of Fred Astaire.
03 July 1987
A surfeit of scandal
The James Bond-style story emerging from the Iran-Contra hearings may be too much to believe.
10 July 1987
Oliver North's role in Iran-Contra, 1987
Colonel Oliver North gives evidence before the congressional select committee about his role in the sale of arms to Iran, the profits of which funded the Contras in Nicaragua.
17 July 1987
An overnight hero
The Iran-Contra hearing's main witness becomes an unlikely hero to tens of thousands of Americans.
18 July 1987
The national anthem, 1986
America's national anthem was chosen just over 50 years ago - is it time to salute to a new tune?
24 July 1987
UN unanimous on Iran-Iraq
Russians back out of unanimous United Nations vote over Iran-Iraq conflict.
31 July 1987
Forget the smoking gun
The hearings have been led astray by the red herring of a 'smoking gun' - it's the constitution which has been mortally wounded.
07 August 1987
Inflation rising again
Thatcher refuses to back Reagan over US naval involvement in the Persian Gulf as oil price rises boost inflation.
14 August 1987
What's in a catchphrase?
President Reagan decides to stick with the old catchphrase about where the buck stops - to everyone's relief.
21 August 1987
Anniversary mania
In the dog days of summer, even the Seven Dwarfs get to celebrate an anniversary.
28 August 1987
Pat Schroeder pitches in
The woman who coined the 'Teflon President' nickname throws her hat into the Democrat ring.
04 September 1987
The meaning of Labor Day
Alistair Cooke looks at the origins of Labor Day established in 1894, the diminishing role of trades unions and a cultural change in employment incentives and benefits in the US.
11 September 1987
Papal visit, September 1987
Papal visit crosses the entire continent to face all manner of religious problems from some 52 million US Catholics.
18 September 1987
Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination
President Reagan's nomination of conservative Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, the highest power in the US, has alarmed liberals and heartened far-right Republicans.
02 October 1987
Oliver North's diminished popularity
Three months after admitting his role in the Iran-Contra affair, Alistair Cooke reflects on Colonel Oliver North's brief moment as a popular hero to a minority in the US.
09 October 1987
Off the hook?
A question of intelligence - the definition which just might prove that providing assistance to the Contras broke no US law.
16 October 1987
Peace prize for Sanchez
Peace prize award to Costa Rican president is a slap in the face for Contra-supporting Reagan.
23 October 1987
Black Monday 1987, Black Tuesday 1929
What caused the global stock market to crash on 19th October 1987, how are ordinary people affected, and how does it compare with the Wall Street Crash of October 1929?
30 October 1987
Time for more taxes
The money men are waiting for President Reagan to take the lead in attempts to stabilise the rocky economy.
06 November 1987
Gorbachev wants economic change
Fiery speech from President Gorbachev before December summit outlines arms limitation and hopes for a new economy in Russia.
13 November 1987
Black Monday
As the ripples still rebound following Black Monday, it's time for the British to take seriously the economic uncertainties, and for the US to agree cuts in the federal deficit.
20 November 1987
Iran-Contra reports
The reports from the investigating committee into the Iran-Contra scandal are finally to be made public, and the new breed of journalist spawned by Watergate.
27 November 1987
Thanksgiving 1987
Thanksgiving Day past and present, a summing-up of current political situation, and the riots of Cuban prisoners threatened with deportation back to Cuba, discussed.
04 December 1987
INF Treaty
A report on the Washington summit for the US and Soviet leaders to sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty treaty limiting medium-range nuclear armaments.
13 December 1987
Gorby mania
The INF treaty signing / not so much an historical event as a television event; 'Gorby' mania in the US and Europe.
18 December 1987
Gary Hart confesses
Republican glee as voters see Senator Hart's confession of affairs as a serious character flaw.
23 December 1987
The Democrat Convention of 1924
Divisions within the Democrats both current and at Madison Square Garden in 1924, Anthony Kennedy's appointment to the Supreme Court; and Woody Allen's new son Satchel.
1988
08 January 1988
Missile treaty questioned
Reagan could face revolt among his supporters over ratification of the US-Soviet INF Treaty.
15 January 1988
McCarran-Walter Act repealed
Congress repeals embarrassing Act which banned visitors from the US because of their political beliefs.
12 February 1988
Caucus system
What is the caucus system of nominating candidates for public office, and why does everyone believe the lowly Iowa caucus is so important?
19 February 1988
New Hampshire
Solidly Republican, the rural state where local issues are decided upon by the locals.
26 February 1988
Serious Money
London satire fails to entertain the New York audiences.
04 March 1988
Black Monday remembered
On the anniversary of the day Roosevelt closed every bank in America, Alistair Cooke remembers Black Monday, the huge stock market crash of 19th October 1987.
11 March 1988
1988 presidential primaries
The 1988 presidential primaries are underway, the Democrats are ambivalent about their contenders, and California aims to curb developers in Orange County.
18 March 1988
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.
25 March 1988
Warnings for Gorbachev
Misgivings over future of Gorbachev and modernising reforms voiced by commentators.
01 April 1988
Democrat agony
Bush a shoe-in for Republicans but Democrat agony continues as Jackson and Dukakis run neck-and-neck.
08 April 1988
Correspondents answered
Replying to listeners who have been unable to pick up on an intended humorous tone.
15 April 1988
The Augusta National, 1988
Enjoying a different pace of life at the Augusta National, a Georgia Shangri-La.
22 April 1988
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 cable car conductor.
29 April 1988
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 elections.
06 May 1988
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 to have the secret of health.
13 May 1988
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 (1864-1927).
20 May 1988
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.
27 May 1988
Nancy Reagan's astrologer, 1988
Former White House aide Donald Regan makes public the First Lady's intrusion on policy and appointments.
03 June 1988
Golf in Russia
As the West's sport becomes tainted by money-grubbing, the Soviets announce their first golf course.
10 June 1988
Bush will win it
George Bush may have to play down his preppy background, but he's still looking like a winner.
17 June 1988
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 of Alabama in 1963.
24 June 1988
Goodbye to men's clubs
Writing on the wall for men's clubs as judges rule they infringe personal liberties.
01 July 1988
Seeing justice done
Historic judgment in Iran-Contra legal wrangle is reduced to a series of melodramatic videotape clips.
08 July 1988
Iran Air Flight 655
An Iranian airliner carrying 290 civilians is shot down by US missiles over the Persian Gulf, killing all on board.
15 July 1988
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.
22 July 1988
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.
29 July 1988
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.
05 August 1988
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, founded in 1982.
12 August 1988
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 York's beaches clean.
19 August 1988
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 across the US.
26 August 1988
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 president's role.
02 September 1988
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 greenhouse gases?
09 September 1988
Yellowstone National Park, 1988
Too strange to be believed, the natural phenomena that prompted the founding of the US national parks.
16 September 1988
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 presidential election.
23 September 1988
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 discussed by Alistair Cooke.
30 September 1988
Looking good on TV
As the presidential candidates debate on TV, political prowess seems to be in the eye of the beholder.
07 October 1988
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 review of the 1988 campaign.
14 October 1988
Testing public opinion
Quavering Quale affects voters' views on choice for president.
21 October 1988
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 Michael Dukakis in their campaigns.
28 October 1988
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.
04 November 1988
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 elections.
11 November 1988
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 voting Americans.We apologize for the abrupt end to this audio, this occurred when the episode was originally recorded.
18 November 1988
A dirty campaign
Slander and innuendo are nothing new in campaigning - but the rhetoric will soon be erased.
25 November 1988
Fears over US deficit
The economy will be the first challenge facing the new president when his term starts in January.
02 December 1988
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 reconciliation with Israel.
09 December 1988
Gorbachev's perilous experiment
Misgivings over Gorbachev's liberalisation proposals as observers fear further splits from satellite nations.
06 January 1989
George Bush, the 41st president
As a new political year begins, Alistair Cooke considers the official announcement in the House of Representatives of George H W Bush's presidency.
13 January 1989
The inauguration of George Bush, 1989
The campaign that won George Bush the presidency of the United States, and the Washington insiders he has chosen to form his cabinet.
20 January 1989
Bush's first week and 'African-Americans'
President Bush's failure to recall the date of the Pearl Harbour attack, and Reverend Jessie Jackson's attempt to instigate the use of the term 'African American'.
27 January 1989
Bush's stance on abortion
President Bush's stance on the issue of abortion, and the universal fondness shown towards outgoing president Ronald Reagan, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
03 February 1989
Ethical behaviour
New president seen as distancing himself from the old Reagan ways of doing politics.
10 February 1989
Revenue enhancements and the Nixon files
President Bush's proclamation of "no new taxes", the difference between a tax and a revenue enhancement, and the release of President Richard Nixon's secret files.
17 February 1989
1989 Soviet-Chinese summit
The obsession with Gorbachev and the nonchalant attitude towards President Bush in the foreign press, and the 1989 Soviet-Chinese summit, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
24 February 1989
Satanic Verses outcry
Stores accused of bowing to Iranian edict, but there are still fears for book store staffs' safety.
03 March 1989
John Tower and Colonel North
The Senate Committee's ruling that former Senator John Tower should not be allowed to join President Bush's cabinet, and the trial of Colonel Oliver North.
10 March 1989
The continuing case of John Tower
The continuing case of John Tower, the surprising support of Senator Strom Thurman, and the drinking habits of Winston Churchill.
17 March 1989
Food safety and standards
After two grapes imported from Chile are found to have been injected with cyanide, Alistair Cooke details the role of the EPA and FDA in maintaining food safety and standards.
24 March 1989
The New York City Board of Estimate
The nightlife in New York City before the Second World War, and the 1989 ruling that the city's Board of Estimate is unconstitutional, as explored by Alistair Cooke.
31 March 1989
A Portrait Of Washington, D.C.
The history of Washington D.C, the attractions and memorials popular with tourists, and the causes of the high murder and crime rates in the capital city.
07 April 1989
James Munroe's declaration of independence
The journalism of James "Scottie" Reston, and President Munroe's declaration that America should not be considered as a future target for colonisation by European nations.
14 April 1989
Atlanta and Augusta
A brief history of the city of Atlanta, the increase in internal flights within the United States and the beginnings of the Augusta National Golf Club.
21 April 1989
Happy birthday, Charlie Chaplin
The 100th anniversary of the birth of Charlie Chaplin, and a personal recollection of the comic actor delivered by Alistair Cooke.
28 April 1989
The Missouri abortion case
The continuing trial of Colonel Oliver North, the former marine who aided Nicaraguan contras, and Missouri court case to overturn the 1973 ruling on abortion.
05 May 1989
Oliver North's jury
As the North verdict is delivered, is it time to question the way in which juries are selected - before a 'mistrial' plea goes in?
12 May 1989
Colonel North's orders
The end of the Colonel Oliver North trial, the findings that he was not acting on his own, and the popular opinion that his orders came from the White House.
19 May 1989
The Soviet-Chinese relationship
The meeting of the Soviet and Chinese leaders at their 1989 summit, the relationship between the two countries and the threat their friendship poses to the West.
26 May 1989
Jim Wright and the Baltic rebellion
Gorbachev's offer to reduce Russian forces in Afghanistan, rebellions in Estonia and Lithuania, the student protests in Beijing, and the ethics hearing of Jim Wright.
02 June 1989
Claude Pepper
The life and achievements of Congressman Claude Pepper, who became a champion for the rights of the elderly, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
09 June 1989
Tiananmen Square protests, 1989
Chinese military suppression of protests in Tiananmen Square, and the societal change brought about by student uprisings around the World.
16 June 1989
Liberty in China
President Nixon's 1972 visit to China, a complaint from a Chinese official about Letter from America, and the Chinese attitude towards liberty following Tiananmen Square.
23 June 1989
The desecration of the American flag
A ruling in Congress overturning the conviction of a Texan man for desecrating the American flag, the First Amendment and freedom of expression, and the customs of the flag.
30 June 1989
The New York water shortage
The conditions that led to the 1989 New York City water shortage and the power of Congress to perform "corrective action" to bypass judgements made in by courts.
07 July 1989
Abortion law thunderbolt
Abortion arguments will continue to rage as Supreme Court fudges the issue and hands back control to states.
14 July 1989
The 1812 earthquake in Tennessee
The effect of the 1812 earthquake in New Madrid, Tennessee on the Eastern seaboard, and the inevitability of "the Big One", the earthquake predicted to devastate California.
21 July 1989
1989 economic summit in Paris
Margaret Thatcher's comments on the two hundredth anniversary of the French revolution, and the role of President Bush at the 1989 economic summit in Paris.
28 July 1989
Chinese refugees at UC Berkley
The ruling that allows Chinese students at UC Berkley to stay in America as refugees, the Sacramento conference on race relations, and the conservative panic over immigration.
04 August 1989
Colonel William R Higgins
The capture and murder of Colonel William R Higgins by terrorists in Lebanon in August 1989, the response of President Bush and the danger of televising the grief of the family.
11 August 1989
James Baker in Mexico
Secretary James Baker's meeting with Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari to discuss improvements to border control and Mexico's prestigious debt to the US.
18 August 1989
Colin Powell and "Mickey" Leland"
A profile of Colin Powell, the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs appointed in 1989, and George Thomas "Mickey" Leland, the Congressman who worked to eradicate World hunger.
25 August 1989
Protection of property by the Declaration of Independence
The possible inclusion of the phrase 'life, liberty and the protection of property' in the Declaration of Independence, and the outbreak of war in 1939.
01 September 1989
The US Open, Wimbledon and air conditioning
The United States Open Golf Championship, the Wimbledon tennis tournament and the joys of air conditioning are pondered on by Alistair Cooke while on holiday in his beach house.
08 September 1989
Narcotics, interdiction and Columbian drug lords
President Reagan's failure to implement the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System, and President Bush's plan to tackle to Columbian cocaine lords.
15 September 1989
The Wall Street crash and Crown Prince Humbert
The Wall Street crash, an attempt on the life of Italy's Crown prince Humbert, Joseph R. Grundy's appearance in front of the Senate and other news items from October 1929.
22 September 1989
The reunification of Germany and Mayor Edward Koch
An analysis of the potential perils of a unified Germany, a profile of Edward Koch, the Mayor of New York, and a recollection of the reign of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.
29 September 1989
Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations
President Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations, the sleeping menace of nuclear weapons and the president's unusually high popularity in his early days in office.
06 October 1989
Emission controls in California
The adoption of emission controls in California, and Senator Jesse Helms' objection to the work of Robert Mapplethorpe being funded by the National Endowment for Art.
13 October 1989
The failed coup against Manuel Noriega
The failure of the coup against General Manuel Noriega of Panama, the involvement of the Bush administration in the attempted takeover and the possibility of American intervention.
20 October 1989
Nimitz freeway collapse
Citizen volunteers help as San Francisco is shattered by fatal earthquake.
27 October 1989
1989 earthquake in California
The devastation caused by the 1989 Californian earthquake, the effects on tourism in the region, and the strain a natural disaster places on the federal budget.
03 November 1989
Coverage of the 1989 earthquake and the domestic partnership bill
Television coverage of the 1989 Californian earthquake, the birth of the docudrama, and the bill allowing homosexuals to register as married couples in San Francisco.
10 November 1989
1989 local elections and the defeat of propostions S and P
The 1989 state and local elections, the defeat of Proposition S denying homosexuals to be recognised as domestic partners, and the vote against the abandonment of Candlestick Park.
17 November 1989
The opening of the Berlin Wall, 1989
The opening of the Berlin Wall, the origins of Democracy as the system of government in America, and Gorbachev's warning that Germany will not inevitably turn to capitalism.
24 November 1989
Hurricane Hugo, Galileo, and the cranberry scare of 1959
Hurricane Hugo and icy winds in the north, the effect of the Galileo spacecraft on the weather, and the great cranberry scare of 1959.
01 December 1989
Thomas Paine and the uprisings in Czechoslovakia and Hungary
A profile of American revolutionary Thomas Paine, the rebellions in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and President Bush's reluctance to comment on the uprisings.
08 December 1989
Soviets need soap, December 1989
Give the Communist masses what they really want - a delivery of consumerism.
15 December 1989
Dan Quayle and the Soviet Union
Vice-President Dan Quayle's wariness of the Soviet Union, the aftermath of the earthquake in California and the rise of the shopping mall, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 December 1989
American intervention in Panama
American intervention in Panama, the initial failure to capture General Manuel Noriega, and the Bush administration's attempt to find legal grounding for an invasion.
29 December 1989
1989 in review
A review of the events of 1989, including the revolutions in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania, the invasion of Panama, and Soviet-Chinese summits.
1990
05 January 1990
The capture of General Noriega, 1990
With General Noriega of Panama captured by US forces, Alistair Cooke chronicles the American dealings with Noriega and the relationship between the two countries.
12 January 1990
A brand new decade - 1990
The administration of Ronald Reagan and the upheaval of the American tax and welfare systems during the 1980s, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 January 1990
Changes to the American Family
A summary of how the American family has changed in the past 30 years and an explanation of why the prevalence of the microwave is a great indicator of the transformation.
26 January 1990
Foreign aid budget
The invasion of Panama, the opinion of the American public of their tax dollars being spent abroad, and the reasons behind the shrinking of the foreign aid budget.
02 February 1990
McEnroe and Gorbachev
The politeness of American crowds, the dismissal of John McEnroe from the Australian Open, and Gorbachev's plan to make a profit from peace, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
09 February 1990
US Foreign policy and defence spending
An examination of the recent surge in American public interest in foreign affairs, a cut to defence spending, and the threat posed by Mikhail Gorbachev.
16 February 1990
Kansas City
Why Kansas City is no longer a unique microcosm of America, and ways in which Americans are changing their diet in an attempt to prolong their lives.
23 February 1990
Presidential speechwriters
Peggy Noonan's revelations on writing speeches for Reagan and Bush, and how a great speech can shape the public persona of a politician.
02 March 1990
Nicaraguan election 1990
With Daniel Ortega voted out of power in Nicaragua, Alistair Cooke details the turbulent relationship between Nicaragua and the United States.
09 March 1990
The final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird
The final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, the Russian capture of an American pilot in 1960 and the cuts in the American public spending budgets.
16 March 1990
Apocolyptic cults
A proclamation by the head of a fringe religious group that the World is going to end on St George's Day leads Alistair Cooke to investigate the realm of apocalyptic cults.
23 March 1990
Pearl Harbour and church attendance
The Japanese peace envoys visiting the White House during the Pearl Harbour attacks, the use of Biblical language by modern-day Americans and the fall in church attendance.
30 March 1990
President Bush's broccoli
Presidential press conferences, the lobbyist system, George Bush's dislike of broccoli, and the power of food as a political tool.
06 April 1990
Harry Bridges
Alistair Cooke details the life and career of the labor leader, Harry Bridges, who initiated a general strike in San Francisco in 1934.
13 April 1990
Diverse peoples under one language
Roosevelt's mission to unify a diverse people under the English language, and America's many Christians sects, as explored by Alistair Cooke.
20 April 1990
Earth Day, 1990
With Earth Day approaching, Alistair Cooke discusses acid rain, the Clean Air act, and a selection of books that have shifted our opinions about the environment.
27 April 1990
The End of the Eighties - Great or Greedy?
Alistair Cooke muses on the end of the Reagan era and a collective shift away from the greed of the 'me' decade.
04 May 1990
Robert Mapplethorpe in Cincinnati
The controversy surrounding an exhibition by Robert Mapplethorpe, the conservative nature of Cincinnati, and the work of Judge Wolsey to bring Joyce's Ulysses to the US.
18 May 1990
Greta Garbo and Jim Henson
The death of Greta Garbo, the way in which television is prolonging the life of movies, and a eulogy for puppeteer Jim Henson, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
25 May 1990
Memorial Day, 1990
In the week of Memorial Day, Alistair Cooke looks at the effect that an upcoming holiday has on Congress and examines the legislation affecting the arms and tobacco industries.
01 June 1990
Richard Paul Pavlik
The spontaneous walkabouts of Mr Gorbachev, and an aborted attempt on the life of President Kennedy by Richard Paul Pavlik in Palm Beach, Florida in December 1960.
08 June 1990
Diane Feinstein
Following the emergence of Diane Feinstein as Democratic nomination for the Governor of California, Alistair Cooke profiles the politician, and details Proposition 111.
15 June 1990
An Indepedent Quebec
Charles de Gaulle's 1967 speech calling for an independent Quebec, healthcare and gun control in Canada, and the American view of their neighbour to the north.
29 June 1990
Nelson Mandela In America
Nelson Mandela's 1990 visit to the United States, the ANC's reluctance to renounce violence, and the conflict between pro and anti-abortionists, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
06 July 1990
Independence Day 1990
A French insight in to Independence Day, the British stereotype of American pastimes, and a travel guide for tourists visiting New York State, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
13 July 1990
The 1990 World Cup
With the World Cup drawing to a close, Alistair Cooke looks forward to 1994 when the USA will hold the tournament and examines the American interest in soccer.
20 July 1990
The Cambodian guerilla coalition
President Bush withdraws the US diplomatic recognition of the Cambodian guerrilla coalition due to the human rights record of the regime.
27 July 1990
William J Brennan and David Souter
The resignation of Justice William J Brennan and the appointment of David Souter, and the process of appointing a new judge to the Supreme Court, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
03 August 1990
NYC's new immigrants
Today's immigrants to New York and why they don't speak English, and the invitation to black players to join the Augusta National golf club in 1990.
17 August 1990
Shipbuilding In California
The economic growth in California since 1967, the work of Henry Kaiser to bring a military shipbuilding industry to the state, and the closure of Yosemite National Park.
31 August 1990
The Path To Kuwait, 1990
President Bush's meeting with leaders from around the World to discuss Saddam Hussein's move in to Kuwait and the path towards American intervention.
07 September 1990
James Baker and Russians in Iraq
Secretary James Baker's questioning by the Senate foreign relations committee on Iraq; the presence of Russian military advisors working with Saddam Hussein on advanced weapons.
14 September 1990
Chernobyl and the Star Wars defence program
The lessons learned from Chernobyl, the hesitation in Congress over the Star Wars defence program, and the motivations of American doctors conducting clinical trials abroad.
21 September 1990
New York - a melting pot?
The cultural makeup of New York, ‘The Melting Pot' and plays of Israel Zangwill, and the separation of Irish, Jewish, black, Italian and Puerto Rican communities in NYC.
28 September 1990
A unanimous United Nations
The Soviet foreign minister denounces the action of Saddam Hussein to the United Nations, and the first, and last, unanimous vote reached by the Council in June, 1950.
05 October 1990
The 14th amendment
The role of women in the armed forces, the life and work of Lady Astor, the fourteenth amendment and equal access to locker rooms.
12 October 1990
End of the fiscal year, 1990
The Columbus Day parade, the closure of National parks and museums due to the end of the fiscal year and the start of a new budget, and the appointment of Justice David Souter.
19 October 1990
President Bush and the 1990 national budget
President Bush and the Senate struggling to agree on a national budget, the workings of the federal system, and the 1990 Congressional elections, as detailed by Alistair Cooke.
26 October 1990
Intervention in the Gulf and no new taxes
President Bush's difficulty in finalising proposals for the national budget, and garnering support for the American presence in the Gulf.
02 November 1990
The CIA and Kuwaiti conspiracy
A press conference by the Iraqi Ambassador in Washington and American scepticism surrounding the allegations of a CIA and Kuwaiti conspiracy, as detailed by Alistair Cooke.
09 November 1990
1990 mid-term elections
In the week after the 1990 mid-term elections, Alistair Cooke compares the predictions and the results of the vote, and discusses the failure of the Democrats to find a leader.
16 November 1990
150,000 more troops to Iraq
President Bush sends more troops in to the Gulf, the public confusion around the reasons for intervention, and the effect on Bush's approval ratings.
23 November 1990
Margaret Thatcher and travelling during Thanksgiving
The American perception of Margaret Thatcher and the effect of the recession on air travel during Thanksgiving, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
07 December 1990
Pearl Harbour, Dick Cheney and Saddam Hussein
The attack on Pearl Harbour, Congress and President Bush's conflict over the power to take the country to war, and Dick Cheney's objections to sanctions against Saddam Hussein.
14 December 1990
Black Americans in the armed forces
The disproportionate amount of African Americans serving in the US military, and the Harris poll revealing a gender split in the opposition towards military intervention.
21 December 1990
Gender-specific terminology and Michael Milken
The Mayor of Los Angeles' attempt to eliminate gender-specific terminology, Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique' and the conclusion of the trial of Michael Milken.
28 December 1990
Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan
From his holiday retreat in Vermont, Alistair Cooke muses on the benefits of getting away from it all, ponders the plight of the snowboarder and discusses the right to die.
1991
04 January 1991
Legal guns vs murder rates
Does legal firearm ownership increase the number of murders in America? Alistair Cooke reflects on what is causing the high volume of murders in New York City.
11 January 1991
Pan Am declares bankruptcy
Examining the iconic airline Pan Am's rise and fall, whilst considering how the US constitution has enforced tax payment and may protect a woman's right to strip.
18 January 1991
The Gulf War begins, January 1991
Aerial bombs dropping on Kuwait signal the start of the Gulf war. Reports of Operation Desert Storm reveal how the age of the instant satellite communication affects broadcasting.
25 January 1991
Saddam Hussein or the Bogie Man
Whilst Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles attack Israel, Alistair Cooke considers how the 24/7 spontaneous news coverage is being viewed by both the allies and the Iraqis.
01 February 1991
Gulf War censorship
Should news from the Gulf War be censored? Alistair Cooke explores how public support for the war changes with each news report.
08 February 1991
Airport terrorist attack fears
Fears of terrorist attacks have reduced the number of people flying. Alistair Cooke considers if the Gulf War has exacerbated the situation and whether extra security is needed.
15 February 1991
Indecent behaviour during war
In times of war how much care-free behaviour should we indulge in? Alistair Cooke ponders on what classifies as indecent behaviour.
22 February 1991
Drought and domestic partnerships
Water conservation in Los Angeles, the first couples register their domestic partnerships in San Francisco, and Churchill's refusal of the term "impaired combatant personel".
01 March 1991
Kuwait on the map
Kuwait, Riyadh and Baghdad are now known all over America. Alistair Cooke reflects on how war has added new locations to the public conscience.
08 March 1991
End of the Gulf War
The Gulf War (1990-91) is over and President Bush Snr basks in its glory, but Cooke reflects on the fickle nature of opinion polls and whether public approval will be sustainable.
15 March 1991
John Maynard Keynes
J M Keynes' economic cure for President Roosevelt was to borrow and spend, but with pressing social problems and limited funds, how will Congress split their 1992 budget?
22 March 1991
Ambassador Glaspie's interventions
April Glaspie, American Ambassador to Iraq, is called to explain her pre-war conversations with Saddam Hussein. Could her words have aided the start of the 1990/1 Persian Gulf War?
29 March 1991
Gorbachev's Yeltsin rally ban
Gorbachev's banning of a Yeltsin rally in Moscow worries Alistair Cooke before he reflects on a rift between President Bush and General Schwarzkopf.
05 April 1991
CNN post-war malaise
How CNN's constant Gulf War coverage has led to a post war malaise amongst some of the viewing public.
12 April 1991
President Bush defends Gulf War
President George H W Bush has to defend his Gulf War actions against Saddam Hussein as the American public debate whether troops should have been sent to Saudi Arabia.
19 April 1991
Gorbachev's Japanese investment trip
Gorbachev's visit to Japan to encourage investment is stalled by Soviet ownership of the Kuril Islands. Plus, a 1958 meeting between Soviet leader Mr. Khrushchev and Richard Nixon.
26 April 1991
Nancy Reagan's biography
An unauthorised biography of ex-pesident's wife, Mrs Reagan makes Alistair Cooke question how gossip becomes news, whilst President Bush struggles to defend his Gulf War.
03 May 1991
May Day protest in Moscow
A May Day parade in Moscow gives Alistair Cooke a curious topic to discuss with UN Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko before considering cummunists in America.
10 May 1991
President Bush's heart surgery
President Bush's heart surgery causes a wave of media panic and scrutiny to fall on Vice-President Dan Quayle.
17 May 1991
Passive smoking and cholesterol control
Public smoking restrictions get Alistair Cooke investigating how the Food and Drug Administration are protecting the public health and he turns his eye on cholesterol.
31 May 1991
Tompkins Square Park Riot (1988)
The social injustice which sparked riots in Tompkins Square Park in 1988, and how the social acceptibilty of homelessness has changed over the years.
07 June 1991
Freedom of Information
The American Department of Defence's publication of Iraqi casualties from the Gulf War leads Alistair Cooke to explore the uses and abuses of the Freedom of Information Act.
14 June 1991
Michael Weiss the zip code wizard
Michael Weiss' research into zip codes can determine the books you read, the car you drive and how you like your eggs in the morning. Alistair Cooke finds out how.
21 June 1991
Boris Yeltsin's White House visit
Yeltsin's visit contrasts to one he made in '89 when the US favoured Gorbachev. A bizarre encounter with Senator William Cohen of Maine, and an end to the trials of Oliver North.
28 June 1991
Nude dancing in Indiana
Nude dancing in the state of Indiana causes the American Supreme Court to question the violation of the 1st Amendment, and the obscenity of publicly exhibiting genitalia.
05 July 1991
Gavrilo Princip kills Duke Franz Ferdinand
How Serbian Gavrilo Princip, the murderer of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary, destroyed the empire and instigated the First World War in one shot.
12 July 1991
Stress related illness
American 'know how' and the rise of stress related illnesses in both America and Britain are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 July 1991
Gorbachev and the G7 summit
How commentators around the world now view Mr Gorbachev, and his attendence of the 17th G7 summit held in London.
26 July 1991
Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal
The Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal is heightened when Mr Major dares Mr Kinnock to use the word "liar" in the House of Commons.
02 August 1991
President George W H Bush's re-election
Is President George H W Bush unbeatable in the next election? Alistair Cooke considers his Desert Storm glory verses chronic social problems at home.
09 August 1991
Mayor David Dinkins asks NYC public
Mayor of New York City, David Dinkins, opens his doors to the public to hear their solutions to social problems such as drugs, homelessness and crime.
16 August 1991
UN economic sanctions
Could the United Nations' economic sanctions have crippled Saddam Hussein? Plus, how personal boycotts enable consumers to become socially responsible.
23 August 1991
The August Coup, 1991
Gennady Yanayev and the Gang of Eight grab for power in the 1991 August coup against Gorbachev. Cooke explores how the popularity of Boris Yeltsin inevitably caused their downfall.
30 August 1991
Gorbachev's nuclear arsenal
After the Soviet coup to overpower Gorbachev, America is now wondering who is in charge of the nuclear arsenal.
06 September 1991
President Bush and Winston Churchill
President George H W Bush's ratings for re-election are boosted by the Gorbachev coup. Cooke compares his invulnerability with that of Winston Churchill.
13 September 1991
Congressional hearings
An orgy of tv trials awaiting the American public and the surrogate trials that go under the name of Congressional Committee hearings are discussed.
20 September 1991
Colonel Oliver North's trial
The trial of former Marine Colonel, Oliver North, over the sale of arms to Iran which resulted in the 1986 Iran-Contra scandal, shows how key witness immunity can devastate cases.
30 September 1991
Relations between Israel and the US
A look at the strained relations between Israel and the US, the plight of refugees in the Middle East, and the global misconception about the state of US finances.
04 October 1991
America's children, families and education
President Bush's attempts to reform US education, the impossibility of defining an average American family, and sexuality among schoolchildren.
11 October 1991
Sexual harassment and Judge Clarence Thomas
Examining Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against President Bush's new choice for the Supreme Court, Judge Clarence Thomas, and defining sexual harassment in US law.
25 October 1991
1991 Cambodian peace treaty
The 1991 Cambodian peace treaty is signed in Paris. Alistair Cooke compares the rehabilitation of dictator Pol Pot to Cuba's Fidel Castro and Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
01 November 1991
Tobacco brands at the 1991 World Baseball Series
Why the Federal Trade Commission decided to ban the sight of tobacco brand names on TV after the 1991 World Baseball Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves.
08 November 1991
Robert Maxwell and Fred MacMurray
Memories of British publisher Robert Maxwell (1923-1991) and Double Indemnity actor Fred MacMurray (1908-1991).
15 November 1991
The lucky George Bush
The unfailing luck of George H W Bush, and the failure of the Democrats to capitalise on the president's poor performance on the economy and hesitance towards domestic issues.
22 November 1991
David Duke
A profile of David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan running for the governorship of Louisiana as a Republican in 1991.
29 November 1991
George H W's popularity in 1991
A fall in the confidence of President Bush's handling of the economy, the suspension of Congress in 1991, and the diaries of James Agate.
06 December 1991
Biden and Kinnock
Senator Joe Biden's echoing of a speech by Neil Kinnock, the effect on his presidential campaign in 1987, and the danger of a politician speaking out of turn in the digital age.
13 December 1991
Robert Maxwell and libel law
Would US libel law have prevented Robert Maxwell from blocking examination of his business dealings? Alistair Cooke compares the differences between US and English libel law.
20 December 1991
America's recession and Russian nuclear security
Alan Greenspan confirms a US recession despite the Bush administration's refusal to recognise it, attention turns to domestic policy and fear of nuclear weapons on the loose.
27 December 1991
Shared concerns in Britain and America
Considering extended awareness of American issues in Britain, how similar the economic and social concerns of the two countries have become and thoughts on Alzheimer's disease.
1992
03 January 1992
American public schools
American public schools and their limitations, and how one educator from Alabama, Kevin Welch, is at war with developmental psychologists, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
10 January 1992
Japanese trade
American and Japanese relations over the years, a history of Japanese trade, and how General MacArthur shaped modern Japan.
17 January 1992
Operation Desert Storm
The successes and failures of Operation Desert Storm a year on , along with the story of political activist Angela Davis.
24 January 1992
Governor Bill Clinton
Governor Bill Clinton, the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the scrutinizing of his personal undertakings.
31 January 1992
US defence spending
The proposed cuts to the United States defence budget, and the wide spectrum of reactions from both Republicans and Democrats, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
07 February 1992
Events of 1991
Following a recent opinion poll on the significance of the major events of 1991, Alistair Cooke looks back on the previous year and examines the top American choices on the list.
14 February 1992
New Hampshire primaries 1992
Alistair Cooke assesses the candidates for the upcoming New Hampshire primary elections, including Democrats Clinton and Tsongas, and Republicans Bush and Buchanan.
21 February 1992
Japanese Americans 1942
Executive Order 9066, Franklin D Roosevelt's presidential order that authorised the removal of all Japanese living in California in February 1942, remembered.
28 February 1992
Judge Clarence Thomas
The allegations made against Judge Clarence Thomas, and the fate of the journalists who brought the story to the public consciousness.
06 March 1992
Pat Buchanan
Following the New Hampshire primary, Alistair Cooke profiles Republican candidate Pat Buchanan, and asks whether a vote for Buchanan is really a vote against George Bush.
13 March 1992
What Richard Nixon did next
The presidential tenure of Richard Nixon and his diplomatic activities after leaving office.
20 March 1992
The bank of the House of Representatives
The US Presidential campaign, and the ethics of the closure of the bank of the House of Representatives.
27 March 1992
The French and immigration
The differing attitudes of French and American politicians towards immigration and the expectations of a brand new US citizen, examined by Alistair Cooke.
03 April 1992
The Army of North Virginia
Why Senator Warren Rudman quit, the importance of 9th July to the Army of Northern Virginia, and the story of Sir Lionel Sackville-West, Ambassador to America in 1888.
10 April 1992
Perils of the welfare state
The potential perils of a large welfare state and how one presidential candidate, Ross Perot, is proposing to reduce government spending, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
17 April 1992
Tax fraud
Following the income tax declaration deadline of April 15th, Alistair Cooke examines the case of Leona Helmsley, a wealthy New York hotelier accused of tax fraud.
24 April 1992
Columbus and Asimov
The mixed emotions felt by the Americans and Spanish towards Christopher Columbus, and the work of science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
01 May 1992
Riots in Los Angeles, 1992
Following the conclusion of trial of the police officers accused of beating Rodney King, Cooke details the violent disturbances in Los Angeles happening in the wake of the verdict.
08 May 1992
Cities and social problems
The Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, Jack Kemp's work, and the social problems faced by the large cities of the United States.
15 May 1992
Space shuttle Endeavour
The latest mission of the space shuttle Endeavour, and what President Bush will have to do to improve his approval rating following the Gulf War, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 May 1992
The end of the LA riots
With the riots in Los Angeles over, Alistair Cooke describes the conclusions drawn by Vice-President Quayle following the violence, and questions the priorities of the White House.
29 May 1992
Ross Perot runs for American presidency
Businessman Ross Perot runs for American presidency. Alistair Cooke analyses the man who founded Electronic Data Systems and owned General Motors.
05 June 1992
The problems with the two party system, 1992
The rise of Ross Perot, the American dissatisfaction with the two party system and how President Bush planned to win back the White House.
12 June 1992
Military downsizing and Rio
How the military downsizing will impact on employment, and the opposition to President Bush's proposals at the recent Earth Summit in Rio 1992.
19 June 1992
United Nations' first reporters
A recollection of the first gathering of the UN, the celebrity journalists who covered the meeting; Joan Stitt McMenamin, the outgoing headmistress of Nightingale-Bamford School.
26 June 1992
Extradition and freedom of speech
The law surrounding extradition and the relationship between freedom of speech and racism, following two prominent Supreme Court rulings.
03 July 1992
Olympic sportsmanship
The idea of sportsmanship and the battle against the steroids which can help fulfil athletic ambitions in the approach to the Barcelona Olympic Games .
10 July 1992
Canada and other democracies
The role of Canada within the UN peacekeeping force, the need to compare foreign democracies, and the insular nature of the US debate on abortion.
17 July 1992
A history of party conventions
Three dramatic party conventions from the past, and how the system of choosing a presidential candidate has evolved.
24 July 1992
Ross Perot withraws
Ross Perot withdraws from the 1992 presidential race, the mystery surrounding his exit, and one tiny, fatal slip during Perot's speech to the NAACP.
31 July 1992
Clark Clifford
A look at the political career of the presidential advisor and former US Defense Secretary, Clark Clifford, following Clark's recent indictment in connection with the BCCI scandal.
14 August 1992
Conventions and opinion polls
The effect that party conventions have on opinion polls, and the contenders for the Republican nomination are reviewed by Alistair Cooke.
28 August 1992
Hurricanes 1992
Remembering his time aboard a ship travelling in extreme weather conditions from England to New York, Alistair Cooke anticipates the beginning of the 1992 hurricane season.
04 September 1992
Moving to Mexico
The closure of the Smith-Corona factory in Syracuse, New York, the financial troubles of US manufacturers and strategies for survival in an age of free trade.
11 September 1992
Burma and Quentin Burdick
The political situation in Burma, a proclamation by Reverend Pat Robertson, and Senator Quentin Burdick of North Dakota.
18 September 1992
Black Wednesday 1992
The UK withdraws from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Black Wednesday, and the way in which the US allocates powers and responsibilities to individual states.
25 September 1992
Historical events of the 20th Century
Some notable entries from a dictionary of 20th Century history leave Alistair Cooke wondering if the upcoming election will feature in a future edition.
02 October 1992
Touring authors
The modern author as touring book salesman, the autobiography of Gulf War General H Norman Schwarzkopf and a potential scandal for President Bush.
09 October 1992
Electoral debates past and present
The history of electoral debates from Lincoln to Clinton and the power of public perception in the run up to the 1992 US presidential election.
16 October 1992
Columbus: hero or villain?
The legacy of Christopher Columbus is examined by Alistair Cooke. Should he be regarded as a hero or an enslaving villain?
23 October 1992
The business of sport
The business of sport, and an embarrassing incident involving the Canadian flag are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
30 October 1992
Election predictions and certainties
The 1992 Presidential election, the dangers of predicting the outcome of the vote and a look to history for examples of election certainty.
06 November 1992
Bill Clinton's clothes
The tendency of journalists flock to Washington to hear the result of an election and the rejection of the blue blazer for jeans by President-elect, Bill Clinton.
13 November 1992
Predicting elections
Complex methods for predicting presidential election results, and the effect Ross Perot had on the outcome, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
20 November 1992
The executive branch
Why a change of president does not necessarily mean a shift in power, and why it takes so long to move in, and out, of the White House.
27 November 1992
Millicent Fenwick
Following the death of Millicent Fenwick in September, Alistair Cooke profiles the late Congresswoman and details the female additions to the Senate in 1992.
04 December 1992
Clinton's economy
A month on from the presidential election, Alistair Cooke anticipates the effect that a new president, and a boost in public confidence, will have on the economy.
11 December 1992
Casablanca 50th anniversary, 1992
Casablanca's impact and the effect the film had on cinema audiences of 1942 are remembered by Alistair Cooke on its 50th anniversary.
18 December 1992
The English language and immigration
The realities of unlimited immigration, andthe movement that proposes to make English the official language of the United States.
24 December 1992
An economic summit
President-Elect Bill Clinton, calls for a gathering of experts to help guide his economic policy, and what he may do to reduce the national deficit.
1993
01 January 1993
John Cage, Wilbur Mills and Oliver Franks
A look back at the lives of the notable figures to die in 1992, including composer John Cage, politician Wilbur Mills and British Ambassador Oliver Franks.
08 January 1993
Bill Clinton's first cabinet and multiculturalism
The diverse cabinet selected by President-elect Bill Clinton, and the problems posed to hospitals by the large range of languages spoken by their patients.
15 January 1993
UN weapons inspectors in Iraq
The search for Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons by the United Nations, President Clinton's promise to concentrate on domestic affairs, and potential for war in the Far East.
22 January 1993
President Clinton's inauguration
A costly inauguration for President Clinton, and the traditions of the ceremony as followed by Presidents Jefferson, Carter and Reagan.
29 January 1993
President Clinton's first week in office
Clinton's first week in office is marred by abandoned campaign promises, a bruising encounter with the military and a failed attempt to make Mrs Baird Attorney General.
05 February 1993
Reforming the military
The limits of presidential power and two presidential attempts to reform the US military: Truman's racial desegregation and Clinton's attempt to allow homosexuals to openly enlist.
12 February 1993
Government waste and White House job cuts
President Clinton's proposal to cut government waste, George Bush's dislike of broccoli, and a reduction in the number of staff in the White House, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 February 1993
Zoe Baird and American childcare
What the blocking of proposed Attorney General, Zoe Baird, reveals about US childcare, why Americans employ illegal immigrants and the fashion for government by phone-in.
26 February 1993
James Baker and Clinton's deficit
Outgoing cabinet member James Baker, President Clinton's failure to deliver on his campaign promise of a tax cut for the middle class, and the true cost of healthcare.
05 March 1993
World Trade Centre basement explosion
An explosion in the basement of the World Trade Centre, the resultant shock and speculation and the remarkable calm of people temporarily trapped inside the building.
12 March 1993
David Koresh and Reverend Jim Jones
An FBI raid on David Koresh's religious camp in Mount Carmel reminds Alistair Cooke of the cult leader Reverend Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple, and their mass suicide in 1978.
19 March 1993
The Irish in New York City
An attempt by the Ancient Order of Hibernians to ban the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organisation from New York's St. Patrick's Day parade is examined by Alistair Cooke.
26 March 1993
Ambassador Raymond G H Seitz
Raymond G H Seitz becomes the first career diplomat to be appointed as United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James's.
02 April 1993
Bill Clinton's Presidential Honeymoon
Expensive Britain, Bill Clinton's Presidential Honeymoon and Screen Violence are examined by Alistair Cooke.
05 April 1993
The history of US-Russia summits
Yeltsin and Clinton meet in Vancouver and Alistair Cooke considers the eventful history of US-Russia summits and what purpose they serve after the Cold War.
16 April 1993
Prisoner rehabilitation
Alistair Cooke remembers reporting on the 100th Anniversary of the California gold rush and contemplates the pros and cons of prisoner rehabilitation.
23 April 1993
Rodney King trial
Examination of Rodney King's second trial for civil rights violations after being beaten by police. His first trial acquitted the officers and caused the 1992 LA race riots.
30 April 1993
Economic recession and military spending cuts
The possibility of the US sliding back into economic depression and the ramifications of Clinton's military spending cuts in California.
07 May 1993
President Clinton's first 100 days in office
The successes and failures of President Clinton's first 100 days in office and how the Roosevelt presidency set the benchmark for judging a new President's progress.
14 May 1993
Racial tensions in New York
The history of racial tensions in New York, the gap between policy ideals and their reality and the chaos caused by the presidential visits to the city.
21 May 1993
The closing of the San Francisco Presidio
Alistair Cooke reflects on the closing of the San Francisco Presidio, a historic military base that has been a garrison for over 200 years.
28 May 1993
Hair Force One
Clinton's falling approval rating, accusations of cronyism, the importance of the trivial in presidential politics and what happens when a boy from Arkansas gets a $200 haircut.
04 June 1993
Gary Graham and the death penalty
Texas death row inmate Gary Graham, the vagaries of constitutional interpretation, state law and the legal complexities of the death penalty.
11 June 1993
The future of advertising
A dystopian future for advertising and the people planning to put messages on animals, the wind and the edge of space.
18 June 1993
President Clinton's alcohol and tobacco taxes
The ramifications of President Clinton's attempt to introduce 'sin taxes' on alcohol and tobacco.
25 June 1993
The Haitian refugees enter America
The US government allows the Haitian refugees held at Guantanamo Bay to enter the US and considering the chequered history of immigration into New York.
02 July 1993
US foreign policy in Bosnia
Tennis player Goran Ivaniševic's demand to be recognised as Croatian, the escalating failure of US foreign policy in Bosnia and a puzzling missile attack on Baghdad.
09 July 1993
The Tokyo G8 summit and unemployment
The activities of the 1992 G8 summit in Tokyo and the ways in which governments through history have dealt with the problem of unemployment.
16 July 1993
Choosing a US ambassador to London
President Clinton's planned replacement of Raymond Sites with Admiral William Crowe as ambassador to London and the sometimes dubious history of US diplomatic appointments.
23 July 1993
Mississippi relief package
How will President Clinton pay for his Mississippi flood relief package in a time of austerity? How Reganism and Thatcherism are still powerful forces in policy making.
30 July 1993
General Matthew Ridgeway
The death of General Matthew Ridgeway, his rise to prominence during US intervention in Korea, his stance on nuclear weapons and the nature of 'good war'.
06 August 1993
America's exceptional weather
Examining an unseasonably hot San Francisco summer and why America's weather, drowning Missouri and parching Georgia, is in the wrong place and refusing to budge.
13 August 1993
Obscenity and public art funding
Controversy over public art funding in the US, the struggles of the National Endowment for the Arts and the history of attempts to protect the public from obscenity.
20 August 1993
Presidential recreation
The meaning attached to the time presidents spend on vacation, recreation and playing sport in light of the Clinton family's holiday in Martha's Vineyard.
27 August 1993
The Korean war and political holidays
The real reason the Russians never vetoed US military action in Korea and the media's interest in political holidays are examined, as Alistair Cooke answers listeners' letters.
03 September 1993
Labor Day and school closures
The history of Labor Day and why hundreds of thousands of pupils in Chicago and New York won't go back to school after their summer holiday.
10 September 1993
US immigrants and identity
The replacement of American unity with old world identities in immigrant communities old and new and the decision to re-route New York's jets for the sake of a tennis match.
17 September 1993
Deaths of tourists in Florida
Florida stops all tourism advertising after the deaths of 9 foreign visitors in 1992, Alistair Cooke considers the scale of the threat and the amplifying effect of television.
24 September 1993
Feminism in American 1993
The Miss America Pageant, the progress of feminism in the US, 25 years of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique and the problem of sexual harassment.
01 October 1993
The health reform bill
The progress of a major health reform bill, the extensive involvement of Hilary Clinton and ex-ambassador George F Kennan's opinions on US foreign policy in Russia and Somalia.
08 October 1993
Clinton's foreign policy issues
Alistair Cooke examines some of the foreign policy issues that the Clinton administration has found itself involved in, less than a year into his presidency.
15 October 1993
Aphasia and studying the human brain
A study examining the effect of Mozart on intelligence and how people affected by aphasia offer revelations about the way in which the brain deals with words.
22 October 1993
The social effect of TV violence
The Senate Committee considering the social effect of television violence, the history of concerns about the influence of immorality in the media and its ramifications today.
29 October 1993
America's problem with gun ownership
The problem of US gun ownership, why the constitution doesn't actually guarantee a right to bear arms and the increased likelihood of a 'Brady Bill' for gun control.
05 November 1993
Balancing domestic and foreign policy
President Clinton's struggle to balance the demands of foreign and domestic policy, war in Bosnia and Somalia, free trade and healthcare in an complex post-Soviet world.
12 November 1993
The 'Brady Bill' and the New England fall
A blazing New England fall offers relief from the violence and disaster of the television news and Congress passes the 'Brady Bill' for gun control.
19 November 1993
Personality in politics
Examining the surprising result of a debate between the 'boring' Al Gore and 'sassy' Ross Perot and how the reputations of politicians are formed by their public personas.
26 November 1993
Thirtieth anniversary of Kennedy assassination, 1993
Searching for a fair evaluation of John F Kennedy's life, 30 years after his assasination and how the significance of anniversaries is transformed by historical revisions.
03 December 1993
The first World AIDS Day
The first World AIDS Day, reaction to the disease from sufferers and the public and an interruption to an unusually heartfelt speech by President Clinton.
10 December 1993
The Long Island train shootings and gun control
A random multiple murder on a Long Island train, America's problem with guns, the future for gun control and the failure of the 'Brady Bill'.
17 December 1993
The GATT agreement and peace talks in Northern Ireland
The GATT Trade Agreement, the prospect of peace in Northern Ireland, electoral defeat for Russian authoritarian Vladimir Zhirinovsky and nuclear weapons in North Korea.
24 December 1993
The constitution and religious festivals in America
The difficulty of celebrating a religious festival in America without behaving unconstitutionally, A Christmas Carol, Washington style and the Park Lane Christmas trees.
30 December 1993
Christmas, and Alistair Cooke meets a computer
A 1940s style flight to Vermont brings Alistair Cooke to his family and a computer which has swallowed several libraries, a few archives and already knows all about him.
1994
07 January 1994
New Year's Resolutions
Alistair Cooke looks at the changing fashions in New Year's resolutions, and the success of Alcoholics Anonymous.
14 January 1994
Tip O'Neill
The life and career of 'essential Boston Irish Catholic Democrat' and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill (1912- 1994).
21 January 1994
Freezing weather and earthquakes in 1994
The exceptionally cold weather scouring America, the earthquake in southern California and the conclusion of the Iran-Contra affair investigation are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
28 January 1994
The Bobbitt case
Lorena Bobbitt's acquittal for cutting off her husband's penis causes Alistair Cooke to reflect on legal definitions of insanity in the state of Virginia.
04 February 1994
How ice cream changed America
Reuben Mattus, the inventor of Haagen-Dazs ice-cream, reminds Alistair Cooke of other immigrants who have shaped America.
11 February 1994
Clinton's draft dodge
Bill Clinton's draft dodging during the Vietnam War is remembered by Alistair Cooke upon hearing that America's trade embargo on Vietnam is soon to be lifted.
19 February 1994
History of chocolate
The history of chocolate and how new research is re-defining it as an unlikely health food is considered by Alistair Cooke, on his travels to California.
25 February 1994
Military intervention in Bosnia
President Clinton's concerns over US military intervention, a newfound resolve over the war in Bosnia and a bogeyman in the shape of a Russian bear are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
04 March 1994
Nixon, 'and the rest you know'...
How the wistful sign off "and the rest you know" at the end of Alistair Cooke's letter on how congressional moves to impeach Richard Nixon came about.
11 March 1994
The survival of immigrants in America
A 1930's tourist guide describing Boston's demographic make-up makes Alistair Cooke reflect on how immigrants survive and prosper in America.
18 March 1994
The tobacco industry, and Tonya Harding
The uncertain future of America's tobacco industry and the growing problem of plea bargains after the trial of figure skater Tonya Harding are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
25 March 1994
Admiral William J Crowe
Admiral William J Crowe, the newly appointed American Ambassador to the United Kingdom, is profiled by Alistair Cooke.
01 April 1994
Whitewater
The Whitewater investigation, the reaction to Hilary Clinton's controversial financial dealings and the workings of the commodities market are explained by Alistair Cooke.
08 April 1994
Justice Blackman retires
The retirement of Justice Blackman from the Supreme Court of Justice reminds Alistair Cooke of the good, the bad and the senile aspects of law making.
15 April 1994
Clinton's global reputation
The manipulative power of magazines, President Clinton's reputation abroad and the public demand for representation are explored by Alistair Cooke in the wake of Whitewater.
22 April 1994
Michael Fay in Singapore
Following the detention of 18 year old Michael Fay, an American citizen in Singapore, Alistair Cooke looks at what Fay's treatment can tell us about Singapore.
29 April 1994
Richard Nixon: his great work
In his assessment of Richard Nixon, Alistair Cooke details the life of the only president to resign from office, including his work in China and the Watergate scandal.
06 May 1994
President Clinton's first 15 months
President Clinton's first 15 months in office and the challenges he faces both at home, and abroad including, the looming crisis in Haiti are reflected on by Alistair Cooke.
13 May 1994
American education
The American education system is examined by Alistair Cooke, who considers the rise of progressive schools and asks whether an increase in home schooling is a viable proposition.
20 May 1994
Health bill and Brown v Board Board of Education
Clinton's controversial health bill, and the impact of the famous Brown v Board of Education case 1954, 40 years ago, including its unintended consequences.
27 May 1994
Pearl White
Silent movie actress Pearl White (1889-1938), the case against Dan Rostenkowski and the latest allegations levelled against President Clinton are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
03 June 1994
50th anniversary of D Day, 1994
The Polish contribution to the Normandy landings are examined by Cooke following the 50th D Day commemorations, including why recent allied operations have been less successful.
10 June 1994
Clinton and the military
President Clinton's relationship with the military is explored by Alistair Cooke, who considers whether his lack of active service places him in a compromised position.
17 June 1994
Clinton and Gonzales
The leadership of Clinton and Felipe Gonzalez of Spain is compared by Cooke, who explores how the public expectations of elected officials have changed.
24 June 1994
American sport
The state of sport in America is assessed by Alistair Cooke as the 1994 World Cup commences. And he commemorates the final allied troops leaving Berlin.
01 July 1994
OJ Simpson trial
Unceasing rumours surrounding the OJ Simpson trial make Alistair Cooke reflect on the American desire to know the verdict before hearing the facts.
08 July 1994
OJ Simpson media coverage
How the OJ Simpson trial is being reported on either side of the Atlantic, and some parallels with the abdication of Edward VIII are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
15 July 1994
Haiti
Clinton's desire for a stronger relationship with Germany, the history of Haiti and the latest developments in the OJ Simpson case are mulled over by Alistair Cooke.
22 July 1994
Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Arthur C Clarke
The Comet Shoemaker/Levy 9 collision with Jupiter leads Alistair Cooke to discuss the thinning of the ozone layer and the work of Arthur C Clarke.
29 July 1994
Nuclear non-proliferation
Kathleen Bailey, a straight talking organiser shakes up a world conference at Livermore, with the renewal of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty high on political agendas.
05 August 1994
Preserving the peace in Serbia
America's historic obligation to preserving the peace and protecting the innocent in Greater Serbia, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
12 August 1994
Community policing, protest and riots
The FBI's powers, the need for "community policing", and the history of protest at UC Berkley are discussed by Alistair Cooke following a riot in Harlem Heights.
19 August 1994
Johnny Madison Williams
Bank robber Johnny Madison Williams Junior's story, leads Cooke to explore the concept of the crook as a national hero, and anticipate the fallout from the OJ Simpson trial.
26 August 1994
USA, Cuba, and Guantanamo Bay
The US role in the Cuban War of Independence and how America is housing Cuban refugees in the Guantanamo Bay facility are considered by Alistair Cooke.
02 September 1994
Allied troops leave Berlin in 1994
The Allied troop withdrawals from Berlin prompt Alistair Cooke to remember the division of Germany following the Second World War.
09 September 1994
Employment in America
Employment in America, and attempts to define the modern working population are discussed by Cooke, following the cancellation of the Labor Day parade in New York.
16 September 1994
American political underdogs
How President Clinton's position will be affected by the upcoming congressional elections leads Cooke to recall the underdogs and upsets from the history of American politics.
23 September 1994
American troops in Haiti
As American troops enter Haiti, Alistair Cooke chronicles President Clinton's motivations for intervening in the conflict and explains Jimmy Carter's role in the negotiations.
30 September 1994
North Korean nuclear development
North Korea's persistent nuclear development puts the UN in a tough situation; Cooke wonders whether Jimmy Carters diplomatic discussions or the UN Forces are the best deterrent.
14 October 1994
Diane Feinstein's forestry bill
Senator Diane Feinstein's heroic effort to pass a bill in Congress for the protection of 6 million acres of Californian desert highlights the drama of congressional voting.
21 October 1994
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
A new American ally is assessed by Alistair Cooke, following the donation of four billion dollars to North Korea to curb the production of nuclear arms.
28 October 1994
The Kennedy Family
Senator Edward Kennedy and Mitt Romney's televised debate before the 1994 Congressional elections provides an opportunity to discuss the history of the Kennedy family.
04 November 1994
Halloween 1994
The history of Halloween, how a rise in street crime has affected the celebration and the objections of the Christian right, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
11 November 1994
Clinton's medical reforms
The Republican landslide Senate victory leads Alistair Cooke to critique Clinton's medical reform and recalls presidents who have triumphed in the face of adversity.
18 November 1994
Clinton on welfare and free trade
President Clinton's failure to deliver on welfare reform, the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the need for speculation in journalism.
25 November 1994
Newt Gingrich and the constitution
Newt Gingrich is installed as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alistair Cooke examines his suggested amendments to the constitution, and the life of new legislation.
02 December 1994
Bosnia and the power of NATO
The erosion of San Franciscan water pipes, the continuing conflict in Bosnia and the American feeling that NATO is becoming a redundant entity are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
09 December 1994
Cable TV and local news
The rise of cable television and the difficulty it creates when trying to find a truly local news story, discussed by Alistair Cooke in San Francisco.
16 December 1994
OJ Simpson and the legal process, 1994
A mass shooting on a Long Island commuter train, the OJ Simpson trial and the litigation involved in becoming a US citizen lead Cooke to discuss the legal process in America.
23 December 1994
Carter's diplomacy and White House security
Jimmy Carter's diplomatic efforts, the security problems faced by the White House and the size of Lyndon Johnson's handkerchief are mused over by Alistaire Cooke.
30 December 1994
Barry Goldwater, and Reagan's speech
Former Senator Barry Goldwater, the speech that won Ronald Reagan the Governorship of California and the state of the Republican Party in 1994 are assessed by Alistair Cooke.
1995
06 January 1995
Clinton and 'Me too' Democrats
Newt Gingrich becomes speaker of the US House of Representatives. American apathy towards foreign policy and Clinton's shift towards the centre are explored by Alistair Cooke.
13 January 1995
A Nation of hair stylists
The nature of reviewing the past and predicting the future, and musings on how abstract votes will affect the nomination of Democratic presidential candidate.
20 January 1995
Montgomery bus boycott
During the week of Martin Luther King's birthday holiday, Cooke remembers his 1956 visit to meet with people from both sides of the Montgomery bus boycott prompted by Rosa Parks.
27 January 1995
Dependency on red tape
With the jury selection for the OJ Simpson trial taking longer than expected, Alistair Cooke explores American dependency on red tape and the 'death' of common sense.
03 February 1995
George Abbott remembered
George Abbott (1887-1995), the Broadway producer and director, is remembered, from his humble beginnings as a messenger through to becoming one of America's greatest playwrights.
10 February 1995
Baseball strike 1994-5
The events leading up to the 1994-95 baseball strike in America and the role that Congress could play in bringing the national pastime back from the brink.
17 February 1995
William Fulbright (1905-1995)
Senator William Fulbright (1905-1995) is remembered by Alistair Cooke, including his work as a tenacious young politian and as an ambassador for American students studying abroad.
24 February 1995
The secrets of a long life
What is the secret of longevity? Alistair Cooke investigates the factors that have been attributed to elongated lifespans and profiles the world's oldest woman Jeanne Calment.
03 March 1995
The American deficit
The beginnings of the American deficit and how the gap between the national income and outgoings has been allowed to widen are explored by Alistair Cooke.
10 March 1995
Ringers
The role of 'ringers' to gain unfair advantage in both sport and business, as the baseball strike continues.
17 March 1995
Gingrich and Roosevelt
With a Republican majority in both houses of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, Cooke explores the parallels drawn between Newt Gingrich and President Roosevelt.
24 March 1995
Rudolph Giuliani's New York
School dinners, gangsters, snow ploughs and the other problems faced by the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, are explored by Alistair Cooke.
31 March 1995
The OJ phenomenon
Why Americans are obsessed with the OJ Simpson trial, the viewing habits of a sequestered jury member, and the real winner of the Oscars, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
07 April 1995
The Christian right in politics
The role that the extreme Christian right play in American politics, and whether any religious group has the power to bring a politian down are explored by Alistair Cooke.
14 April 1995
Remembering FDR
The passing of Franklin D Roosevelt (1882 -1945) and FDR's legacy 50 years after his death, the evolution of the breaking news story, and the only third-term in office.
21 April 1995
US taxation in 1995
Are taxes one of only two inevitabilities in life? Alistair Cooke explores how have they have been reduced and simplified in modern-day America.
28 April 1995
Oklahoma City bombing
The impact of home-grown terrorism, and the conflicts that arise when discussing the First Amendment, in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing on 19th April 1995.
05 May 1995
VE Day, fifty years on
The American press reports on the end of the war in Europe, and the comparatively minor celebrations in the US, as remembered by Alistair Cooke, fifty years after VE Day.
12 May 1995
Equality in New York, Clinton in Russia
The development of equality in New York City, and President Clinton's mission to dissuade President Yeltsin from sending nuclear aid to Iran, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 May 1995
Rockefeller and Britannica
With the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Rockefeller Centre both experiencing financial difficulties, Alistair Cooke looks at the problems faced by both institutions.
26 May 1995
The White House
Great American inventions, Jackie Kennedy's overhaul of the official rooms of the White House, and the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue to the public in 1995.
02 June 1995
Objectives in modern conflict
President Clinton's speech on the relationship between the American armed forces and NATO, and the public perception of the lack of a clear objective in a modern conflict.
09 June 1995
Bob Dole and the fall of Rome
The work of historian Edward Gibbon, the parallels between modern-day America and the fall of Rome, and Bob Dole's credentials as a presidential candidate.
16 June 1995
American farmers
The evolution of medicine bottles, the problems affecting American farmers, and why private restaurants are a symbol of change in Cuba.
23 June 1995
The first UN Conference
How Field Marshall Jan Smutt and Lord Halifax were led astray by wild flowers at the first United Nations Conference in 1945 in San Francisco.
30 June 1995
St Patrick's parade ban
The ruling allowing a group of Boston war veterans to ban homosexuals and bisexuals from the St Patricks Day parade, and the division it has caused in America.
07 July 1995
Porgy and Bess
The politics of the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess, the effectiveness of affirmative action and the current trend of conservatism in America are explored by Alistair Cooke.
14 July 1995
Clinton and Tiberius
United Nations intervention in Bosnia, the failure of Bill Clinton to act on the crisis, and the inspiration the president may draw from Roman Emperor Tiberius.
21 July 1995
Smith-Corona typewriters
The Smith-Corona Company application for bankruptcy, the demise of the manual typewriter, and the response of the American public to the conflict in Bosnia.
28 July 1995
George Romney, Mitt's father
A discussion on the difficulty of predicting the results of the 1996 election, and a recollection of the mistake that dashed the presidential hopes of Governor George Romney.
04 August 1995
The American relationship with tobacco
As the American relationship with tobacco changes, should President Franklin D Roosevelt's memorial statue still include his omnipresent cigarette?
11 August 1995
The atomic bomb
A recollection of the events leading up to the use of the atomic bomb to end the Second World War, and an examination of the thirty year controversy that followed.
18 August 1995
The American aqueduct scandal
The concept of local identity and blurring of state lines, the delivery of water to 19th century farmers and environmental policy are examined by Alistair Cooke.
25 August 1995
Political vacations
As President Clinton takes his summer holiday, Alistair Cooke explores the way in which presidential vacations have become less about relaxation and more about public relations.
01 September 1995
Third parties
Senator Bill Bradley's decision to not run for re-election to the Senate, the 'broken' nature of American politics and the role of a third political party.
08 September 1995
Labor Day 1995
Labor Day 1995, the continuation of the OJ Simpson murder trial, and President Clinton's promises for campaign for re-election in 1996.
14 September 1995
Senator Robert Packwood
The events which led to the resignation of Senator Robert Packwood, and what Packwood's diary tells us about the lobbying system are explored by Alistair Cooke.
22 September 1995
Online America
The dangers of an online America, the importance of considering a sentence before committing it to paper, and the possible return of the Luddites are considered by Alistair Cooke.
29 September 1995
Colin Powell and Ross Perot
An examination of the increased rate change in America and the possible entrance of Colin Powell and Ross Perot to the Presidential race, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
06 October 1995
The OJ Simpson verdict, 1995
How do Americans feel about the OJ Simpson trial following the delivery of the verdict in October 1995?
13 October 1995
OJ Simpson and race
The race issues surrounding the OJ Simpson trial, the emergence of the black middle class and the future for a divided America, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
20 October 1995
New York taxi drivers
How the demographics of New York taxi drivers change and how President Clinton's relationship with business may be key in the race for re-election, explored by Alistair Cooke.
27 October 1995
Arafat visits New York
The visit of Yasser Arafat to New York City to meet with the United Nations in 1995, the traffic carnage caused in the city and his plea to reconstitute the Security Council.
03 November 1995
Quebec and French relations
The formation of Quebec, the American and Canadian relationship with France and the possibility of a divided neighbour to the north, are explored by Alistair Cooke.
10 November 1995
General Colin Powell
General Colin Powell's electoral appeal, the apathy towards Republican candidates and a shift in political reporting are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
17 November 1995
1995 Shutdown of the federal government
The federal government shutdown on November 14 1995, the events leading up to this national crisis, and an exploration of the history of US debt and the proposed solutions.
24 November 1995
Bosnia and the Dayton Agreement
A possible end to the conflict in Bosnia, the role of the US in the peace treaty, and why the city of Dayton became the venue for the signing in November 1995.
01 December 1995
Church and state
The relationship between church and state, the future of a monument to the Ten Commandments and the existence of freedom of speech in the classroom are explored by Alistair Cooke.
08 December 1995
James Reston (1909-1995)
The Pulitzer winning journalist James "Scottie" Reston (1909-1995) and the writer's transition from young sports commentator to respected political columnist.
15 December 1995
US troops enter Bosnia, 1995
The arrival of the first America soldiers in Bosnia in December 1995, the harsh conditions they face and the position of the constitution on the declaration of war.
22 December 1995
School prayers
The adaptability of American soldiers, the debate in Congress over the reading of prayers in schools, and what makes a good government are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
29 December 1995
Christmas 1995
A Christmas spent in Vermont, the joy of experiencing absolute silence and the progress of the federal government shutdown are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
1996
05 January 1996
Government services and the budget bill
A halt on US Government services and the consequence of the refusal to pass a continuing resolution on the Budget Balancing Bill, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
12 January 1996
The snow of 1996, 1947 and 1888
The New York blizzard of 1996, the great snowfall of 1947 and the "paralysing anxiety" during the blizzard of 1888, as chronicled by Alistair Cooke.
19 January 1996
Hilary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt and Abigail Smith
The controversy surrounding Hilary Clinton's involvement in the presidency and the actions of Mrs Roosevelt and Mrs Adams, are the subject of a comparison by Alistair Cooke.
26 January 1996
Clinton's State Of The Union address
President Clinton's State of the Union Address and the origins and purposes of the grand jury system.
02 February 1996
The 1996 New Hampshire primary
The importance of the New Hampshire primary election in the race to become president is the subject of a discussion by Alistair Cooke.
09 February 1996
Great American frauds
Phineas T Barnum, Hershel Geguzin and Ruldolph Walter Wanderone, three notable fraudsters, are all profiled by Alistair Cooke.
16 February 1996
The US tax system
The varied nature of democratic governments, the legal and political powers of state government and the arcane operation of the US tax system are considered by Alistair Cooke.
23 February 1996
Pat Buchanan and divisions with the Republican Party
Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, divisions within the Republican Party and the greatest anxiety of "middle America" are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
08 March 1996
Churchill's Soviet warning and the Chinese threat
Fifty years after Churchill's speech warning of Soviet ambitions in Europe, Alistair Cooke considers the new threat posed by communist China.
15 March 1996
Lockerbie and anti-terror laws
The Lockerbie bombing, the unpredictable threat of terrorism and the difficulty of making anti-terror laws compatible with constitutional rights, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 March 1996
The first Letter from America 1946
On the 50th anniversary of his Letter from America broadcasts Alistair Cooke re-presents the first talk, describing his return from an austere Britain to a bountiful New York.
29 March 1996
Perot, Buchanan and Dole
Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan's challenge to Bob Dole in the race for the Republican presidential nomination and how a thief in the night may yet undo Bill Clinton.
05 April 1996
Euthanasia and the terminally ill
Euthanasia, and the right to die for the terminally ill, the case of Karen Ann Quinlan, and Dr Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan doctor who has helped 27 dying people.
12 April 1996
The Montana Freemen
The rise of Montana's armed insurgents, their historical inheritance and their opposition in the FBI, as chronicled by Alistair Cooke.
19 April 1996
The South Florida University bomb
The University of South Florida's reaction to a bomb threat leads Alistair Cooke to consider the emergence and nature of America's new anti-terrorism laws.
26 April 1996
Erma Bombeck
The life and work of columnist Erma Bombeck, "America's only woman humourist", and writer of "At Wit's End", is remembered by Alistair Cooke.
03 May 1996
Kennedy's rocking chair
The sale of President Kennedy's rocking chair, JFK's ailments and the discreetness of the press, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
10 May 1996
Diplomacy and the Star Wars defence program
The diplomacies of Wilson and Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan's Star Wars defence programme, and the American response to international elections, as detailed by Alistair Cooke.
17 May 1996
The debate over assisted suicide
The preparations for the upcoming presidential elections, and the resurgence of the legal and moral debate over assisted suicide in the US, as considered by Alistair Cooke.
24 May 1996
Single issue groups
The unique power of single issue groups in American presidential elections and President Clinton's stance on gay marriage are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
31 May 1996
Memorial Day, 1996
Memorial Day, now indistinguishable from Veteran's Day, leads Cooke to consider on how recognition of military service has changed and, how Bill Clinton joined the US army.
07 June 1996
Timothy Leary (1920 -1996)
The death of Timothy Leary, the impact of LSD in the 1960s, and the need for each generation to rebel against the one before, as chronicled by Alistair Cooke.
14 June 1996
Bob Dole to run for president
With Bob Dole resigning from the Senate, Alistair Cooke examines the legislator's time as Senate leader and explores the uncertain future of the Republican Party.
21 June 1996
Max Factor Jr and make-up (1904 - 1996)
The death of Max Factor Jnr. and the origin of the word "make-up" are the subjects considered by Alistair Cooke.
05 July 1996
1996 Russian presidential elections
Boris Yeltsin's victory in the Russian presidential elections, the relative novelty of universal suffrage in the West and the need for democracy, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
12 July 1996
Melvin Belli (1907-1996)
A reflection on the life and legal crusade of the flamboyant US celebrity lawyer Melvin Belli, self-proclaimed defender of the 'little helpless guy'.
19 July 1996
The Helms-Burton Bill
The Helms-Burton bill, which penalises foreign companies doing business with Cuba, Senator Jessie Helms and tobacco , and the importance of Southern states to President Clinton.
26 July 1996
The TWA Flight 800 crash
The TWA Flight 800 crash and the media coverage of the accident, the casino life of the financial markets and Bob Dole's reluctance to embrace the 1990s.
02 August 1996
The welfare and healthcare reform debate
The presidential race, US welfare and healthcare reform and the prurience and pressure surrounding the TWA flight 800 crash investigation.
09 August 1996
Atlanta Olympics 1996
The commercialisation and crass television coverage of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the effect that an influx of money has on sport.
16 August 1996
The 1996 Republican convention
The history of the party nomination conventions, the switch to the primary election as the method of choosing a presidential candidate, and Bill Clinton's lead in the polls.
23 August 1996
The return of Ross Perot and US social concerns
The return of Ross Perot as a presidential candidate, the prohibition of third-trimester abortions, the proliferation of guns and the education of children about global warming.
30 August 1996
Chicago and the Democratic convention
The Democratic Party convention returning to Chicago, the history of the city and the 'circus within a plague' of the last, disastrous conference of 1968.
06 September 1996
Cruise missile strike in Iraq
The US cruise missile strike in Iraq, the claims that the first Gulf War was left unfinished and the complexities of the first conflict, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
13 September 1996
The Defense Of Marriage Act 1996
The Defense of Marriage Act and the implications it has to same sex marriage, and news from Bob Dole's floundering presidential campaign.
20 September 1996
OJ Simpson's civil trial
As O J Simpson's civil trial begins Alistair Cooke considers what can be gained from a civil suit and examines the differences in the way the new trial is being run.
27 September 1996
Boris Yeltin's heart surgery
Boris Yeltsin's heart-bypass surgery and the cultures of secrecy that have surrounded the heath and governance of gravely ill leaders.
04 October 1996
The 1996 presidential debates
The first presidential debate between President Clinton and Mr Dole, and the unique election advantage gifted to incumbent presidents, the presidential halo.
11 October 1996
Vice-presidential responsibilites
Vice-presidential responsibilities, the careers of Bob Dole, Dan Quayle and Jack Kemp, and the false predictions of Lord Kelvin, Albert Einstein and Arthur C Clarke.
18 October 1996
The science of electoral predictions
The science of electoral prediction and the possible pitfalls of keeping one ear to the ground following the Dole and Clinton debates.
25 October 1996
Forest fires, tornadoes and earthquakes
A season of disaster, forest fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and leads to a recollection of a vast storm in 1938 which descended on the Northern Atlantic coast.
01 November 1996
Halloween, 1996
The history Halloween, the origin of the vampire myth and the roaring business performed by pumpkin farmers during the month of October.
08 November 1996
The 1996 presidential election
The results of the presidential elections and how technology is turning busy television studios into silent cathedrals, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
15 November 1996
US intervention in Rwanda
US intervention in the Rwandan refugee crisis and the history of President Clinton's press conferences.
22 November 1996
Sexual harassment in the armed forces
After public revelations of cases of sexual violence in the US Army and Navy Alistair Cooke examines the scandal of the sexual harassment of women in America's armed forces.
29 November 1996
Thanksgiving in California
From California, Alistair Cooke examines the un-politicised institution of Thanksgiving and the changing face of US politics.
06 December 1996
Permissive California
Cults of California, tolerance in San Francisco, and the permissive parenting backlash are discussed by Alistair Cooke in this week's Letter From America.
13 December 1996
Gulf War Syndrome
Madeleine Albright becomes the first Secretary of State in America, and investigations reveal a possible chemical cause of Gulf War Syndrome.
20 December 1996
UN Leader Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali
A tribute to Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former leader of the UN General Assembly, whose peacekeeping skills were put to the test during the Rwandan Genocide.
27 December 1996
A history of Father Christmas
Santa Claus or Father Christmas? The origin of the Patron saint of Christmas is explored. Plus, the surprising popularity of a Tickle Me Elmo toy has caused prices to skyrocket.
1997
03 January 1997
The Boston Massacre
How an engraving by Paul Revere exaggerated the 1770 riot at Boston's Customs House into the Boston Massacre. Plus, the unsolved mystery of why flight TWA 800 crashed in 1996.
10 January 1997
The Speaker of the House
The various roles of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the future of Newt Gingrich following his guilty plea to the charge of misinforming the subcommittee in 1997.
17 January 1997
Presidential Inauguration
Presidential inaugurations - from George Washington's 1789 pomp and parade, to Andrew Jackson's drunken brawl, to finally Bill Clinton's home-grown vegetable dinner.
24 January 1997
A history of Washington DC
The history of Washington D.C as the capital city of the United States, and the effect of the reign of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on the crime rate in New York City in 1997.
31 January 1997
Pope John Paul II (1920 / 2005)
The instillation of Pope John Paul II in 1978 caused a flutter amongst the Polish immigrants in Long Island who worship at Our Lady of Ostrobrama.
07 February 1997
OJ Simpson guilty
Why the jury found OJ Simpson guilty on his second trial. The black-and-white pattern which lies behind the second trial verdict, described as a 'reasonable response to the facts'.
14 February 1997
OJ Simpson's damages
Is the $33.5m damages a fair sum for guilty OJ Simpson to pay, or simply the price of revenge masquerading as justice?
21 February 1997
American Airlines pilots' strike
President Clinton forgets about upsetting organised labour and chooses instead to keep American business flying by forcing a stop to the airline pilots strike.
28 February 1997
Astronaut John Glenn
John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, retires after a lifetime in the public eye.
07 March 1997
Protecting the freedom of speech
The House of Representatives vote in favour of the Ten Commandments. The legal contest between the American Civil Liberties Union's and Judge Moore over the freedom of speech.
14 March 1997
Clinton's campaign money scandal
President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore have been caught soliciting money from inside the White House for use in the presidential campaign. How will the scandal unfold?
21 March 1997
Internet pornography
How does the US restrict children accessing pornography on the internet / without tripping over the Constitution? Does the 1st amendment cover the internet?
28 March 1997
Alan Greenspan
A profile of Alan Greenspan, economist and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve. The most powerful man in the world who no one is ever likely to recognise in public.
04 April 1997
Al Gore's Chinese aeroplane deal
Vice President Al Gore oversees the Boeing 777 jetliners deal with China. Plus, should presidential candidates get free television publicity?
11 April 1997
The Augusta National Golf Club
How the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia became the home of golf in America. Alistair Cooke explores the history of his beloved golf course.
18 April 1997
Jackie Robinson (1919 / 1972)
A tribute to Jackie Robinson (1919 / 1972) the first black Major League baseball player who ended racial segregation when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
25 April 1997
Nicotine addiction
How television has become a valuable historical archive, and how film can be replayed to haunt those taped, not least the tobacco industry bosses who lied about nicotine addiction.
02 May 1997
Tiger Woods' ethnicity
Tiger Woods, the golfing wonder whose ethnicity proves hard to pigeonhole / and, as fellow golf champion Fuzzy Zoeller discovers, can't be joked about.
09 May 1997
Franklin D Roosevelt monument
The unveiling of a Franklin D Roosevelt monument in Washington DC reminds Alistair Cooke of the problems that arise when erecting statues of notable figures.
16 May 1997
Sir Lionel Sackville-West (1827 - 1908)
The 1997 UK general election, viewed from across the Atlantic, and the story of Sir Lionel Sackville-West, the man whose fatuity lost the Democrats the 1888 presidency.
23 May 1997
Spending the nation's money
Alistair Cooke reflects on the differences between the American and British methods of presenting and debating a budget.
30 May 1997
The Kelly Flinn case
The cases of Kelly Flinn and Paula Jones, two women at the heart of sex scandals that could change US military law, or even the Constitution.
06 June 1997
William Clayton (1880-1966)
A look at the life and work of William Clayton, the official who assessed the state of post-war Europe, and returned to the US to play a major role in drafting the Marshall Plan.
13 June 1997
Health scares
The healthy nature of the economy during the Clinton presidency, the need for a scare story in the news media, and the threat of salmonella, cholesterol and alcoholism.
20 June 1997
Watergate - 25 years on
A look back at the break-in at the Watergate office complex in 1972, the details of the FBI investigation in to the incident and the eventual resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974.
27 June 1997
Roswell UFO incident
The reported sightings of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, a review of the military explanations after the incident, and the refusal of some to believe the official accounts.
04 July 1997
The sovereignty of Hong Kong.
The US take on the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese in July 1997, the ceremony accompanying the transfer of power, and the Chinese hopes for a peaceful return of Taiwan.
11 July 1997
The Clinton re-election campaign
Senator Fred Thompson, the mystery of the millions illegally contributed to Clinton's re-election campaign, and the loss of sporting good manners.
18 July 1997
James Stewart
A recollection of the life and work of American actor James Stewart (1908-1997).
25 July 1997
The end of civilisation
The closure of the remaining Woolworth department stores in the US signals the loss of a retail institution for the older generation.
01 August 1997
Clinton: Prosperity and popularity
How the public perception of Bill Clinton as a prosperous president is keeping him at the top of the popularity polls.
08 August 1997
Integration in San Francisco schools
A discussion on the success of Asian immigrants, and a grand jury condemns the failure of integration in San Francisco schools.
15 August 1997
Bottled water
The curious rise in the demand for bottled water, and the speculation all down to status symbol mania taking over plain common sense.
22 August 1997
The 1997 United Parcel Service strike
The United Parcel Service (UPS) employees strike reminds Alistair Cooke of previous union demonstrations of power, including the disastrous 1981 Air Traffic Controllers strike.
05 September 1997
Princess Diana of Wales (1961-1997)
The impact of the death of Princess Diana of Wales in the US, and the moral regulation required for freedom of speech and a free press.
12 September 1997
Megan's Law
Megan's Law, the Miranda law and others named after people, and Elisha Dov Hack's protest about moral standards in Yale university dormitories.
19 September 1997
Rudolph Valentino
In the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana, remembering Rudolph Valentino, the first superstar creation lost in the dazzle of the spotlight.
26 September 1997
American stereotypes on film
An examination of the stereotypes of American life as portrayed in Hollywood movies, and seen by a global audience.
03 October 1997
Dr George Gallup (1901 - 1984)
So you think you know how most people feel? Meet Dr George Gallup, the man who transformed our views on what really constitutes public opinion.
10 October 1997
Clinton's veto
How President Clinton's veto will stop local politicians stuffing themselves with pork barrel amendments; and how it's now OK to eat up all of your egg.
17 October 1997
El Niño
What exactly is El Niño, and why is this phenomenon named the 'Christ Child' causing trouble for more than just the Queen's visit to California?
24 October 1997
The Kennedy Missile Tapes of 1962
The taping discussions in the White House, what the Kennedy tapes reveal about the discovery of missile bases in Cuba, and how the president reacted to the crisis of 1962.
31 October 1997
The Wall Street crash
Highs and lows of the stock market / and a reminder the events leading up to the 1929 Wall Street crash.
07 November 1997
President Jiang in America
Chinese President Jiang's 1997 visit to America to meet President Clinton, the dangers of a strong Chinese economy, and Saddam Hussein's threat to shoot down planes over Iraq.
14 November 1997
Judge Zobel and the Louise Woodward verdict
The verdict in the Louise Woodward trial, the ability of Judge Zobel to reduce the severity of the conviction, and the difference between state and federal law in the US.
21 November 1997
Sir Isaiah Berlin
The continuing search for Saddam's deadly toxic secrets and the loss of a friend, the brilliant, witty and wise Sir Isaiah Berlin
28 November 1997
US national Holidays
National holidays in America, dangerous cholesterol levels at Thanksgiving, and how Alistair Cooke convinced the state of Idaho to celebrate the birthday of George Washington.
05 December 1997
American tourists
Tony Blair's vision of a nodern Britain, alistair Cooke's suggestions for a tour of the US, and Roosevelt's post-war plea for Americans to holiday in the Caribbean.
12 December 1997
Financial crisis in Asia
How the whole world catches a cold from one financial sneeze in Asia / the danger of epidemics in a global economy
26 December 1997
A New York Christmas story
The story of Zebby Adams, the real Santa Claus, and how his joyride got him into trouble / and his Christmas spirit got him out of it
1998
02 January 1998
Helping the homeless
Increased awareness of homelessness and poverty and the failure of ideologies to address the variety of the homeless population are considered by Alistair Cooke.
09 January 1998
Failing to predict the future
Considering failures by expert meteorologists, economists and Kremlinologists to predict the future, why do mere newspaper columnists ever attempt it?
16 January 1998
New York society
Class mobility and social change in New York are illustrated by Alistair Cooke with the stories of the Astors, the Metropolitan Opera House, JP Morgan and Mrs Stuyvesant Fish.
23 January 1998
Cuba after the fall of the USSR
Considering Cuba's remarkable economic survival after the loss of Soviet support, the history of US-Cuban relations, and a visit to the island by Pope John Paul II.
30 January 1998
The Monica Lewinsky scandal emerges
Tapes emerge alledging that Monica Lewinsky was asked to lie on oath about an affair with the President and Clinton delivers a dazzling state of the Union address.
06 February 1998
Clinton's contadictory polls
The contradiction of Clinton's high approval rating and belief that he's lying, shifting taboos on reporting private life and the culture of social arbitration through law courts.
13 February 1998
The problems of military action in Iraq
The UN refuses to take united action against Saddam Hussein and Alistair Cooke considers America's movement towards and the potential problems of military action in Iraq.
20 February 1998
Investigating President Clinton
The investigative process which has led to the Clinton - Lewinsky allegations, the role of special prosecutor Starr, the grand jury and examining President Clinton's response.
27 February 1998
Jerome Murray, inventor (1912-1998)
Jerome Murray inventor of myriad conveniences, from the high speed dentist's drill to covered aeroplane boarding ramps, and the UN weapons inspection agreement with Saddam Hussein.
06 March 1998
Bill Gates and the Senate Judiciary Committee
Bill Gates comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee accused of creating an internet browser monopoly and Alistair Cooke considers previous appearances from Rockefeller to Nixon.
13 March 1998
US power and responsibility abroad
Kosovo, Iraq, Haiti and Nicaragua: US rhetoric and responsibility for life and liberty abroad is compared to past problems of power and responsibility for the British Empire.
20 March 1998
St Patrick's Day controversies
The controversies behind New York's St Patrick's Day Parade, US misconceptions about the status of Northern Ireland and American Irish historical memory of the famine of 1845/6.
27 March 1998
Constitutional rights
The complexities and historical shifts of the interpretation of constitutional rights, freedom of speech and how to fly the American flag.
03 April 1998
Clinton sexual assault case thrown out
Judge Wright throws out Paula Jones' civil prosecution of President Clinton for an alleged sexual assault in 1991. How will it affect the investigation of the Whitewater land deal?
10 April 1998
Consequences of the Disability Act
The consequences Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the influence of the civil courts on pro-golf and a 9 year old girl's debunking of Therapeutic Touch.
17 April 1998
US financial regulation
The uncertain future of the investment bubble, US financial regulation, the lack of open reporting of financial figures in Asian countries and the effects of El Niño on weather.
24 April 1998
US anti-smoking legislation
A history of US anti-smoking legislation, teenage smoking, the attempts of pro-tobacco lobbyists to cut a favourable deal and a draft bill which could cost them $516 billion.
01 May 1998
California's progressive social legislation
The homogenisation of US life and media, California's lead in social legislation and two new Californian propositions on English for immigrants and labour union spending.
08 May 1998
Medicine, inventions and the quick-fix
The desire for a 'quick-fix', the false dawns of the daily medical miracle, the instant imitation of new inventions and excitement over a 'so-called' impotence pill.
15 May 1998
India's first nuclear tests
India's 1998 nuclear tests take the US government by surprise and Alistair Cooke considers the vast changes in the daily burdens of the presidency since the 1920s.
22 May 1998
The Microsoft monopoly actions
Bill Gates' Microsoft faces a barrage of legal actions claiming that the Explorer web browser is a monopoly and Alistair Cooke considers the history of US anti-monopoly law.
29 May 1998
Immigrants to America and assimilation
What happens if immigrants to America don't want to become Americans? Alistair Cooke considers assimilation, patriotism, Memorial Day and proposition 227.
05 June 1998
Barry Goldwater (1909-1998)
Remembering Barry Goldwater, Alistair Cooke considers a most memorable defeated presidential candidate - the cowboy from Phoenix, Arizona who changed the Republican Party forever.
12 June 1998
El Niño making Congress restless
Considering religious freedom, anti-Catholic feeling, same-sex marriage, El Niño and renaming schools named after slave owners as Congress tidies around the edges of major issues.
19 June 1998
Japan's economy, Louise Woodward and homosexuality
US intervention in Japan's economy, Louise Woodward returns to the UK after her life sentence is reduced and Republican Trent Lott calls homosexuality a sin on national TV.
26 June 1998
Clinton in China, June 1998
President Clinton visits China and Alistair Cooke considers US - China relations, their economic balance, disagreement over Taiwan and the changes since Nixon's visit in 1972.
03 July 1998
Bad behaviour in tennis and chivalry in golf
The rise and fall of tennis brats from the riot of McEnroe v Nastase, NYC 1979 to McEnroe's forfiet at the 1990 Australian Open and golf as the last refuge of chivalry in sport.
10 July 1998
Roy Rogers and cinema cowboys
On the death of Roy Rogers (1911 -1998), the singing cowboy, Cooke considers the great film cowboys, Bruce Wayne, William S. Hart, Gary Cooper and the stuntman Yakima Canutt.
17 July 1998
Texas heatwave and investigating Clinton
The emergency caused by the 1998 Texas heatwave and should Clinton's Secret Service men be asked to testify in the Starr investigation into an alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky?
24 July 1998
Clinton's high aproval rating and Monica Lewinsky
Examining allegations that President Clinton persuaded Monica Lewinsky to give false testimony, Clinton's high approval rating and has Alan Greenspan noticed the heat wave?
31 July 1998
The evolution of the grand jury
President Clinton is subpoenaed to appear before Mr Starr's grand jury, the English origins of the US grand jury system and the flaws that led to it being abandoned in Britain.
07 August 1998
Proposition 227, immigration and English
Proposition 227, to teach immigrant's children purely in English, passes in California and Alistair Cooke considers the infamous English of Polish Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn.
14 August 1998
The threat of Y2K
Senator Robert Bennett prepares the US to face millennial computer failure and Alistair Cooke considers the origin and potentially disastrous consequences of the Y2K glitch.
21 August 1998
The President will address the nation
President Clinton makes a televised confession of his affair with Monica Lewinsky: Alistair Cooke considers its inadequacy and the betrayal of those who trusted and supported him.
28 August 1998
US cruise missile strikes
A subdued Clinton family holiday turns to political action as America launches cruise missile attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan and Clinton makes a revitalised public appearance.
04 September 1998
Son of Black Monday
The financial crash of August 1998, its causes and effects are compared with Alistair Cooke's memories of the first Black Monday in 1987 and the Black Thursday of 1929.
11 September 1998
Impeachment for Clinton?
The Lewinsky report is published, the House of Representatives begins to consider evidence and impeachment and President Clinton asks for forgiveness.
18 September 1998
George Wallace
The life of George Wallace, reformed racial segregationist and Governor of Alabama is remembered and Alistair Cooke considers his anger and the humble truth of his repentance.
25 September 1998
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Composer George Gershwin's life and music is remembered for the centenary of his birth and a consideration of the history and post-Soviet boom in Russian immigration to New York.
02 October 1998
The President's economic problems
The Asian economic crisis expands into Brazil and Alistair Cooke considers that though there's little a President can do about economic problems, they will always get the blame.
09 October 1998
Presidential infidelities impeachment
Misconceptions over the frequency of Presidential infidelities, recalling a time when the press never discussed a statesman's private life, and the impeachment process explained.
16 October 1998
Separated by Language
Remembering New York writer Jerome Weidman, Pulitzer prize winner and America's first 'street-smart novelist', Alistair Cooke considers the peculiarities of American English.
23 October 1998
John Glenn returns to Space
As John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth prepares to return to space at the age of 77, Cooke remembers the extraordinary TV broadcast and Glenn's instant fame.
30 October 1998
Congressional midterms 1998
The Republican use of the Lewinsky scandal against Clinton during Congressional elections seems to backfire. Considering the parallel of Grover Cleveland's illegitimate child.
06 November 1998
Democrat victory 1998 midterms
Clinton's Democrats gain seats in the 1998 midterm election, a first for a US ruling party since Roosevelt and 1934, California goes Democrat and Clinton regains his confidence.
13 November 1998
Hurricane Mitch devastates Honduras and Nicaragua
The aid effort begins after hurricane Mitch wreaks devastation in Honduras and Nicaragua and Alistair Cooke considers how relatively trivial news can distract from great disasters.
20 November 1998
Some memorable letters from America
Aaron Burgett's Alcatraz escape, a stolen premature baby and the decline of the summer bachelor; Alistair Cooke recalls his most popular and memorable talks of the last 52 years.
27 November 1998
Saddam's nuclear arsenal
How can America deal with Saddam Hussein's suspected nuclear and biological weapons in Iraq and does a resurgence in US financial markets conceal an unstable future?
04 December 1998
Thanksgiving 1998
From New York to Sarajevo, Alistair Cooke considers the history and traditions of Thanksgiving celebrations, recent opposition and Churchill's first meeting with a turkey dinner.
11 December 1998
Clinton impeachment hearing
The House Judiciary Committee meets to decide on adoption of impeachment proceedings against Clinton Alistair Cooke considers this tortuous process and its likely outcome.
18 December 1998
Operation Desert Fox begins
The Operation Desert Fox bombing campaign begins in Iraq after the UN is refused access to weapons sites and Congress ponders whether Clinton should face an impeachment trial.
25 December 1998
Decline in US personal savings
American personal saving rates drop below zero and Alistair Cooke considers the economists who see this as good news, those who see it as bad and a culture that encourages credit.
1999
01 January 1999
America, 1998
Alistair Cooke reflects on some of the more memorable moments of 1998.
08 January 1999
Illuminating Events with Unpredictable Results
In the light of the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Alistair Cooke remembers the only other presidential impeachment that occurred 130 years ago.
15 January 1999
The US Senate trial of Bill Clinton, 1999
Alistair Cooke reports on the US Senate trial of President Bill Clinton, and reflects on some of the most interesting trials that he covered as a reporter.
22 January 1999
Striving for a More Perfect Union
Alistair Cooke reflects on Clinton's State of the Union address and asks why the only national holiday named after a human being is Rev. Martin Luther King Day.
29 January 1999
The Moral Pillar and the Moral Contortionist
Alistair Cooke reflects on the ethical dilemmas that arise when the Pope visits the United States of America.
05 February 1999
Dot Dot Dash Dash, Over and Out
To commemorate the last wireless telegraph, Alistair Cooke reflects on the creation of Morse code and its most famous uses.
12 February 1999
It ain't Over, Till it's Over
Alistair Cooke celebrates Americans who've coined famous lines and concludes that "it aint over, till it's over" for President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.
19 February 1999
Our Long Holiday from History is Over
Alistair Cooke reflects on the political fallout of President Clinton's impeachment trial and a pilots' strike.
26 February 1999
The Pursuit of Self-Determination
Alistair Cooke reflects on the influence of President Woodrow Wilson on redrawing the map of Europe after the First World War.
05 March 1999
Played for a Sucker
In the light of revelations about the CIA in Iraq, Alistair Cooke ponders the age old question; who watches the watchmen?
12 March 1999
A Natural Gentleman
In a tribute to the placid, talented, baseball player Joe DiMaggio, Alistair Cooke reflects on the character of a gentleman.
19 March 1999
Wholesale Flouting of the Law
Alistair Cooke considers how US Presidents keep flouting the War Powers Resolution, San Francisco's immigrant population and the use of bulk carriers in shipping.
26 March 1999
Doves, Hawks, Owls and the People
Alistair Cooke considers the squawked warnings from two sides of the economic market plunge and the power held by Mr Alan Greenspan, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
02 April 1999
In the Hot Seat
In the light of NATO Airstrike against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Alistair Cooke reflects on the tactics of war from World War Two, to Vietnam, to the Gulf War.
09 April 1999
The Art and Curse of Television
Alistair Cooke considers the power television has in reflecting the real images of war and peace since the abolition of front-line censorship.
16 April 1999
Whatever It Takes
Alistair Cooke considers why the only senator running for office who will acknowledge the NATO war is Senator John McCain.
23 April 1999
What's Your Exit Strategy?
On the 50th anniversary of NATO, Alistair Cooke considers the power it wealds, President Clinton's tactics and the use of exit strategies.
30 April 1999
No Schadenfreude on Nato's Birthday
Alistair Cooke recalls his memories of 1949 when NATO was first created and considers the roles of the founding fathers.
07 May 1999
Columbine High School shootings, 1999
The shootings by schoolboys in Columbine High School, Colorado and the long running fight between gun controllers and the National Rifle Association.
14 May 1999
Two Attitudes about China
After the bombing of a Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan, Alistair Cooke reflects on the subsequent souring of the American-Chinese relations.
21 May 1999
A Course in Manners
Alistair Cooke reflects on Germaine Greer and the feminist movement, and the new US course to teach taxi drivers and other civil servants good manners.
28 May 1999
Witticisms and Crazy One-Liners
Alistair Cooke tries to forget the worrying events like the Balkan wars in the news by remembering some witticism and anecdotes.
04 June 1999
Laws Doomed from the Start
Alistair Cooke explores how one man's use of an electric golf buggy altered the meaning of a US disability law and remembers the UK's struggle with daylight saving.
11 June 1999
Testing Times in the Advancement of Science
With the US in uproar about genetically modified crops, Alistair Cooke remembers other scientific discoveries which caused controversy in their creation.
18 June 1999
Freedom in America
Alistair Cooke ponders on spontaneous protests and reveals what led up to Rosa Parks changing American history.
25 June 1999
Playing for Time
Alistair Cooke reflects on why it takes so long for the judges in the Supreme Court to reach a verdict.
02 July 1999
The First Golden Paratrooper
Alistair Cooke reflects on the golden parachute of retirement and Gloria Minoprio's first stand for women's liberty in the golf world.
09 July 1999
Air Conditioning and Changes in Society
Alistair Cooke concedes to his hot weather house arrest by reflecting on the creation of air conditioning.
16 July 1999
The Brewing of Racial Storms
Alistair Cooke reflects on the long held belief of sports journalist Henry Longhurst that many forms of sporting contests do more harm to international relations than good.
23 July 1999
Tyrants and Curses Live On
Alistair Cooke reflects on the hysterical press coverage of John F. Kennedy Junior's plane crash, and is heartened by a NATO led environmental survey in Yugoslavia.
30 July 1999
Loneliness, Male Companionship and the Hunt
Alistair Cooke discusses his admiration for Ernest Hemingway and provides his own comical parody of his writing style.
06 August 1999
Going to Pot or to Pluto
Alistair Cooke reflects on preaching to the youth of today and is staggered by two little words / "British Citizen".
13 August 1999
No Word from Mount Olympus
Whilst Congress tries to pass a huge tax cut before the summer recess, Alistair Cooke wonders how they could possibly predict the state of the economy in 2010.
20 August 1999
Close, but No Cigar
Alistair Cooke discusses the medical and social aspects of cigar smoking which is becoming fashionable again in the USA.
27 August 1999
Grave Concerns
Alistair Cooke reviews speculation on why the Russians and Chinese have chosen to hold "a friendly summit" and reflects on the non-confession of Governor Bush over cocaine use.
03 September 1999
Re-Writing History
Alistair Cooke critiques a thesis which believes America's new National Policy is following in the footsteps of the British policies that foreshadowed World War Two.
10 September 1999
No Exempt Categories
Alistair Cooke reflects on his visit to a New York hospital, being exempt from jury service and Mayor Rudy Guiliani's recent stint as a juror.
17 September 1999
Barkers at Pleasure Beach Side Shows
Alistair Cooke examines the over-sensationalism within the British Press towards a parasitic virus affecting New York and examines the damage of hurricane Floyd.
24 September 1999
The Ordeal of Hurricane Floyd
Alistair Cooke reflects on the affects of Hurricane Floyd - the massive untold story of the rain it dumped on inland towns and how it lifted the rivers.
01 October 1999
The Arrival of the Golf Hooligan
Alistair Cooke considers the etiquette of sport and reflects on the sad, infamous day that his beloved golf became a victim of audience hooliganism.
08 October 1999
Greed, Liquor, Jingoism and Bad Taste
Alistair Cooke considers why the vices of greed, liquor, jingoism and bad taste should suddenly intrude on the spectator stands at sports events.
15 October 1999
A Plea to the Senate
Alistair Cooke reflects on the European pleas to the US Senate to ratify the Test Ban Treaty, and compares it with the Senate's condemnation of 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
22 October 1999
Wishful Thinking Overload
Alistair Cooke compares the Boston Massacre with the rejection of a nuclear treaty, and explains how a good treaty can still be defeated by a few short-sighted people.
29 October 1999
That Fateful Night in Macbeth
Under imminent attack from the All Hallows' Eve celebrations, Alistair Cooke discusses the origins of Halloween, vampire legends, and the vulnerability of children "trick or treating".
05 November 1999
At the Centre of Things
Upon visiting San Francisco, Alistair Cooke reflects on the ego-centric lives of city dwellers and the great assumptions that they make on a daily basis.
12 November 1999
Democracy in Action
To commemorate 10 years since the fall of the Berlin wall, Alistair Cooke explains why America paid so much attention to the city and the promise it held for democracy.
19 November 1999
Fortress America and Beloved Symbols of Britain
Whilst President Clinton's visit to Oslo fizzed with pomp and glory, Alistair Cooke discusses how it managed to overshadow the real reason for going; a memorial service in honour of Yitzhak Rabin. Plus, he evaluates Tony Blair's banishment of hereditary p
26 November 1999
The Most American of All American Festivals
Whilst turkeys roast and yams bake, Alistair Cooke reflects on the traditions, history and recipes of the traditional American Thanksgiving.
03 December 1999
The Last Demo Circus of the Year
Alistair Cooke discusses the protests against the World Trade Organisation convention in Seattle and argues that globalisation can no more be abolished than can the internet.
10 December 1999
Renewed Concern Over Secondhand Smoke
Passive smoking fears make Alistair Cooke evaluate the cleanliness of the air around us. Plus, he adds a postscript to his evaluation of the protest against the World Trade Organisation in Seattle.
17 December 1999
Old Sentiment and New Honesty
A vintage edition of Letter from America, first broadcast in December 1967. Alistair Cooke muses on parking tickets for senators and tells a Christmas story.
24 December 1999
Park Avenue's colourful Christmas
Whilst looking on the tasteful fairy lights of Park Avenue's festival decorations, Alistair Cooke reflects on how, not so long ago, Christmas had a reputation of debauchery.
31 December 1999
On Y2K Alert
Alistair Cooke discusses the precautions being taken by the US government to minimise the potential damage to the banking and administration services from the millennium bug.
05 January 1979
White Christmas in Vermont
Christmas holiday in Vermont, the state which knows how to cope with snow.
12 January 1979
Pol Pot regime falls
Cambodia's Pol Pot regime toppled by Vietnamese incursion.
19 January 1979
Shah flees Iran
Shah of Iran loses power, flees country with famaily. Exiled Ayatollah expected to return from Paris.
26 January 1979
Carter's austere budget
President Carter unveils austerity budget in bid to curb inflation.
02 February 1979
Chinese state visit
Carter welcomes Deputy Premier Deng on first Chinese state visit to US for 30 years.
09 February 1979
Chinese visit rattles USSR
Chinese deputy premier's visit to US threatens detente with USSR.
16 February 1979
Oil rationing threat
Threat of oil rationing as Ayatollah Khomeini takes over as Iran leader.
23 February 1979
Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information Act reveals government is collecting computer data on US citizens.
02 March 1979
Jane Byrne voted Chicago mayor
Surprise win for Democrat outsider Jane Byrne in Chicago mayoral vote.
09 March 1979
Mexico strikes oil
US eyes vast new oil finds in Mexico.
16 March 1979
Carter's popularity slumps
President Carter losing support of both public and his own party.
23 March 1979
How Texas became American
Why Mexico still resents losing Texas and her western territories to the US.
30 March 1979
Inflation at 14.4 per cent
Rising inflation hits Carter's poll ratings, despite uplift from signing of Egypt-Israeli peace deal.
06 April 1979
Three Mile Island Accident
Everyone has an opinion on nuclear energy now. The political fallout of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident on March 28, 1979, and how it might impact on future energy policy.
13 April 1979
Government unable to vouch for nuclear safety
Government admits being unable to guarantee nuclear reactor safety. Public support for nuclear power industry slumps.
20 April 1979
Lee Marvin property suit
Film star Lee Marvin sued by ex-partner citing California property rights.
27 April 1979
Press freedom
Press freedom challenged as CBS 'Sixty Minutes' programme is sued for libel.
04 May 1979
US v UK elections
UK elections become 'Americanised' as the public relations men move in.
11 May 1979
William Safire on Thatcher
US columnist William Safire satirises what Thatcher's election victory will mean for Britain.
18 May 1979
Petrol shortage in US
Nationwide petrol shortage blamed on US oil companies.
25 May 1979
Harvey Milk killing
Gay outrage at lenient sentence for killer of Harvey Milk.
01 June 1979
O.J.Simpson, sports star
The 20,000-to-1 chance of becoming a black sports star like O.J.Simpson.
08 June 1979
Pope visits Poland
Pope John Paul II returns to his Polish homeland.
15 June 1979
John Wayne obituary, 1979
Remembering John Wayne, the actor who came to stand for something fundamentally good - and American.
22 June 1979
The murder of Bill Stewart in Nicaragua, 1979
Seeing Bill Stewart, a news reporter, shot dead in Nicaragua in front of TV cameras, brings home the horror to Americans.
29 June 1979
Gromyko's threat to SALT treaty
US Senate fury over Soviet foreign minister Gromyko's threat to sink SALT treaty.
06 July 1979
Carter silent on oil crisis
Lost for words? President Carter cancels planned nationwide TV speech on oil crisis.
13 July 1979
Skylab crash lands
US Skylab crash lands into ocean after Western Australia fears of impact.
20 July 1979
Cabinet resignation call
Carter calls for US Cabinet resignations in bid for fresh thinking.
27 July 1979
Carter reshuffles his team
Carter reshuffles his closest advisers amid speculation he is preparing his election campaign team.
03 August 1979
The politics of plain speaking
President Carter talks to the people on US tour, and shows why, when times are tough, it pays to speak plainly.
10 August 1979
Small earthquake in 'Frisco
Small San Francisco earthquake sparks big headlines. Small announcement of Irish peace talks sparks Whitehall annoyance.
17 August 1979
Young's final diplomacy
Resigning Andrew Young's last act of diplomacy before leaving his UN ambassadorial role.
24 August 1979
Stagnant economy warning
US Congress warns of economic stagnation as productivity declines.
31 August 1979
Murder of Lord Mountbatten
Murder of Lord Mountbatten prompts need for clearer understanding of the Irish troubles among US voters.
07 September 1979
Dalai Lama visits US
No official recognition for Dalai Lama's first visit to US.
14 September 1979
Soviet troops in Cuba
Arrival of 3,000 Soviet troops in Cuba seen as provocation to US and could stall SALT talks.
21 September 1979
Jean Seberg and the FBI, 1979
The detestable confession that confirms that the actress Jean Seberg's life was destroyed by J Edgar Hoover's 'dirty tricks' branch of the FBI.
28 September 1979
Dubious poll results
Doubt cast on polls which give widely differing results of President Carter's standing with the general voter.
05 October 1979
Pope John Paul II's visit
The national rejoicing during Pope John Paul II's visit to the US, the biography of the Pope, and Catholicism in America.
12 October 1979
A common language?
The many differences between the American and English languages.
19 October 1979
New York Times mistake
Mistaking a neutron for a neutrino, the New York Times has to apologise for its reporting of the Nobel Prize; and marking the death of Uncle Tom, actor Clarence Muse.
26 October 1979
No more nukes
Anti-nuclear power protests strengthen in wake of Three Mile Island accident.
02 November 1979
Interest rates rise
Interest rates rise to 15% amid worldwide claims of 'economic nationalism' by the US.
09 November 1979
Pork barrel politics
President Carter uses presidential patronage to counter Kennedy's challenge for leadership.
16 November 1979
Tehran hostage crisis
President Carter's standing as statesman rises after response to Tehran hostage crisis.
23 November 1979
American embassy hostages stalemate
Diplomacy rendered impotent by success of Iran's terrorist seizure of US hostages.
30 November 1979
Bungle claim over Iran hostage crisis
Carter now accused of 'bungling' decision to allow Shah into US for medical treatment, prompting hostage seizure.
07 December 1979
Public back Carter on hostage crisis
Kennedy blasts Shah while public back President Carter's careful handling of the hostage crisis.
14 December 1979
US and Iran
Need for oil wipes out any backing for US response to Khomeini's takeover of Iran.
21 December 1979
Cambodian refugee crisis
Cambodian refugees face starvation as Russian- and Chinese-backed regimes block humanitarian aid.
28 December 1979
Iran sanctions stalled in UN
American patience eroding over slow-moving resolution to hostage crisis.
1980
04 January 1980
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Russia's invasion of Afghanistan shakes President Carter's belief in détente.
11 January 1980
Carter boosts arms budget
Carter changes liberal policy re arms spending following Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
18 January 1980
Call for Olympics boycott
President Carter considers pros and cons of boycotting the coming summer Olympics in Moscow.
25 January 1980
UN vote condemns Soviets
Hopes that massive UN vote against Soviet invasion could sway diplomatic solution.
01 February 1980
Carter steals rivals' thunder
President Carter's annual speech turns into a 'state of the world' triumph.
08 February 1980
The Canadian Caper in Tehran, 1979
America shows gratitude to Canada after it was revealed that the Canadian embassy in Tehran rescued six US diplomats during the seizure of the US embassy on 4th November 1979.
15 February 1980
Carter's ultimatum under fire
President Carter's Olympic boycott threat over Soviet invasion comes under fire.
22 February 1980
New Hampshire, the political weathervane
Why the weather is a factor in the New Hampshire primary 'beauty contest' stakes.
29 February 1980
Iran hostage crisis goes on
Iran refuses negotiation attempt over US hostages the country is holding.
07 March 1980
Foreign policy wobbles
New foreign policy wobble as US cites 'mistake' on voting intentions over Israel.
14 March 1980
Inflation fuels alarm over policies
President Carter not suffering primary defeats, despite fears over raging inflation. . Programme recording incomplete.
21 March 1980
Illinois crucial in presidential race
Why the Illinois 'beauty contest' is so important to those aiming for the White House in a presidential election year.
28 March 1980
Kennedy's brief triumph
Surprise at Senator Kennedy's landslide win at the New York Democrat primary.
04 April 1980
Extension of primary elections
Bid to curb power of the party bosses led to extension of primary elections - with the result that this year's presidential race faces 38 primaries.
11 April 1980
New York transport strike
Bargaining details behind the transport strike which has left New York train-free for days.
18 April 1980
Kennedy's last stand
Senator Kennedy talks tough as he faces last major showdown in the Democrats' primaries.
25 April 1980
Iranian hostage rescue attempt, 1980
How will President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the Americans being held hostage by Iran affect the forthcoming election?
02 May 1980
Why Vance quit
Point of principle lay behind resignation of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance following secrecy over hostage rescue attempt.
09 May 1980
Recession may finish Carter
Recession timing bad for Carter's hopes of a second term.
16 May 1980
Car sales slump
Massive slump in US-made car sales signals recession is biting.
23 May 1980
Mount St Helens erupts
Mount St Helens eruption blights farming across north and west while the southern state of Florida erupts into race riots over Cuban refugee influx.
30 May 1980
Puerto Rican immigration
The 1950s flood of Puerto Ricans to New York should act as a warning over the new arrivals from Cuba.
06 June 1980
Republicans solid for Reagan
For once, the Republican party is solidly united for one candidate while the Democrats lose backing for both Carter and Kennedy.
13 June 1980
Carter's visits fail to ignite campaign
President Carter's flying visits to crisis-torn areas seen only as political and fail to boost his standing.
20 June 1980
Isao Aoki, golfing hero
Unusual technique of Japanese champion Isao Aoki gives hope to millions of golfing duffers.
27 June 1980
Unemployment looms in Hollywood
As the recession begins to bite, even Hollywood is facing the prospect of rising unemployment.
04 July 1980
The Supreme Court
Alistair Cooke reflects on the wide-ranging functions of the US Supreme Court which has ultimate jurisdiction in America and takes its authority from the US Constitution.
11 July 1980
Row over abortion ruling
Ruling over whether abortions should be state-funded is likely to spark further equal rights amendments.
18 July 1980
Reagan wins Republican nomination
Republican convention endorses the nomination of 70-year-old Ronald Reagan as its presidential candidate.
25 July 1980
Bush to be Reagan's running mate
Ford loses out to Bush as running mate for Reagan in race for the White House.
01 August 1980
Carter ratings lowest ever
Democrat convention faces disarray over lowest-ever popularity ratings by sitting President Carter.
08 August 1980
Covering the 1980 presidential campaign
Cooke looks back at his own coverage of previous Democratic nomination campaigns including Truman and Dewey in 1948; and the current battle between Jimmy Carter and Edward Kennedy.
15 August 1980
Jimmy Carter is nominated for re-election
Edward Kennedy makes the best speech of his career at the Democratic Party conference, after losing his challenge for the party's nomination to incumbent President Jimmy Carter.
22 August 1980
America's Electoral College
Why size matters when it comes to vote-counting by the US Electoral College.
29 August 1980
Energy assistance bill
Surprise swing of Republican voting in favour of the cold north over energy assistance bill.
05 September 1980
American know-how
America's lead in the technological revolution has been lost during the past thirty years as Europe and the Far East steam ahead.
12 September 1980
Candidates consider TV debate
Three-way TV debate for presidential candidates could leave Carter at a disadvantage.
19 September 1980
Small car sales boom
US car makers to concentrate on making smaller cars as sale of thrifty foreign imports boom.
26 September 1980
Candidates claim victory in TV debate
Polls will chart Carter's performance in TV debate while the other two candidates both claim victory.
03 October 1980
Independents switch to Reagan
Campaign sees Carter's support slipping as independent voters switch to Reagan.
10 October 1980
The book-selling business
How the book-selling business creates a bestseller from a book which isn't selling.
17 October 1980
The World Series gets the vote, 1980
The World Series gets the popular vote while the presidential candidates get mean with each other.
07 November 1980
Ronald Reagan's victory, 1980
As Ronald Reagan wins the 1980 US presidential election, Alistair Cooke reflects on the causes of Jimmy Carter's downfall.
14 November 1980
Why the pollsters got it wrong
Humiliation for pollsters who made completely wrong call on the presidential election.
21 November 1980
Reagan's political honeymoon
President-elect Reagan turns his honeymoon period into a Washington courtship ritual.
28 November 1980
Reagan's charm offensive
President-elect Reagan wins over Washington with his charm offensive.
05 December 1980
The waiting game
Hostages and the growing Polish crisis will prove to be among Reagan's first presidential headaches.
12 December 1980
John Lennon's assassination
The shooting of John Lennon on the 8th December 1980 sparks a debate over the need for national gun control law in America.
19 December 1980
Haig joins Cabinet
Nixon's top aide is offered senior post - but the hearings on his fitness to serve could be damaging.
26 December 1980
Chrysler financial crisis deepens
Auto workers call on Reagan's help as jobs are threatened by Chrysler cash crisis.
1981
02 January 1981
Winter in Vermont
Learning to live with winter temperatures way below zero in Vermont.
09 January 1981
Reagan chooses cabinet, 1981
Reagan's choice of a wealthy cabinet means a slow start for the new administration.
16 January 1981
Haig questioned by Senate committee
General Haig faces five-day appearance before Senate committee.
23 January 1981
President Reagan’s inauguration, 1981
As President Reagan's inauguration takes place, 52 US hostages are released in Iran.
30 January 1981
Press overkill on hostages return
Saturation coverage by TV networks as the hostages return from Iran.
06 February 1981
The new First Lady
Nancy Reagan is copied - and cartooned.
20 February 1981
A meeting of minds, 1981
Thatcher's visit to the new president is anticipated as a love-fest.
27 February 1981
Inflation dips slightly
Public excitement over drop in inflation rate - but economists show less enthusiasm.
06 March 1981
Meet the neighbours
President Reagan to visit Canada amid fears over environment.
27 March 1981
US looks to Far East
Moves for better US-Far East relations.
03 April 1981
Assassination attempt on Reagan
President Reagan survives an assassination attempt by John Hinckley on 30th March 1981.
10 April 1981
Protecting the president
Calls for better protection after Reagan assassination attempt.
17 April 1981
Columbia space shuttle, 1981
Space shuttle Columbia makes first return landing.
24 April 1981
Reagan budget-cutting campaign, 1981
Axe falls on government spending as Reagan's budget cuts begin.
01 May 1981
Remembering Jack Thum, 1981
Mickey Rooney portrays professional clown Jack Thum.
08 May 1981
Grain embargo stalls
Embargo on grain exports to Russia fails.
22 May 1981
New York bomb threats
Mystery blitz of bomb threats after Kennedy Airport device kills man.
29 May 1981
Reagan at West Point
President Reagan addresses graduates at West Point.
05 June 1981
Reagan's policies stalled
Election promises fade as reality scuppers new administration's plans.
12 June 1981
Surgeons' insurance costs soar
Rising cost of malpractice insurance sees surgeons quitting.
26 June 1981
US-China relations warm
Arms deal announced as US relations with communist China warm.
03 July 1981
Reagan wins budget cuts
Surprise as House clears suggested budget cuts on single vote.
17 July 1981
British city riots
America shocked by violence erupting across the UK.
24 July 1981
Ottawa economic summit
Secrecy surrounds Ottawa summit talks.
31 July 1981
Royal wedding spectacle
US audiences applaud the theatre of the royal wedding.
07 August 1981
Baseball strike, 1981
The 1981 Major League Baseball strike comes to an end.
14 August 1981
Reagan breaks air strike
Air controllers strike broken by President Reagan.
21 August 1981
Neutron bomb backlash
Europe reacts angrily to Reagan's announcement of new bomb programme.
28 August 1981
Libyans challenge US aircraft
Reagan talks tough over Libyan intercepts of US airplanes.
04 September 1981
Fruit fly battle
California under siege by fruit flies.
11 September 1981
Inner city decay
Power outage highlights problem of urban infrastructure decay.
18 September 1981
First woman Supreme Court judge
Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first woman Supreme Court judge.
25 September 1981
Illegal immigration, 1981
Huge increase in illegal immigrants from Mexico entering the US.
02 October 1981
US reviews Soviet military strength
Soviet military strength ahead of US, report finds.
09 October 1981
Death of Anwar Sadat (1918-1981)
President Sadat of Egypt is assassinated in a year of political assassination attempts.
30 October 1981
Video tape copyright claim
Film studios win copyright claim against video taping.
06 November 1981
Abortion an issue again
Attorney General suggests making abortion illegal.
20 November 1981
Reagan backtracks on missiles
President suggests US and Soviet re-think on land-based missiles.
27 November 1981
Reagan vetoes budget
Presidential veto over budget sees government workers sent home.
04 December 1981
Video games craze
Newest craze in US is for Japanese video games.
11 December 1981
US-China relations
Special relationship between West Coast Americans and the Chinese.
18 December 1981
Martial law in Poland
US impotent as martial law imposed on Poland.
25 December 1981
US budget deficit
Reagan's economic plans result in massive budget deficit.
1982
01 January 1982
President Reagan and the Middle East
A review of Ronald Reagan's concerns in the Middle East.
08 January 1982
Polish propaganda
Reading between the lines of news from Poland.
22 January 1982
Reagan faces reality
Low ratings reflect the president's change of heart over many electoral promises.
29 January 1982
Franklin D Roosevelt and the New Deal
A recollection of FDR's re-evaluation of the need for social reform.
27 August 1982
Reagan's 'revenue' increases
How the new flexible president won his 'revenue' increases which will help balance the books.
03 September 1982
Reagan backs Palestinian autonomy
President appears on TV to assert his belief that Palestine needs to become autonomous.
10 September 1982
Labor Day parade
President should take note of huge turnout which demonstrated workers' frustration over tax and jobs.
24 September 1982
US impotent in Lebanon conflict
US recognises its impotence in the Middle East as a nuclear deterrent can not impose demands on warring sides; a large standing army would have more power.
01 October 1982
New York immigrants
Massive increase of immgrants arriving into New York widens the ethnic mix of the city.
08 October 1982
National Football League strike 1982
The complex rules and tactics of American football, and how a pay dispute led to the 1982 strike by the players of the National Football League, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 October 1982
Jobless are main elections issue
While the president crosses the US to woo voters, unemployment remains the main issue in local elections.
29 October 1982
Reaganomics 'a gimmick'
Democrats' delight as Nobel Prize winner writes off the president's economic plans as 'a gimmick'.
05 November 1982
Mid-term elections
Mid-term elections see Reagan lose support in the House - so a more pragmatic approach to bills is likely.
12 November 1982
Vietnam veterans' memorial, 1982
Washington opening of new memorial which speaks volumes about the war America did not win.
19 November 1982
Voting for equal rights
Women vote against Republicans following loss of Equal Rights Act.
26 November 1982
Airline cartel claim
Transatlantic price-fixing between major airlines put Laker out of business claims law suit.
03 December 1982
Kennedy quits presidential bid
Edward Kennedy decides against running as Democrat candidate in the next presidential election.
10 December 1982
Congress vote on MX missile
Extra funding for MX missile gets Congress go-ahead despite fears over bases.
17 December 1982
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which forced foreign automobile manufacturers to build their models for export to America in America, with American parts and labour.
24 December 1982
The Dull Men's Club, 1982
Forget chic or trendy, the founder of the Dull Men's Club says we should be proud of being boring.
31 December 1982
China's spoilt brats
China admits its 'one child' rule has led to a generation of - mainly male - spoilt brats.
1983
07 January 1983
Puerto Rican bombing in NY
Puerto Rican terrorist group wanting independence claim New York bombings.
14 January 1983
Satellite communication
The future of global communication via satellite - and the man who foresaw it all, Arthur C. Clarke.
21 January 1983
Florida's changing fortunes
Florida's dependence on the service industries sees a change in fortune as tourist figures drop.
28 January 1983
Reagan u-turn on economy
President changes tack about economy and says government must take the lead in boosting growth.
04 February 1983
Fear of appeasement, 1983
Fears of a return to 'Munich mentality' block genuine talk on arms control.
18 February 1983
China-US relations
Why the West Coast view of China differs from the capital's.
25 February 1983
Who's next for President?
As Reagan enters his third year, it's time to look at possible contenders for the next election.
04 March 1983
Financial crisis of 1933
The 50th anniversary of the financial crisis of 1933 that caused President Roosevelt to demand that all of the banks across the United States close their doors.
11 March 1983
Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul II
Press coverage of Queen Elizabeth's sightseeing tour of California is dwarfed by that of Pope John Paul II's visit to Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
18 March 1983
Reagan being Reagan again
Economic recovery sees Reagan shift his rhetoric back to the right-wing after 'Let Reagan be Reagan' calls.
25 March 1983
The Squeal Rule
Proposal to inform parents of contraceptive use for minors is nicknamed the 'Squeal Rule'.
01 April 1983
Reagan's 'Star Wars' speech
Reagan's rhetoric reaches new heights with his bid for a 'Star Wars'-style missile platform.
08 April 1983
Intelligent computers
Intelligent computers - looking to a future of seriously smart machines.
15 April 1983
Chicago's first black mayor
Democrat candidate Harold Washington is elected Chicago's first black mayor in undeclared race battle for votes.
22 April 1983
Slimmer social security
President Reagan signs new social security bill despite his original claims of harder cuts.
29 April 1983
El Salvador crisis
Fears of Soviet aid for opposition prompt US to consider assisting El Salvador's embattled government.
06 May 1983
Literacy rates falling
Immigration may be to blame for falling literacy rates highlighted by new national commission report.
13 May 1983
Williamsburg summit
International monetary conference plan comes after French endorsement of arms policy at Williamsburg summit.
20 May 1983
Mayor Feinstein to stay
San Francisco mayor Diane Feinstein holds on to her post after handgun row ends in vote.
27 May 1983
Bishops call for nuclear ban
Reagan faced with Catholic anti-nuclear vote after bishops call for ban.
03 June 1983
Thatcher plans second term
Mrs Thatcher hopes for a second term - eyes are now on Reagan to see if he will do the same.
10 June 1983
Margaret Thatcher's re-election and the 'special relationship', 1983
Margaret Thatcher's dedication to the 'special relationship' between Britain and America, and journalist James "Scotty" Reston's correct prediction on Thatcher's re-election.
17 June 1983
Sally Ride, new role model
Sally Ride, America's first female astronaut, becomes an unwilling role model.
24 June 1983
Paul Volcker, head of the Fed
Paul Volcker, head of the Federal Reserve, and the second most important man in the US.
01 July 1983
Connecticut bridge collapse
Following a fatal bridge collapse in Connecticut, US faces massive bill for rebuilding as major faults are found in ageing infrastructure.
08 July 1983
Briefing-gate to be investigated
Reagan's popularity rating could be hit by criminal investigation into who stole Carter's briefing papers.
15 July 1983
Chrysler repays loan
Chrysler startles US by repaying government bail-out loan in record time.
22 July 1983
President Reagan's social programmes
A switch from Democrat to Republican in the southern states, the gender gap in the support of President Reagan, and the rise in government spending on social programs.
29 July 1983
Intervention in Central America
Public opposition to an increased military presence in El Salvador and Nicaragua, the manoeuvres of American troops in Honduras, and the US desire for peace at any price.
05 August 1983
Equal rights crusade goes on
Senator Sam Ervin becomes new opponent in ongoing fight for Equal Rights Amendment.
12 August 1983
The arrest of Dave Winfield
The difficulty in legislating against home video taping, the arrest of New York yankee Dave Winfield for killing a seagull, and the marital aspirations of American women in 1983.
19 August 1983
Andrei Berezhkov's non-defection
Was Russian teenager Andrei Berezhkov persuaded to withdraw his pleas for help to defect to the West?
26 August 1983
Benigno Aquino assassinated
Shocking assassination of Benigno Aquino presents President Reagan with dilemma over Philippines bases.
02 September 1983
Reverend Jesse Jackson
Reverend Jesse Jackson steps into the political spotlight by trying for the Democrat nomination.
09 September 1983
Korean Airlines flight 007
The shooting down of Korean Airlines flight 007 by the Russian military, the escalating Soviet presence in Scandinavia, and questions over the ability of Uri Andropov to command.
16 September 1983
US troops in Lebanon
Congress queries continued presence of US troops in Lebanon. President requested to invoke War Powers Act.
23 September 1983
Fear of Russia returns
President Reagan under pressure as fear of Russia returns following the shooting-down of the Korean airliner.
30 September 1983
The America's Cup
America's Cup won by the Australians - and the members of the New York Yacht Club get the news second-hand.
07 October 1983
Andrei Gromyko and the United Nations
The end of a boycott against Aeroflot after the shooting down of Korean flight 007, the absence of Andrei Gromyko at the UN, and the plan to install US missiles in West Germany.
14 October 1983
Boycotts can backfire
When the oldest form of retaliation - the boycott - turns out to have unforeseen consquences which hit home markets hardest.
21 October 1983
Barbara McClintock
A profile of Nobel Prize winning scientist Barbara McClintock, and her biological and biochemical research that lead to an advanced understanding of the behaviour of genes.
28 October 1983
Invasion of Grenada
Reagan facing serious questions over decision to invade Grenada, a member of the British Commonwealth.
04 November 1983
Grenada press ban lifted
Press begins to uncover the fuller, and more complex, story of the Grenada invasion.
11 November 1983
Martin Luther King Day
Rosa Parks' refusal to recognise segregation, the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955, and the passing of a bill to recognise Martin Luther King Jr Day as a national holiday.
18 November 1983
Defending freedom
Anxiety after Grenada invasion as it becomes clear that US forces are now thinly stretched across the globe.
25 November 1983
The Day After
The Day After, a television movie depicting the effect of a nuclear attack on Kansas City, and the anticipation of and reaction to the first screening of it in November 1983.
02 December 1983
Joe Polowsky's funeral, 1983
Old soldier wanted to be buried where his band of brothers met up with the Russians in 1945 - when they were our allies.
16 December 1983
President Alfonsin of Argentina
US hopes of new talks follow installation of Argentina's first democratically-elected president, Alfonsin.
23 December 1983
NORAID and the Harrods bombing
The American contributions to NORAID, a fund set up to fund arms and provide financial assistance to IRA members in jail, and the aftermath of the Harrods bombing.
1984
01 January 1984
1984 and the nuclear threat
Opinion polls reveal the American public's fears over inflation, unemployment, the corporate and governmental use of new technology and an imminent nuclear war with the USSR.
06 January 1984
Syrians free US soldier
Rev Jesse Jackson persuades Syrians to release captured US soldier after official channels fail.
13 January 1984
Charles Wick's secret tapes
Reagan buddy Charles Wick, head of the US information agency, found to have made secret tape recordings of phone calls.
20 January 1984
Home videotaping gets the OK
Movie makers lose court action against home video taping. Supreme Court rules no copyright law has been infringed.
27 January 1984
Do Russians want Reagan out?
As the race for the White House begins in earnest, would the Soviets prefer to deal with someone other than Reagan?
03 February 1984
Reagan wants second term
President Reagan announces he will join the race for a second term in the White House.
17 February 1984
Chernenko is Soviet leader, 1984
New Soviet leader Chernenko described as in poor health even as he assumes office.
24 February 1984
Americanisms
Alistair Cooke examines the Indian roots of some American vocabulary and the variations between some American words and their English usage.
02 March 1984
John Glenn and the presidency
Astronaut Glenn comes down to earth after poor showing in first vote for Democrat presidential nominations.
09 March 1984
Smiley Ratliff's escape bid, 1984
British government foils attempt by US millionaire Smiley Ratliff to buy his own Pacific island.
16 March 1984
'Where's the beef?'
Advertising slogan 'Where's the beef' is taken up by Democrats in the race for the presidential nomination.
23 March 1984
No school prayers
Senate fails to support suggested constitutional amendment which would have ushered in school prayers across the US.
30 March 1984
Holiday in San Francisco
Cooke visits San Francisco, where he spent his honeymoon during the Alcatraz mutiny of 1946, and the destination of a recent visit by French President Mitterrand.
06 April 1984
Argentina bailed out
Consortium's backing will aid new Argentine government's attempts to rebuild the country's floundering economy.
13 April 1984
CIA mines Nicaragua ports
President Reagan snubs claims that the CIA mining of Nicaraguan ports has damaged shipping from around the world.
20 April 1984
Ed Meese investigation
Special prosecutor appointed to look into financial background of Ed Meese, the president's choice as next attorney general.
25 May 1984
Tougher smoking warnings
Cigarette packaging to carry tougher health warnings as more research is publicised into the effects of passive smoking.
01 June 1984
Beware stereotypes, 1984
Latest national statistics prove that basing our assumptions on stereotypes will inevitably prove us wrong.
08 June 1984
Democrat prospects dim
In-fighting between Democrat candidates has weakened the party's chances in the coming presidential election.
15 June 1984
D-Day anniversary
One-sided remembrance of the 40th anniversary of D-Day reflects President Reagan's chauvinistic view of foreign affairs.
22 June 1984
Misleading headlines
Misleading headlines skew findings of support for the President's policies in Central America.
29 June 1984
Jesse Jackson in Cuba
The Reverend Jesse Jackson meets Fidel Castro in Cuba and negotiates the release of 22 US prisoners from Cuban jails, much to the embarrassment of the Reagan administration.
06 July 1984
Rise in drinking age
Raising the drinking age to 21 across the states will help to cut drink-driving deaths, says President Reagan.
13 July 1984
Convention histories
As the Democrats get ready to crown their chosen leader, look back to a time when political conventions were full of surprises.
20 July 1984
Reporting party conventions
The dramatic 1940 Republican Convention where outsider Wendell Wilkie beat the favourite, and the advantages to reporters of live television coverage of conventions.
27 July 1984
Ferrero nominated
Democrat convention ends with Mondale-Ferraro as running mates for the forthcoming presidential elections.
03 August 1984
Fishing for votes
When being poor at sports can help a man who's fishing for votes.
10 August 1984
James Mason remembered, 1984
Remembering James Mason, the character actor who wouldn't play the Hollywood game.
17 August 1984
Republicans head for Texas
How will the new ethnic mix of Dallas react to the influx of Republicans when the convention comes to town?
24 August 1984
Mondale's wobbly leadership
Walter Mondale's wobbly leadership a talking point as the Republicans' glitzy convention takes over Dallas.
31 August 1984
Alfred Knopf (1892-1984)
The life of Alfred Knopf, publisher of, among others, Thomas Mann and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and according to Cooke "simply the best publisher of the twentieth century".
07 September 1984
Car workers to strike
Strike calls as car company bosses pocket bonuses while the workers still suffer from pay cuts.
14 September 1984
Mondale gets mad
Democrat nominee Mondale gets fighting mad over unemployment and national debt - but the polls still show his support is slipping away.
21 September 1984
Oklahoma ends liquor ban
Oklahoma - where prohibition ruled until 1959 - to finally allow liquor to be openly sold.
28 September 1984
Reagan meets Gromyko
Washington observers interpret meeting between Reagan and Gromyko as sign that Soviets foresee a second term for the president.
05 October 1984
Gangsters in Chicago
Alistair Cooke looks at mafia involvement in alcohol during prohibition, cattle during World War II and in the heroin trade, as an international ring of gangsters is arrested.
12 October 1984
Old Man Reagan, 1984
1984 Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale questions President Reagan's age suitability in a televised election debate.
19 October 1984
Political TV commercials
How the young are getting their political understanding - from 30-second TV commercials.
26 October 1984
Being 'on welfare'
Confused messages about poverty levels in the US come from media reports misinterpreting the official figures.
02 November 1984
Bodyguards and personal security
In the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, Cooke looks at the increased personal security for public figures over the years and the role of bodyguards.
09 November 1984
George Gallup (1901-1984)
The achievements of George Gallup, inventor of the Gallup poll, a method of measuring public opinion, and responsible for revolutionary change in the democratic process.
16 November 1984
Senator Jesse Helms
Senator Jesse Helms ponders whether to take the foreign affairs chair, or continue to rally support for the tobacco growers.
30 November 1984
George Aiken of Vermont
An upright man - in his walk, and his ways. Remembering Senator George D. Aiken, the politician who could never be bought.
07 December 1984
Texas A&M University
Not your average university - the Texas A&M does things on a grander scale.
14 December 1984
China denies move to capitalism
Good news or bad news? China's main daily newspaper rebuked for 'flawed' story of the country's potential move to a capitalist economy.
21 December 1984
Cholesterol-free Christmas, anyone?
Keep cutting your cholesterol, say the experts - just as the Christmas eating binge beckons.
1985
11 January 1985
Budget cuts continue
Reagan's election promises on spending will be overtaken by Congress ready to trim more from proposed budget.
18 January 1985
The strong dollar and Lindsay Wellington
The falling value of the British pound in comparison to the US dollar, and the death of Lindsay Wellington, the former head of the BBC in North America.
25 January 1985
Inauguration parade cancelled
Plunging temperatures force cancellation of Reagan's second term inauguration parade.
01 February 1985
Defending Kingsley Amis
Defending Kingsley Amis - and free speech - against some of the top women in American publishing.
08 February 1985
New Zealand bans US navy
New Zealand's new premier brings in promised nuclear ban - resulting in a US navy destroyer being turned away from port of call.
15 February 1985
US farming in crisis
Farm bankruptcies rise as prices fall and Reagan sticks to planned cuts on subsidies.
22 February 1985
General Westmoreland libel case
Vietnam commander General Westmoreland's libel case against CBS ends in stalemate.
01 March 1985
Meese takes oath of office
Months of investigations end with Reagan's choice confirmed by Senate vote.
08 March 1985
America's acid rain
Reagan in top-level talks to halt US acid rain falling on Canada.
15 March 1985
Reagan budget defeated
President Reagan's cost-cutting budget soundly defeated by the Senate committee which instead demands defence spending is trimmed.
22 March 1985
Strong dollar hits jobs
Jobs hit as strong dollar means US exports are too pricey for world markets.
29 March 1985
MX funding agreed
Job creation given as reason why vote on MX funding went Reagan's way.
05 April 1985
Street crime fears
As the Bernhard Goetz trial nears, how far should self-defence go when it comes to street crime?
12 April 1985
Politicising the dictionary
Row over the new Russian version of the Oxford dictionary which contains politically-slanted definitions.
19 April 1985
Anniversaries to remember
Uproar over president's anniversary plans to visit German war cemetery but not a concentration camp.
26 April 1985
Senator Sam Ervin
Rememering Sam Ervin, the Southern senator whose skilful chairmanship steered the Watergate hearings to the downfall of a president.
03 May 1985
Contra aid cut off
Defeat for the president as House cuts off aid to Nicaragua's Contras amid fears of another Vietnam.
10 May 1985
Voters back Bitburg visit
President Reagan's visit to Bitburg military cemetery proves to be a political asset.
17 May 1985
Trade deficit with Japan
Japanese imports soar as American shoppers ignore pleas to buy 'Made in America' goods.
24 May 1985
Defining death
New legislation to clarify definition of death to avoid indecision over when life support should be ended.
31 May 1985
Simpler taxes suggested by president, 1985
President Reagan's plan to make the tax structure simpler hits the right note across the US.
07 June 1985
Hotel strike in New York
New York hotel workers strike is latest row over the new two-tier pay structure.
14 June 1985
Being a good politician
How the ability to be a good loser is essential to anyone wishing to be a good politician.
21 June 1985
TWA plane hijack
Hijackers demand release of Israeli prisoners in exchange for passenger hostages from TWA plane.
28 June 1985
No comment
The press - and the country - does not always have the right to know everything that is going on to resolve the hostage crisis.
05 July 1985
TWA hostages released
President obliged to deny making a deal with the Israelis to prompt release of the TWA hostages.
12 July 1985
Sport and tax avoidance
Top sports players who leave home to avoid paying taxes.
19 July 1985
Reagan has surgery
President Reagan's surgery tops the news agenda; but there was a time when the president's health was a private matter.
26 July 1985
South Africa boycott
Zulu chief Buthelezi wades US row over South Africa business boycott.
02 August 1985
Francis Perkins and the US deficit
A profile of Francis Perkins, the first woman cabinet officer in America, and columnist William Safire's grim evaluation of President Reagan's plan for the mounting US deficit.
09 August 1985
The president's nose
The president's skin cancer removal prompts reminders on the perils of sun bathing.
16 August 1985
General Douglas MacArthur and the Japanese surrender
The 40th anniversary of the surrender of the Japanese at the end of the Second World War, the devastating hurricane in Galveston, Texas, and a profile of General Douglas MacArthur.
23 August 1985
Moscow's spy dust
Soviets admit to using chemical powder to trace movements and contacts of Americans living in Moscow.
30 August 1985
Kevin Curren and Flushing Meadows
The defeat of Kevin Curren by Boris Becker at the 1985 Wimbledon tennis tournament, and the controversy surrounding the new home of the US tennis championship at Flushing Meadows.
06 September 1985
Hurricane Elena, 1985
Hurricane Elena's path of destruction along the Florida coast, and the proposed raise in the legal drinking age from 18 or 19 to 21 in all but fifteen states.
13 September 1985
Summer's end, September 1985
End of summer sees the holiday cottages empty and normal life resume in the coastal towns.
20 September 1985
On the 40th anniversary of the United Nations
The 40th anniversary of the United Nations, the history of the organisation, and the security arrangements for the 1985 meeting of the Security Council in New York.
27 September 1985
1985 Mexico City Earthquake
The aftermath of the 1985 earthquake in Mexico, the Canadian concern over the sulphur emissions from power plants in the American Mid-West, and the threat of hurricane Gloria.
04 October 1985
Hurricane Gloria
Living through Hurricane Gloria - thanks to the warnings from the weather forecasters.
11 October 1985
Achille Lauro hijack
Americans seen to condone Israel attack on PLO following hijacking of Achille Lauro cruise ship.
18 October 1985
Cholesterol discovery wins Nobel prize
University of Texas duo win Nobel prize for their work on cause of cholesterol build-up.
25 October 1985
Limousine envy, 1985
Spectacle of world leaders competing for limo one-upmanship sums up the problem of the United Nations.
01 November 1985
US labour unions
Labour unions lose power as disputes are settled by agreement rather than coercion.
08 November 1985
Tennessee jails crisis
Tennessee judge demands that state resolves prison overcrowding so he can continue sentencing.
15 November 1985
Old hatreds
This time of remembrance begs the question of whether there is a set amount of time before old hatreds fade away.
22 November 1985
California's sea otters
Not extinct, just hiding - California's sea otters return to their native waters.
29 November 1985
The computer age, 1985
Computers are changing the way we live - but can they work out how we can live together?
06 December 1985
Making assumptions
Surveys question what we think must be so - which is why we should never make general assumptions.
13 December 1985
Some stories don't date
You may think that today's news is fresh, but check the headlines and you'll see that some things just don't change.
20 December 1985
Paul Castellano shot dead
Mafia family head killed in daylight shooting, confirming prejudice about crime and New York's Italian-Americans.
1986
03 January 1986
Reagan's Russian broadcast
Reagan speaks to the Russians, Gorbachev to the Americans, in the first direct broadcasts to each nation.
10 January 1986
Sanctions against Libya
Gaddafi's public support of airport terrorists prompts US into imposing sanctions against Libya.
17 January 1986
Martin Luther King day
Three years after it became law, a national holiday to celebrate the civil rights' leader is observed across the US.
24 January 1986
Loans warning on economy, January 1986
International debt is threatening the stability of the world economy, warns MIT expert.
31 January 1986
Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger disaster, 1986
Alistair Cooke reflects on the life and death of Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian astronaut who was killed in the space shuttle Challenger disaster on 28th January 1986.
09 February 1986
The US budget
Which hand holds the US purse strings / is it the president's, or that of Congress?
14 February 1986
Philippines election queried
US queries organisation of snap election called by Philippines dictatorial President Marcos.
21 February 1986
Reagan blunders over Marcos election
Reagan statement about 'fraud on both sides' of Philippines election seen as huge blunder which could have left opposition to Marcos in a dangerous position.
28 February 1986
Marcos overthrown by people power
Watching people power overthrow a dictator - and the new CNN news network showed us how it happened.
07 March 1986
Floods in California
Homes and crops wiped out after massive flooding leaves northern California under water.
14 March 1986
International airlines in trouble
The battle for market share of intercontinental air travel leaves major players in financial crisis.
21 March 1986
Loving Los Angeles
Time to reconsider that smug, cliched view of the cultured city of Los Angeles.
28 March 1986
US-Libya missile battle
Political storm follows naval battle between US and Libya in Gulf of Sidra.
04 April 1986
Americans stay at home
After US-Libya stand-off, the threat of terrorism - aided by low fuel prices at home - see American travellers stick to their own continent.
13 April 1986
TV violence
When religion clashes with real-life fixtures, which wins? Does watching violent television or film lead to real acts of violence?
18 April 1986
US attack on Libya
Britain is the only Western European country to back US air strikes against terrorism headquarters in Libya.
25 April 1986
US bombing of Libya, 1986
Alistair Cooke on the aftermath of the US air raid on Libya of 15th April 1986, and the demands of pianist Vladimir Horowitz during his first visit to the USSR.
02 May 1986
Ukraine nuclear disaster
Western Europe - in the direct line of contamination - clamours for more information about Ukraine nuclear power plant accident.
09 May 1986
Growing US deficit
Reagan gets thumbs-up from voters through tax cuts - despite national deficit rocketing into hundreds of billions.
16 May 1986
Michael Deaver case
US ethics committee to investigate allegations of improper lobbying by former White House aide Michael Deaver.
23 May 1986
Chernobyl nuclear disaster, 1986
Alistair Cooke on the political aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, differences in its reporting, and what lessons Gorbachev and Reagan can learn from the disaster.
30 May 1986
Yakima Canutt, 1986
In praise of the little-known name behind the thrilling stunts of many big-name movie stars.
06 June 1986
Americans fly abroad again
Resurgence of American bookings to European holiday spots as terrorism fears abate.
13 June 1986
Ozone loss and cancer
Time to stay out of the sun? Special Senate report links ozone loss with increasing skin cancers.
20 June 1986
Supreme Court changes
Reagan's surprise announcement of new Supreme Court appointments could sway judgments on abortion.
27 June 1986
Sounding American, 1986
An expert opinion on why Americans can't sound English - and the English can't sound American.
04 July 1986
Independence Day celebrations, 1986
Alistair Cooke looks at how Americans now celebrate Independence Day; and the current debates on immigration policy at the time of the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.
11 July 1986
A popular president
Never take anything for granted - like why a president's popularity has nothing to do with his policies.
25 July 1986
Drug addiction spreading
Mrs Reagan's 'Say no to drugs' campaign isn't enough to tackle the growing social problem of addiction.
01 August 1986
Averell Harriman (1891-1986)
A tribute to politician and diplomat Averell Harriman, former US Ambassador, Governor of New York and a leading official in the Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy administrations
08 August 1986
A small earthquake
How to get on with Californian life when the next earthquake could well be the expected Big One.
15 August 1986
Drought hits farmers
Government set to bail out farmers after worst drought for decades devastates crops and livestock.
22 August 1986
Hotels for the homeless
New York mayor to look at suggestion to house the city's homeless in empty hotel rooms.
29 August 1986
Keeping secrets
Despite the 'public knowledge' promised by the constitution, there are times when keeping decisions secret is the best policy.
05 September 1986
Labor Day parades end
Reagan's stand on air traffic controllers' strike blamed for loss of labour union power which has seen membership fall dramatically.
19 September 1986
Tougher drug laws
Politicians seen to join the 'rush to righteousness' as the anti-drugs crusade takes on a vote-catching twist.
26 September 1986
United Nations in decline
Public confidence in the United Nations at its lowest as it loses its ability to adjudicate on international troubles.
03 October 1986
US interference in UK politics
Labour policy on nuclear weapons could change US-UK alliance, says Weinberger.
10 October 1986
The Third Man
Remembering three great men who resigned high office on points of principle.
17 October 1986
Reykjavik Summit, October 1986
President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev's disarmament summit in Reykjavik ends in failure after Reagan's refusal to abandon the Strategic Defence Initiative.
24 October 1986
James McGill Buchanan
Politicians - and the rest of us - work only out of self-interest, says Nobel prize-winning economist.
31 October 1986
A Boston wake
Exuberant in the face of defeat, the Boston Red Sox lose the World Series but hold a splendid wake.
07 November 1986
Democrats take Senate
Reagan may get a bumpy ride in his last two years as Senate goes to the Democrats in off-year elections.
14 November 1986
Teflon President on sticky ground
Sharp criticism from both sides as president comes clean about arms deal to Iran amid hostage negotiations.
21 November 1986
The Iran-Contra scandal revealed, 1986
America reacts to revelations of a US arms for hostages deal with Iran. Arbitrageur Ivan Boesky admits insider trading on Wall Street and is fined $100 million.
28 November 1986
An unhappy Thanksgiving
No mention of politics in the president's Thanksgiving address - despite it being the main item on most news menus.
05 December 1986
The credibility gap
As closed Senate meetings look at covert activities, it's time to work to avoid a crippled presidency.
12 December 1986
Voters believe Reagan lied, December 1986
Reagan describes press as 'sharks' while polls show Americans changing attitudes towards White House.
19 December 1986
Mayor Clint Eastwood
Citizen Clint - the Carmel mayor who has not yet resorted to a tough-guy act.
26 December 1986
Presidential memory loss
A problem solved - perhaps the 76-year-old president is suffering from short-term memory loss.
1987
02 January 1987
Dairy buy-out
Way of life ends as dairy farmers take up federal buy-out to cut excess milk production.
09 January 1987
Economic variations
Western economies are heading for another crash, warns economics professor Kenneth Galbraith - but not everyone agrees that the good times are too good to be true.
06 March 1987
Reagan and the Iran-Contra scandal
Has President Reagan redeemed himself in the eyes of the public after taking responsibility for the arms for hostages deal made with Iran?
20 March 1987
Presidential press conferences
Beleaguered Reagan holds his first press conference for months on the thorny subject of Iran-Contra.
27 March 1987
Farewell to stereotypes
Gorbachev's new era of glasnost could foster better Soviet-US understanding.
03 April 1987
Surveillance and espionage in the Cold War
The case of US marine Clayton Lonetree accused of espionage in Moscow reminds Cooke of how electronic surveillance was feared at the founding of the UN in 1945.
10 April 1987
US-Canada relations sour
President Reagan visits the US's big neighbour to the north while anger rages over America's production of acid rain.
17 April 1987
Playing nuclear chess
Secretary of State Shultz returns from arms limitation talks which have the ring of a top-notch game of political chess.
24 April 1987
Ethics in government
As former White House aide Michael Deaver's trial begins, a look at how widespread is corruption in government.
01 May 1987
Garbage disposal
Rethink needed on rubbish disposal as landfill solution proves to be polluting water resources.
08 May 1987
In the money
From horse racing through gold and tennis to making movies, the big money continues to grow and grow.
18 May 1987
The return of Richard Nixon, 1987
The re-emergence of Richard Nixon into public life after Watergate, and the dubious behaviour of some officials within the current Reagan administration.
05 June 1987
Election envy
No million-dollar campaigns, no shocking TV ads, no buttons or bows. No wonder Americans envy the British election system.
12 June 1987
Alan Greenspan
The quiet economist who is about to become the central banker of the world.
18 June 1987
2000th Edition
Health scares, ozone damage and the Americans' fear of dying are reflected on by Alistair Cooke in the 2000th edition of the programme.
26 June 1987
Fred Astaire, 1987
Small in stature, a giant on the screen - an appreciation of the life and work of Fred Astaire.
03 July 1987
A surfeit of scandal
The James Bond-style story emerging from the Iran-Contra hearings may be too much to believe.
10 July 1987
Oliver North's role in Iran-Contra, 1987
Colonel Oliver North gives evidence before the congressional select committee about his role in the sale of arms to Iran, the profits of which funded the Contras in Nicaragua.
17 July 1987
An overnight hero
The Iran-Contra hearing's main witness becomes an unlikely hero to tens of thousands of Americans.
18 July 1987
The national anthem, 1986
America's national anthem was chosen just over 50 years ago - is it time to salute to a new tune?
24 July 1987
UN unanimous on Iran-Iraq
Russians back out of unanimous United Nations vote over Iran-Iraq conflict.
31 July 1987
Forget the smoking gun
The hearings have been led astray by the red herring of a 'smoking gun' - it's the constitution which has been mortally wounded.
07 August 1987
Inflation rising again
Thatcher refuses to back Reagan over US naval involvement in the Persian Gulf as oil price rises boost inflation.
14 August 1987
What's in a catchphrase?
President Reagan decides to stick with the old catchphrase about where the buck stops - to everyone's relief.
21 August 1987
Anniversary mania
In the dog days of summer, even the Seven Dwarfs get to celebrate an anniversary.
28 August 1987
Pat Schroeder pitches in
The woman who coined the 'Teflon President' nickname throws her hat into the Democrat ring.
04 September 1987
The meaning of Labor Day
Alistair Cooke looks at the origins of Labor Day established in 1894, the diminishing role of trades unions and a cultural change in employment incentives and benefits in the US.
11 September 1987
Papal visit, September 1987
Papal visit crosses the entire continent to face all manner of religious problems from some 52 million US Catholics.
18 September 1987
Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination
President Reagan's nomination of conservative Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, the highest power in the US, has alarmed liberals and heartened far-right Republicans.
02 October 1987
Oliver North's diminished popularity
Three months after admitting his role in the Iran-Contra affair, Alistair Cooke reflects on Colonel Oliver North's brief moment as a popular hero to a minority in the US.
09 October 1987
Off the hook?
A question of intelligence - the definition which just might prove that providing assistance to the Contras broke no US law.
16 October 1987
Peace prize for Sanchez
Peace prize award to Costa Rican president is a slap in the face for Contra-supporting Reagan.
23 October 1987
Black Monday 1987, Black Tuesday 1929
What caused the global stock market to crash on 19th October 1987, how are ordinary people affected, and how does it compare with the Wall Street Crash of October 1929?
30 October 1987
Time for more taxes
The money men are waiting for President Reagan to take the lead in attempts to stabilise the rocky economy.
06 November 1987
Gorbachev wants economic change
Fiery speech from President Gorbachev before December summit outlines arms limitation and hopes for a new economy in Russia.
13 November 1987
Black Monday
As the ripples still rebound following Black Monday, it's time for the British to take seriously the economic uncertainties, and for the US to agree cuts in the federal deficit.
20 November 1987
Iran-Contra reports
The reports from the investigating committee into the Iran-Contra scandal are finally to be made public, and the new breed of journalist spawned by Watergate.
27 November 1987
Thanksgiving 1987
Thanksgiving Day past and present, a summing-up of current political situation, and the riots of Cuban prisoners threatened with deportation back to Cuba, discussed.
04 December 1987
INF Treaty
A report on the Washington summit for the US and Soviet leaders to sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty treaty limiting medium-range nuclear armaments.
13 December 1987
Gorby mania
The INF treaty signing / not so much an historical event as a television event; 'Gorby' mania in the US and Europe.
18 December 1987
Gary Hart confesses
Republican glee as voters see Senator Hart's confession of affairs as a serious character flaw.
23 December 1987
The Democrat Convention of 1924
Divisions within the Democrats both current and at Madison Square Garden in 1924, Anthony Kennedy's appointment to the Supreme Court; and Woody Allen's new son Satchel.
1988
08 January 1988
Missile treaty questioned
Reagan could face revolt among his supporters over ratification of the US-Soviet INF Treaty.
15 January 1988
McCarran-Walter Act repealed
Congress repeals embarrassing Act which banned visitors from the US because of their political beliefs.
12 February 1988
Caucus system
What is the caucus system of nominating candidates for public office, and why does everyone believe the lowly Iowa caucus is so important?
19 February 1988
New Hampshire
Solidly Republican, the rural state where local issues are decided upon by the locals.
26 February 1988
Serious Money
London satire fails to entertain the New York audiences.
04 March 1988
Black Monday remembered
On the anniversary of the day Roosevelt closed every bank in America, Alistair Cooke remembers Black Monday, the huge stock market crash of 19th October 1987.
11 March 1988
1988 presidential primaries
The 1988 presidential primaries are underway, the Democrats are ambivalent about their contenders, and California aims to curb developers in Orange County.
18 March 1988
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.
25 March 1988
Warnings for Gorbachev
Misgivings over future of Gorbachev and modernising reforms voiced by commentators.
01 April 1988
Democrat agony
Bush a shoe-in for Republicans but Democrat agony continues as Jackson and Dukakis run neck-and-neck.
08 April 1988
Correspondents answered
Replying to listeners who have been unable to pick up on an intended humorous tone.
15 April 1988
The Augusta National, 1988
Enjoying a different pace of life at the Augusta National, a Georgia Shangri-La.
22 April 1988
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 cable car conductor.
29 April 1988
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 elections.
06 May 1988
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 to have the secret of health.
13 May 1988
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 (1864-1927).
20 May 1988
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.
27 May 1988
Nancy Reagan's astrologer, 1988
Former White House aide Donald Regan makes public the First Lady's intrusion on policy and appointments.
03 June 1988
Golf in Russia
As the West's sport becomes tainted by money-grubbing, the Soviets announce their first golf course.
10 June 1988
Bush will win it
George Bush may have to play down his preppy background, but he's still looking like a winner.
17 June 1988
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 of Alabama in 1963.
24 June 1988
Goodbye to men's clubs
Writing on the wall for men's clubs as judges rule they infringe personal liberties.
01 July 1988
Seeing justice done
Historic judgment in Iran-Contra legal wrangle is reduced to a series of melodramatic videotape clips.
08 July 1988
Iran Air Flight 655
An Iranian airliner carrying 290 civilians is shot down by US missiles over the Persian Gulf, killing all on board.
15 July 1988
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.
22 July 1988
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.
29 July 1988
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.
05 August 1988
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, founded in 1982.
12 August 1988
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 York's beaches clean.
19 August 1988
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 across the US.
26 August 1988
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 president's role.
02 September 1988
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 greenhouse gases?
09 September 1988
Yellowstone National Park, 1988
Too strange to be believed, the natural phenomena that prompted the founding of the US national parks.
16 September 1988
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 presidential election.
23 September 1988
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 discussed by Alistair Cooke.
30 September 1988
Looking good on TV
As the presidential candidates debate on TV, political prowess seems to be in the eye of the beholder.
07 October 1988
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 review of the 1988 campaign.
14 October 1988
Testing public opinion
Quavering Quale affects voters' views on choice for president.
21 October 1988
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 Michael Dukakis in their campaigns.
28 October 1988
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.
04 November 1988
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 elections.
11 November 1988
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 voting Americans.We apologize for the abrupt end to this audio, this occurred when the episode was originally recorded.
18 November 1988
A dirty campaign
Slander and innuendo are nothing new in campaigning - but the rhetoric will soon be erased.
25 November 1988
Fears over US deficit
The economy will be the first challenge facing the new president when his term starts in January.
02 December 1988
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 reconciliation with Israel.
09 December 1988
Gorbachev's perilous experiment
Misgivings over Gorbachev's liberalisation proposals as observers fear further splits from satellite nations.
06 January 1989
George Bush, the 41st president
As a new political year begins, Alistair Cooke considers the official announcement in the House of Representatives of George H W Bush's presidency.
13 January 1989
The inauguration of George Bush, 1989
The campaign that won George Bush the presidency of the United States, and the Washington insiders he has chosen to form his cabinet.
20 January 1989
Bush's first week and 'African-Americans'
President Bush's failure to recall the date of the Pearl Harbour attack, and Reverend Jessie Jackson's attempt to instigate the use of the term 'African American'.
27 January 1989
Bush's stance on abortion
President Bush's stance on the issue of abortion, and the universal fondness shown towards outgoing president Ronald Reagan, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
03 February 1989
Ethical behaviour
New president seen as distancing himself from the old Reagan ways of doing politics.
10 February 1989
Revenue enhancements and the Nixon files
President Bush's proclamation of "no new taxes", the difference between a tax and a revenue enhancement, and the release of President Richard Nixon's secret files.
17 February 1989
1989 Soviet-Chinese summit
The obsession with Gorbachev and the nonchalant attitude towards President Bush in the foreign press, and the 1989 Soviet-Chinese summit, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
24 February 1989
Satanic Verses outcry
Stores accused of bowing to Iranian edict, but there are still fears for book store staffs' safety.
03 March 1989
John Tower and Colonel North
The Senate Committee's ruling that former Senator John Tower should not be allowed to join President Bush's cabinet, and the trial of Colonel Oliver North.
10 March 1989
The continuing case of John Tower
The continuing case of John Tower, the surprising support of Senator Strom Thurman, and the drinking habits of Winston Churchill.
17 March 1989
Food safety and standards
After two grapes imported from Chile are found to have been injected with cyanide, Alistair Cooke details the role of the EPA and FDA in maintaining food safety and standards.
24 March 1989
The New York City Board of Estimate
The nightlife in New York City before the Second World War, and the 1989 ruling that the city's Board of Estimate is unconstitutional, as explored by Alistair Cooke.
31 March 1989
A Portrait Of Washington, D.C.
The history of Washington D.C, the attractions and memorials popular with tourists, and the causes of the high murder and crime rates in the capital city.
07 April 1989
James Munroe's declaration of independence
The journalism of James "Scottie" Reston, and President Munroe's declaration that America should not be considered as a future target for colonisation by European nations.
14 April 1989
Atlanta and Augusta
A brief history of the city of Atlanta, the increase in internal flights within the United States and the beginnings of the Augusta National Golf Club.
21 April 1989
Happy birthday, Charlie Chaplin
The 100th anniversary of the birth of Charlie Chaplin, and a personal recollection of the comic actor delivered by Alistair Cooke.
28 April 1989
The Missouri abortion case
The continuing trial of Colonel Oliver North, the former marine who aided Nicaraguan contras, and Missouri court case to overturn the 1973 ruling on abortion.
05 May 1989
Oliver North's jury
As the North verdict is delivered, is it time to question the way in which juries are selected - before a 'mistrial' plea goes in?
12 May 1989
Colonel North's orders
The end of the Colonel Oliver North trial, the findings that he was not acting on his own, and the popular opinion that his orders came from the White House.
19 May 1989
The Soviet-Chinese relationship
The meeting of the Soviet and Chinese leaders at their 1989 summit, the relationship between the two countries and the threat their friendship poses to the West.
26 May 1989
Jim Wright and the Baltic rebellion
Gorbachev's offer to reduce Russian forces in Afghanistan, rebellions in Estonia and Lithuania, the student protests in Beijing, and the ethics hearing of Jim Wright.
02 June 1989
Claude Pepper
The life and achievements of Congressman Claude Pepper, who became a champion for the rights of the elderly, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
09 June 1989
Tiananmen Square protests, 1989
Chinese military suppression of protests in Tiananmen Square, and the societal change brought about by student uprisings around the World.
16 June 1989
Liberty in China
President Nixon's 1972 visit to China, a complaint from a Chinese official about Letter from America, and the Chinese attitude towards liberty following Tiananmen Square.
23 June 1989
The desecration of the American flag
A ruling in Congress overturning the conviction of a Texan man for desecrating the American flag, the First Amendment and freedom of expression, and the customs of the flag.
30 June 1989
The New York water shortage
The conditions that led to the 1989 New York City water shortage and the power of Congress to perform "corrective action" to bypass judgements made in by courts.
07 July 1989
Abortion law thunderbolt
Abortion arguments will continue to rage as Supreme Court fudges the issue and hands back control to states.
14 July 1989
The 1812 earthquake in Tennessee
The effect of the 1812 earthquake in New Madrid, Tennessee on the Eastern seaboard, and the inevitability of "the Big One", the earthquake predicted to devastate California.
21 July 1989
1989 economic summit in Paris
Margaret Thatcher's comments on the two hundredth anniversary of the French revolution, and the role of President Bush at the 1989 economic summit in Paris.
28 July 1989
Chinese refugees at UC Berkley
The ruling that allows Chinese students at UC Berkley to stay in America as refugees, the Sacramento conference on race relations, and the conservative panic over immigration.
04 August 1989
Colonel William R Higgins
The capture and murder of Colonel William R Higgins by terrorists in Lebanon in August 1989, the response of President Bush and the danger of televising the grief of the family.
11 August 1989
James Baker in Mexico
Secretary James Baker's meeting with Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari to discuss improvements to border control and Mexico's prestigious debt to the US.
18 August 1989
Colin Powell and "Mickey" Leland"
A profile of Colin Powell, the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs appointed in 1989, and George Thomas "Mickey" Leland, the Congressman who worked to eradicate World hunger.
25 August 1989
Protection of property by the Declaration of Independence
The possible inclusion of the phrase 'life, liberty and the protection of property' in the Declaration of Independence, and the outbreak of war in 1939.
01 September 1989
The US Open, Wimbledon and air conditioning
The United States Open Golf Championship, the Wimbledon tennis tournament and the joys of air conditioning are pondered on by Alistair Cooke while on holiday in his beach house.
08 September 1989
Narcotics, interdiction and Columbian drug lords
President Reagan's failure to implement the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System, and President Bush's plan to tackle to Columbian cocaine lords.
15 September 1989
The Wall Street crash and Crown Prince Humbert
The Wall Street crash, an attempt on the life of Italy's Crown prince Humbert, Joseph R. Grundy's appearance in front of the Senate and other news items from October 1929.
22 September 1989
The reunification of Germany and Mayor Edward Koch
An analysis of the potential perils of a unified Germany, a profile of Edward Koch, the Mayor of New York, and a recollection of the reign of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.
29 September 1989
Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations
President Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations, the sleeping menace of nuclear weapons and the president's unusually high popularity in his early days in office.
06 October 1989
Emission controls in California
The adoption of emission controls in California, and Senator Jesse Helms' objection to the work of Robert Mapplethorpe being funded by the National Endowment for Art.
13 October 1989
The failed coup against Manuel Noriega
The failure of the coup against General Manuel Noriega of Panama, the involvement of the Bush administration in the attempted takeover and the possibility of American intervention.
20 October 1989
Nimitz freeway collapse
Citizen volunteers help as San Francisco is shattered by fatal earthquake.
27 October 1989
1989 earthquake in California
The devastation caused by the 1989 Californian earthquake, the effects on tourism in the region, and the strain a natural disaster places on the federal budget.
03 November 1989
Coverage of the 1989 earthquake and the domestic partnership bill
Television coverage of the 1989 Californian earthquake, the birth of the docudrama, and the bill allowing homosexuals to register as married couples in San Francisco.
10 November 1989
1989 local elections and the defeat of propostions S and P
The 1989 state and local elections, the defeat of Proposition S denying homosexuals to be recognised as domestic partners, and the vote against the abandonment of Candlestick Park.
17 November 1989
The opening of the Berlin Wall, 1989
The opening of the Berlin Wall, the origins of Democracy as the system of government in America, and Gorbachev's warning that Germany will not inevitably turn to capitalism.
24 November 1989
Hurricane Hugo, Galileo, and the cranberry scare of 1959
Hurricane Hugo and icy winds in the north, the effect of the Galileo spacecraft on the weather, and the great cranberry scare of 1959.
01 December 1989
Thomas Paine and the uprisings in Czechoslovakia and Hungary
A profile of American revolutionary Thomas Paine, the rebellions in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and President Bush's reluctance to comment on the uprisings.
08 December 1989
Soviets need soap, December 1989
Give the Communist masses what they really want - a delivery of consumerism.
15 December 1989
Dan Quayle and the Soviet Union
Vice-President Dan Quayle's wariness of the Soviet Union, the aftermath of the earthquake in California and the rise of the shopping mall, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 December 1989
American intervention in Panama
American intervention in Panama, the initial failure to capture General Manuel Noriega, and the Bush administration's attempt to find legal grounding for an invasion.
29 December 1989
1989 in review
A review of the events of 1989, including the revolutions in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania, the invasion of Panama, and Soviet-Chinese summits.
1990
05 January 1990
The capture of General Noriega, 1990
With General Noriega of Panama captured by US forces, Alistair Cooke chronicles the American dealings with Noriega and the relationship between the two countries.
12 January 1990
A brand new decade - 1990
The administration of Ronald Reagan and the upheaval of the American tax and welfare systems during the 1980s, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 January 1990
Changes to the American Family
A summary of how the American family has changed in the past 30 years and an explanation of why the prevalence of the microwave is a great indicator of the transformation.
26 January 1990
Foreign aid budget
The invasion of Panama, the opinion of the American public of their tax dollars being spent abroad, and the reasons behind the shrinking of the foreign aid budget.
02 February 1990
McEnroe and Gorbachev
The politeness of American crowds, the dismissal of John McEnroe from the Australian Open, and Gorbachev's plan to make a profit from peace, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
09 February 1990
US Foreign policy and defence spending
An examination of the recent surge in American public interest in foreign affairs, a cut to defence spending, and the threat posed by Mikhail Gorbachev.
16 February 1990
Kansas City
Why Kansas City is no longer a unique microcosm of America, and ways in which Americans are changing their diet in an attempt to prolong their lives.
23 February 1990
Presidential speechwriters
Peggy Noonan's revelations on writing speeches for Reagan and Bush, and how a great speech can shape the public persona of a politician.
02 March 1990
Nicaraguan election 1990
With Daniel Ortega voted out of power in Nicaragua, Alistair Cooke details the turbulent relationship between Nicaragua and the United States.
09 March 1990
The final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird
The final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, the Russian capture of an American pilot in 1960 and the cuts in the American public spending budgets.
16 March 1990
Apocolyptic cults
A proclamation by the head of a fringe religious group that the World is going to end on St George's Day leads Alistair Cooke to investigate the realm of apocalyptic cults.
23 March 1990
Pearl Harbour and church attendance
The Japanese peace envoys visiting the White House during the Pearl Harbour attacks, the use of Biblical language by modern-day Americans and the fall in church attendance.
30 March 1990
President Bush's broccoli
Presidential press conferences, the lobbyist system, George Bush's dislike of broccoli, and the power of food as a political tool.
06 April 1990
Harry Bridges
Alistair Cooke details the life and career of the labor leader, Harry Bridges, who initiated a general strike in San Francisco in 1934.
13 April 1990
Diverse peoples under one language
Roosevelt's mission to unify a diverse people under the English language, and America's many Christians sects, as explored by Alistair Cooke.
20 April 1990
Earth Day, 1990
With Earth Day approaching, Alistair Cooke discusses acid rain, the Clean Air act, and a selection of books that have shifted our opinions about the environment.
27 April 1990
The End of the Eighties - Great or Greedy?
Alistair Cooke muses on the end of the Reagan era and a collective shift away from the greed of the 'me' decade.
04 May 1990
Robert Mapplethorpe in Cincinnati
The controversy surrounding an exhibition by Robert Mapplethorpe, the conservative nature of Cincinnati, and the work of Judge Wolsey to bring Joyce's Ulysses to the US.
18 May 1990
Greta Garbo and Jim Henson
The death of Greta Garbo, the way in which television is prolonging the life of movies, and a eulogy for puppeteer Jim Henson, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
25 May 1990
Memorial Day, 1990
In the week of Memorial Day, Alistair Cooke looks at the effect that an upcoming holiday has on Congress and examines the legislation affecting the arms and tobacco industries.
01 June 1990
Richard Paul Pavlik
The spontaneous walkabouts of Mr Gorbachev, and an aborted attempt on the life of President Kennedy by Richard Paul Pavlik in Palm Beach, Florida in December 1960.
08 June 1990
Diane Feinstein
Following the emergence of Diane Feinstein as Democratic nomination for the Governor of California, Alistair Cooke profiles the politician, and details Proposition 111.
15 June 1990
An Indepedent Quebec
Charles de Gaulle's 1967 speech calling for an independent Quebec, healthcare and gun control in Canada, and the American view of their neighbour to the north.
29 June 1990
Nelson Mandela In America
Nelson Mandela's 1990 visit to the United States, the ANC's reluctance to renounce violence, and the conflict between pro and anti-abortionists, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
06 July 1990
Independence Day 1990
A French insight in to Independence Day, the British stereotype of American pastimes, and a travel guide for tourists visiting New York State, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
13 July 1990
The 1990 World Cup
With the World Cup drawing to a close, Alistair Cooke looks forward to 1994 when the USA will hold the tournament and examines the American interest in soccer.
20 July 1990
The Cambodian guerilla coalition
President Bush withdraws the US diplomatic recognition of the Cambodian guerrilla coalition due to the human rights record of the regime.
27 July 1990
William J Brennan and David Souter
The resignation of Justice William J Brennan and the appointment of David Souter, and the process of appointing a new judge to the Supreme Court, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
03 August 1990
NYC's new immigrants
Today's immigrants to New York and why they don't speak English, and the invitation to black players to join the Augusta National golf club in 1990.
17 August 1990
Shipbuilding In California
The economic growth in California since 1967, the work of Henry Kaiser to bring a military shipbuilding industry to the state, and the closure of Yosemite National Park.
31 August 1990
The Path To Kuwait, 1990
President Bush's meeting with leaders from around the World to discuss Saddam Hussein's move in to Kuwait and the path towards American intervention.
07 September 1990
James Baker and Russians in Iraq
Secretary James Baker's questioning by the Senate foreign relations committee on Iraq; the presence of Russian military advisors working with Saddam Hussein on advanced weapons.
14 September 1990
Chernobyl and the Star Wars defence program
The lessons learned from Chernobyl, the hesitation in Congress over the Star Wars defence program, and the motivations of American doctors conducting clinical trials abroad.
21 September 1990
New York - a melting pot?
The cultural makeup of New York, ‘The Melting Pot' and plays of Israel Zangwill, and the separation of Irish, Jewish, black, Italian and Puerto Rican communities in NYC.
28 September 1990
A unanimous United Nations
The Soviet foreign minister denounces the action of Saddam Hussein to the United Nations, and the first, and last, unanimous vote reached by the Council in June, 1950.
05 October 1990
The 14th amendment
The role of women in the armed forces, the life and work of Lady Astor, the fourteenth amendment and equal access to locker rooms.
12 October 1990
End of the fiscal year, 1990
The Columbus Day parade, the closure of National parks and museums due to the end of the fiscal year and the start of a new budget, and the appointment of Justice David Souter.
19 October 1990
President Bush and the 1990 national budget
President Bush and the Senate struggling to agree on a national budget, the workings of the federal system, and the 1990 Congressional elections, as detailed by Alistair Cooke.
26 October 1990
Intervention in the Gulf and no new taxes
President Bush's difficulty in finalising proposals for the national budget, and garnering support for the American presence in the Gulf.
02 November 1990
The CIA and Kuwaiti conspiracy
A press conference by the Iraqi Ambassador in Washington and American scepticism surrounding the allegations of a CIA and Kuwaiti conspiracy, as detailed by Alistair Cooke.
09 November 1990
1990 mid-term elections
In the week after the 1990 mid-term elections, Alistair Cooke compares the predictions and the results of the vote, and discusses the failure of the Democrats to find a leader.
16 November 1990
150,000 more troops to Iraq
President Bush sends more troops in to the Gulf, the public confusion around the reasons for intervention, and the effect on Bush's approval ratings.
23 November 1990
Margaret Thatcher and travelling during Thanksgiving
The American perception of Margaret Thatcher and the effect of the recession on air travel during Thanksgiving, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
07 December 1990
Pearl Harbour, Dick Cheney and Saddam Hussein
The attack on Pearl Harbour, Congress and President Bush's conflict over the power to take the country to war, and Dick Cheney's objections to sanctions against Saddam Hussein.
14 December 1990
Black Americans in the armed forces
The disproportionate amount of African Americans serving in the US military, and the Harris poll revealing a gender split in the opposition towards military intervention.
21 December 1990
Gender-specific terminology and Michael Milken
The Mayor of Los Angeles' attempt to eliminate gender-specific terminology, Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique' and the conclusion of the trial of Michael Milken.
28 December 1990
Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan
From his holiday retreat in Vermont, Alistair Cooke muses on the benefits of getting away from it all, ponders the plight of the snowboarder and discusses the right to die.
1991
04 January 1991
Legal guns vs murder rates
Does legal firearm ownership increase the number of murders in America? Alistair Cooke reflects on what is causing the high volume of murders in New York City.
11 January 1991
Pan Am declares bankruptcy
Examining the iconic airline Pan Am's rise and fall, whilst considering how the US constitution has enforced tax payment and may protect a woman's right to strip.
18 January 1991
The Gulf War begins, January 1991
Aerial bombs dropping on Kuwait signal the start of the Gulf war. Reports of Operation Desert Storm reveal how the age of the instant satellite communication affects broadcasting.
25 January 1991
Saddam Hussein or the Bogie Man
Whilst Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles attack Israel, Alistair Cooke considers how the 24/7 spontaneous news coverage is being viewed by both the allies and the Iraqis.
01 February 1991
Gulf War censorship
Should news from the Gulf War be censored? Alistair Cooke explores how public support for the war changes with each news report.
08 February 1991
Airport terrorist attack fears
Fears of terrorist attacks have reduced the number of people flying. Alistair Cooke considers if the Gulf War has exacerbated the situation and whether extra security is needed.
15 February 1991
Indecent behaviour during war
In times of war how much care-free behaviour should we indulge in? Alistair Cooke ponders on what classifies as indecent behaviour.
22 February 1991
Drought and domestic partnerships
Water conservation in Los Angeles, the first couples register their domestic partnerships in San Francisco, and Churchill's refusal of the term "impaired combatant personel".
01 March 1991
Kuwait on the map
Kuwait, Riyadh and Baghdad are now known all over America. Alistair Cooke reflects on how war has added new locations to the public conscience.
08 March 1991
End of the Gulf War
The Gulf War (1990-91) is over and President Bush Snr basks in its glory, but Cooke reflects on the fickle nature of opinion polls and whether public approval will be sustainable.
15 March 1991
John Maynard Keynes
J M Keynes' economic cure for President Roosevelt was to borrow and spend, but with pressing social problems and limited funds, how will Congress split their 1992 budget?
22 March 1991
Ambassador Glaspie's interventions
April Glaspie, American Ambassador to Iraq, is called to explain her pre-war conversations with Saddam Hussein. Could her words have aided the start of the 1990/1 Persian Gulf War?
29 March 1991
Gorbachev's Yeltsin rally ban
Gorbachev's banning of a Yeltsin rally in Moscow worries Alistair Cooke before he reflects on a rift between President Bush and General Schwarzkopf.
05 April 1991
CNN post-war malaise
How CNN's constant Gulf War coverage has led to a post war malaise amongst some of the viewing public.
12 April 1991
President Bush defends Gulf War
President George H W Bush has to defend his Gulf War actions against Saddam Hussein as the American public debate whether troops should have been sent to Saudi Arabia.
19 April 1991
Gorbachev's Japanese investment trip
Gorbachev's visit to Japan to encourage investment is stalled by Soviet ownership of the Kuril Islands. Plus, a 1958 meeting between Soviet leader Mr. Khrushchev and Richard Nixon.
26 April 1991
Nancy Reagan's biography
An unauthorised biography of ex-pesident's wife, Mrs Reagan makes Alistair Cooke question how gossip becomes news, whilst President Bush struggles to defend his Gulf War.
03 May 1991
May Day protest in Moscow
A May Day parade in Moscow gives Alistair Cooke a curious topic to discuss with UN Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko before considering cummunists in America.
10 May 1991
President Bush's heart surgery
President Bush's heart surgery causes a wave of media panic and scrutiny to fall on Vice-President Dan Quayle.
17 May 1991
Passive smoking and cholesterol control
Public smoking restrictions get Alistair Cooke investigating how the Food and Drug Administration are protecting the public health and he turns his eye on cholesterol.
31 May 1991
Tompkins Square Park Riot (1988)
The social injustice which sparked riots in Tompkins Square Park in 1988, and how the social acceptibilty of homelessness has changed over the years.
07 June 1991
Freedom of Information
The American Department of Defence's publication of Iraqi casualties from the Gulf War leads Alistair Cooke to explore the uses and abuses of the Freedom of Information Act.
14 June 1991
Michael Weiss the zip code wizard
Michael Weiss' research into zip codes can determine the books you read, the car you drive and how you like your eggs in the morning. Alistair Cooke finds out how.
21 June 1991
Boris Yeltsin's White House visit
Yeltsin's visit contrasts to one he made in '89 when the US favoured Gorbachev. A bizarre encounter with Senator William Cohen of Maine, and an end to the trials of Oliver North.
28 June 1991
Nude dancing in Indiana
Nude dancing in the state of Indiana causes the American Supreme Court to question the violation of the 1st Amendment, and the obscenity of publicly exhibiting genitalia.
05 July 1991
Gavrilo Princip kills Duke Franz Ferdinand
How Serbian Gavrilo Princip, the murderer of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary, destroyed the empire and instigated the First World War in one shot.
12 July 1991
Stress related illness
American 'know how' and the rise of stress related illnesses in both America and Britain are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 July 1991
Gorbachev and the G7 summit
How commentators around the world now view Mr Gorbachev, and his attendence of the 17th G7 summit held in London.
26 July 1991
Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal
The Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal is heightened when Mr Major dares Mr Kinnock to use the word "liar" in the House of Commons.
02 August 1991
President George W H Bush's re-election
Is President George H W Bush unbeatable in the next election? Alistair Cooke considers his Desert Storm glory verses chronic social problems at home.
09 August 1991
Mayor David Dinkins asks NYC public
Mayor of New York City, David Dinkins, opens his doors to the public to hear their solutions to social problems such as drugs, homelessness and crime.
16 August 1991
UN economic sanctions
Could the United Nations' economic sanctions have crippled Saddam Hussein? Plus, how personal boycotts enable consumers to become socially responsible.
23 August 1991
The August Coup, 1991
Gennady Yanayev and the Gang of Eight grab for power in the 1991 August coup against Gorbachev. Cooke explores how the popularity of Boris Yeltsin inevitably caused their downfall.
30 August 1991
Gorbachev's nuclear arsenal
After the Soviet coup to overpower Gorbachev, America is now wondering who is in charge of the nuclear arsenal.
06 September 1991
President Bush and Winston Churchill
President George H W Bush's ratings for re-election are boosted by the Gorbachev coup. Cooke compares his invulnerability with that of Winston Churchill.
13 September 1991
Congressional hearings
An orgy of tv trials awaiting the American public and the surrogate trials that go under the name of Congressional Committee hearings are discussed.
20 September 1991
Colonel Oliver North's trial
The trial of former Marine Colonel, Oliver North, over the sale of arms to Iran which resulted in the 1986 Iran-Contra scandal, shows how key witness immunity can devastate cases.
30 September 1991
Relations between Israel and the US
A look at the strained relations between Israel and the US, the plight of refugees in the Middle East, and the global misconception about the state of US finances.
04 October 1991
America's children, families and education
President Bush's attempts to reform US education, the impossibility of defining an average American family, and sexuality among schoolchildren.
11 October 1991
Sexual harassment and Judge Clarence Thomas
Examining Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against President Bush's new choice for the Supreme Court, Judge Clarence Thomas, and defining sexual harassment in US law.
25 October 1991
1991 Cambodian peace treaty
The 1991 Cambodian peace treaty is signed in Paris. Alistair Cooke compares the rehabilitation of dictator Pol Pot to Cuba's Fidel Castro and Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
01 November 1991
Tobacco brands at the 1991 World Baseball Series
Why the Federal Trade Commission decided to ban the sight of tobacco brand names on TV after the 1991 World Baseball Series between the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves.
08 November 1991
Robert Maxwell and Fred MacMurray
Memories of British publisher Robert Maxwell (1923-1991) and Double Indemnity actor Fred MacMurray (1908-1991).
15 November 1991
The lucky George Bush
The unfailing luck of George H W Bush, and the failure of the Democrats to capitalise on the president's poor performance on the economy and hesitance towards domestic issues.
22 November 1991
David Duke
A profile of David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan running for the governorship of Louisiana as a Republican in 1991.
29 November 1991
George H W's popularity in 1991
A fall in the confidence of President Bush's handling of the economy, the suspension of Congress in 1991, and the diaries of James Agate.
06 December 1991
Biden and Kinnock
Senator Joe Biden's echoing of a speech by Neil Kinnock, the effect on his presidential campaign in 1987, and the danger of a politician speaking out of turn in the digital age.
13 December 1991
Robert Maxwell and libel law
Would US libel law have prevented Robert Maxwell from blocking examination of his business dealings? Alistair Cooke compares the differences between US and English libel law.
20 December 1991
America's recession and Russian nuclear security
Alan Greenspan confirms a US recession despite the Bush administration's refusal to recognise it, attention turns to domestic policy and fear of nuclear weapons on the loose.
27 December 1991
Shared concerns in Britain and America
Considering extended awareness of American issues in Britain, how similar the economic and social concerns of the two countries have become and thoughts on Alzheimer's disease.
1992
03 January 1992
American public schools
American public schools and their limitations, and how one educator from Alabama, Kevin Welch, is at war with developmental psychologists, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
10 January 1992
Japanese trade
American and Japanese relations over the years, a history of Japanese trade, and how General MacArthur shaped modern Japan.
17 January 1992
Operation Desert Storm
The successes and failures of Operation Desert Storm a year on , along with the story of political activist Angela Davis.
24 January 1992
Governor Bill Clinton
Governor Bill Clinton, the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the scrutinizing of his personal undertakings.
31 January 1992
US defence spending
The proposed cuts to the United States defence budget, and the wide spectrum of reactions from both Republicans and Democrats, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
07 February 1992
Events of 1991
Following a recent opinion poll on the significance of the major events of 1991, Alistair Cooke looks back on the previous year and examines the top American choices on the list.
14 February 1992
New Hampshire primaries 1992
Alistair Cooke assesses the candidates for the upcoming New Hampshire primary elections, including Democrats Clinton and Tsongas, and Republicans Bush and Buchanan.
21 February 1992
Japanese Americans 1942
Executive Order 9066, Franklin D Roosevelt's presidential order that authorised the removal of all Japanese living in California in February 1942, remembered.
28 February 1992
Judge Clarence Thomas
The allegations made against Judge Clarence Thomas, and the fate of the journalists who brought the story to the public consciousness.
06 March 1992
Pat Buchanan
Following the New Hampshire primary, Alistair Cooke profiles Republican candidate Pat Buchanan, and asks whether a vote for Buchanan is really a vote against George Bush.
13 March 1992
What Richard Nixon did next
The presidential tenure of Richard Nixon and his diplomatic activities after leaving office.
20 March 1992
The bank of the House of Representatives
The US Presidential campaign, and the ethics of the closure of the bank of the House of Representatives.
27 March 1992
The French and immigration
The differing attitudes of French and American politicians towards immigration and the expectations of a brand new US citizen, examined by Alistair Cooke.
03 April 1992
The Army of North Virginia
Why Senator Warren Rudman quit, the importance of 9th July to the Army of Northern Virginia, and the story of Sir Lionel Sackville-West, Ambassador to America in 1888.
10 April 1992
Perils of the welfare state
The potential perils of a large welfare state and how one presidential candidate, Ross Perot, is proposing to reduce government spending, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
17 April 1992
Tax fraud
Following the income tax declaration deadline of April 15th, Alistair Cooke examines the case of Leona Helmsley, a wealthy New York hotelier accused of tax fraud.
24 April 1992
Columbus and Asimov
The mixed emotions felt by the Americans and Spanish towards Christopher Columbus, and the work of science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
01 May 1992
Riots in Los Angeles, 1992
Following the conclusion of trial of the police officers accused of beating Rodney King, Cooke details the violent disturbances in Los Angeles happening in the wake of the verdict.
08 May 1992
Cities and social problems
The Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, Jack Kemp's work, and the social problems faced by the large cities of the United States.
15 May 1992
Space shuttle Endeavour
The latest mission of the space shuttle Endeavour, and what President Bush will have to do to improve his approval rating following the Gulf War, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 May 1992
The end of the LA riots
With the riots in Los Angeles over, Alistair Cooke describes the conclusions drawn by Vice-President Quayle following the violence, and questions the priorities of the White House.
29 May 1992
Ross Perot runs for American presidency
Businessman Ross Perot runs for American presidency. Alistair Cooke analyses the man who founded Electronic Data Systems and owned General Motors.
05 June 1992
The problems with the two party system, 1992
The rise of Ross Perot, the American dissatisfaction with the two party system and how President Bush planned to win back the White House.
12 June 1992
Military downsizing and Rio
How the military downsizing will impact on employment, and the opposition to President Bush's proposals at the recent Earth Summit in Rio 1992.
19 June 1992
United Nations' first reporters
A recollection of the first gathering of the UN, the celebrity journalists who covered the meeting; Joan Stitt McMenamin, the outgoing headmistress of Nightingale-Bamford School.
26 June 1992
Extradition and freedom of speech
The law surrounding extradition and the relationship between freedom of speech and racism, following two prominent Supreme Court rulings.
03 July 1992
Olympic sportsmanship
The idea of sportsmanship and the battle against the steroids which can help fulfil athletic ambitions in the approach to the Barcelona Olympic Games .
10 July 1992
Canada and other democracies
The role of Canada within the UN peacekeeping force, the need to compare foreign democracies, and the insular nature of the US debate on abortion.
17 July 1992
A history of party conventions
Three dramatic party conventions from the past, and how the system of choosing a presidential candidate has evolved.
24 July 1992
Ross Perot withraws
Ross Perot withdraws from the 1992 presidential race, the mystery surrounding his exit, and one tiny, fatal slip during Perot's speech to the NAACP.
31 July 1992
Clark Clifford
A look at the political career of the presidential advisor and former US Defense Secretary, Clark Clifford, following Clark's recent indictment in connection with the BCCI scandal.
14 August 1992
Conventions and opinion polls
The effect that party conventions have on opinion polls, and the contenders for the Republican nomination are reviewed by Alistair Cooke.
28 August 1992
Hurricanes 1992
Remembering his time aboard a ship travelling in extreme weather conditions from England to New York, Alistair Cooke anticipates the beginning of the 1992 hurricane season.
04 September 1992
Moving to Mexico
The closure of the Smith-Corona factory in Syracuse, New York, the financial troubles of US manufacturers and strategies for survival in an age of free trade.
11 September 1992
Burma and Quentin Burdick
The political situation in Burma, a proclamation by Reverend Pat Robertson, and Senator Quentin Burdick of North Dakota.
18 September 1992
Black Wednesday 1992
The UK withdraws from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Black Wednesday, and the way in which the US allocates powers and responsibilities to individual states.
25 September 1992
Historical events of the 20th Century
Some notable entries from a dictionary of 20th Century history leave Alistair Cooke wondering if the upcoming election will feature in a future edition.
02 October 1992
Touring authors
The modern author as touring book salesman, the autobiography of Gulf War General H Norman Schwarzkopf and a potential scandal for President Bush.
09 October 1992
Electoral debates past and present
The history of electoral debates from Lincoln to Clinton and the power of public perception in the run up to the 1992 US presidential election.
16 October 1992
Columbus: hero or villain?
The legacy of Christopher Columbus is examined by Alistair Cooke. Should he be regarded as a hero or an enslaving villain?
23 October 1992
The business of sport
The business of sport, and an embarrassing incident involving the Canadian flag are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
30 October 1992
Election predictions and certainties
The 1992 Presidential election, the dangers of predicting the outcome of the vote and a look to history for examples of election certainty.
06 November 1992
Bill Clinton's clothes
The tendency of journalists flock to Washington to hear the result of an election and the rejection of the blue blazer for jeans by President-elect, Bill Clinton.
13 November 1992
Predicting elections
Complex methods for predicting presidential election results, and the effect Ross Perot had on the outcome, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
20 November 1992
The executive branch
Why a change of president does not necessarily mean a shift in power, and why it takes so long to move in, and out, of the White House.
27 November 1992
Millicent Fenwick
Following the death of Millicent Fenwick in September, Alistair Cooke profiles the late Congresswoman and details the female additions to the Senate in 1992.
04 December 1992
Clinton's economy
A month on from the presidential election, Alistair Cooke anticipates the effect that a new president, and a boost in public confidence, will have on the economy.
11 December 1992
Casablanca 50th anniversary, 1992
Casablanca's impact and the effect the film had on cinema audiences of 1942 are remembered by Alistair Cooke on its 50th anniversary.
18 December 1992
The English language and immigration
The realities of unlimited immigration, andthe movement that proposes to make English the official language of the United States.
24 December 1992
An economic summit
President-Elect Bill Clinton, calls for a gathering of experts to help guide his economic policy, and what he may do to reduce the national deficit.
1993
01 January 1993
John Cage, Wilbur Mills and Oliver Franks
A look back at the lives of the notable figures to die in 1992, including composer John Cage, politician Wilbur Mills and British Ambassador Oliver Franks.
08 January 1993
Bill Clinton's first cabinet and multiculturalism
The diverse cabinet selected by President-elect Bill Clinton, and the problems posed to hospitals by the large range of languages spoken by their patients.
15 January 1993
UN weapons inspectors in Iraq
The search for Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons by the United Nations, President Clinton's promise to concentrate on domestic affairs, and potential for war in the Far East.
22 January 1993
President Clinton's inauguration
A costly inauguration for President Clinton, and the traditions of the ceremony as followed by Presidents Jefferson, Carter and Reagan.
29 January 1993
President Clinton's first week in office
Clinton's first week in office is marred by abandoned campaign promises, a bruising encounter with the military and a failed attempt to make Mrs Baird Attorney General.
05 February 1993
Reforming the military
The limits of presidential power and two presidential attempts to reform the US military: Truman's racial desegregation and Clinton's attempt to allow homosexuals to openly enlist.
12 February 1993
Government waste and White House job cuts
President Clinton's proposal to cut government waste, George Bush's dislike of broccoli, and a reduction in the number of staff in the White House, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 February 1993
Zoe Baird and American childcare
What the blocking of proposed Attorney General, Zoe Baird, reveals about US childcare, why Americans employ illegal immigrants and the fashion for government by phone-in.
26 February 1993
James Baker and Clinton's deficit
Outgoing cabinet member James Baker, President Clinton's failure to deliver on his campaign promise of a tax cut for the middle class, and the true cost of healthcare.
05 March 1993
World Trade Centre basement explosion
An explosion in the basement of the World Trade Centre, the resultant shock and speculation and the remarkable calm of people temporarily trapped inside the building.
12 March 1993
David Koresh and Reverend Jim Jones
An FBI raid on David Koresh's religious camp in Mount Carmel reminds Alistair Cooke of the cult leader Reverend Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple, and their mass suicide in 1978.
19 March 1993
The Irish in New York City
An attempt by the Ancient Order of Hibernians to ban the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organisation from New York's St. Patrick's Day parade is examined by Alistair Cooke.
26 March 1993
Ambassador Raymond G H Seitz
Raymond G H Seitz becomes the first career diplomat to be appointed as United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James's.
02 April 1993
Bill Clinton's Presidential Honeymoon
Expensive Britain, Bill Clinton's Presidential Honeymoon and Screen Violence are examined by Alistair Cooke.
05 April 1993
The history of US-Russia summits
Yeltsin and Clinton meet in Vancouver and Alistair Cooke considers the eventful history of US-Russia summits and what purpose they serve after the Cold War.
16 April 1993
Prisoner rehabilitation
Alistair Cooke remembers reporting on the 100th Anniversary of the California gold rush and contemplates the pros and cons of prisoner rehabilitation.
23 April 1993
Rodney King trial
Examination of Rodney King's second trial for civil rights violations after being beaten by police. His first trial acquitted the officers and caused the 1992 LA race riots.
30 April 1993
Economic recession and military spending cuts
The possibility of the US sliding back into economic depression and the ramifications of Clinton's military spending cuts in California.
07 May 1993
President Clinton's first 100 days in office
The successes and failures of President Clinton's first 100 days in office and how the Roosevelt presidency set the benchmark for judging a new President's progress.
14 May 1993
Racial tensions in New York
The history of racial tensions in New York, the gap between policy ideals and their reality and the chaos caused by the presidential visits to the city.
21 May 1993
The closing of the San Francisco Presidio
Alistair Cooke reflects on the closing of the San Francisco Presidio, a historic military base that has been a garrison for over 200 years.
28 May 1993
Hair Force One
Clinton's falling approval rating, accusations of cronyism, the importance of the trivial in presidential politics and what happens when a boy from Arkansas gets a $200 haircut.
04 June 1993
Gary Graham and the death penalty
Texas death row inmate Gary Graham, the vagaries of constitutional interpretation, state law and the legal complexities of the death penalty.
11 June 1993
The future of advertising
A dystopian future for advertising and the people planning to put messages on animals, the wind and the edge of space.
18 June 1993
President Clinton's alcohol and tobacco taxes
The ramifications of President Clinton's attempt to introduce 'sin taxes' on alcohol and tobacco.
25 June 1993
The Haitian refugees enter America
The US government allows the Haitian refugees held at Guantanamo Bay to enter the US and considering the chequered history of immigration into New York.
02 July 1993
US foreign policy in Bosnia
Tennis player Goran Ivaniševic's demand to be recognised as Croatian, the escalating failure of US foreign policy in Bosnia and a puzzling missile attack on Baghdad.
09 July 1993
The Tokyo G8 summit and unemployment
The activities of the 1992 G8 summit in Tokyo and the ways in which governments through history have dealt with the problem of unemployment.
16 July 1993
Choosing a US ambassador to London
President Clinton's planned replacement of Raymond Sites with Admiral William Crowe as ambassador to London and the sometimes dubious history of US diplomatic appointments.
23 July 1993
Mississippi relief package
How will President Clinton pay for his Mississippi flood relief package in a time of austerity? How Reganism and Thatcherism are still powerful forces in policy making.
30 July 1993
General Matthew Ridgeway
The death of General Matthew Ridgeway, his rise to prominence during US intervention in Korea, his stance on nuclear weapons and the nature of 'good war'.
06 August 1993
America's exceptional weather
Examining an unseasonably hot San Francisco summer and why America's weather, drowning Missouri and parching Georgia, is in the wrong place and refusing to budge.
13 August 1993
Obscenity and public art funding
Controversy over public art funding in the US, the struggles of the National Endowment for the Arts and the history of attempts to protect the public from obscenity.
20 August 1993
Presidential recreation
The meaning attached to the time presidents spend on vacation, recreation and playing sport in light of the Clinton family's holiday in Martha's Vineyard.
27 August 1993
The Korean war and political holidays
The real reason the Russians never vetoed US military action in Korea and the media's interest in political holidays are examined, as Alistair Cooke answers listeners' letters.
03 September 1993
Labor Day and school closures
The history of Labor Day and why hundreds of thousands of pupils in Chicago and New York won't go back to school after their summer holiday.
10 September 1993
US immigrants and identity
The replacement of American unity with old world identities in immigrant communities old and new and the decision to re-route New York's jets for the sake of a tennis match.
17 September 1993
Deaths of tourists in Florida
Florida stops all tourism advertising after the deaths of 9 foreign visitors in 1992, Alistair Cooke considers the scale of the threat and the amplifying effect of television.
24 September 1993
Feminism in American 1993
The Miss America Pageant, the progress of feminism in the US, 25 years of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique and the problem of sexual harassment.
01 October 1993
The health reform bill
The progress of a major health reform bill, the extensive involvement of Hilary Clinton and ex-ambassador George F Kennan's opinions on US foreign policy in Russia and Somalia.
08 October 1993
Clinton's foreign policy issues
Alistair Cooke examines some of the foreign policy issues that the Clinton administration has found itself involved in, less than a year into his presidency.
15 October 1993
Aphasia and studying the human brain
A study examining the effect of Mozart on intelligence and how people affected by aphasia offer revelations about the way in which the brain deals with words.
22 October 1993
The social effect of TV violence
The Senate Committee considering the social effect of television violence, the history of concerns about the influence of immorality in the media and its ramifications today.
29 October 1993
America's problem with gun ownership
The problem of US gun ownership, why the constitution doesn't actually guarantee a right to bear arms and the increased likelihood of a 'Brady Bill' for gun control.
05 November 1993
Balancing domestic and foreign policy
President Clinton's struggle to balance the demands of foreign and domestic policy, war in Bosnia and Somalia, free trade and healthcare in an complex post-Soviet world.
12 November 1993
The 'Brady Bill' and the New England fall
A blazing New England fall offers relief from the violence and disaster of the television news and Congress passes the 'Brady Bill' for gun control.
19 November 1993
Personality in politics
Examining the surprising result of a debate between the 'boring' Al Gore and 'sassy' Ross Perot and how the reputations of politicians are formed by their public personas.
26 November 1993
Thirtieth anniversary of Kennedy assassination, 1993
Searching for a fair evaluation of John F Kennedy's life, 30 years after his assasination and how the significance of anniversaries is transformed by historical revisions.
03 December 1993
The first World AIDS Day
The first World AIDS Day, reaction to the disease from sufferers and the public and an interruption to an unusually heartfelt speech by President Clinton.
10 December 1993
The Long Island train shootings and gun control
A random multiple murder on a Long Island train, America's problem with guns, the future for gun control and the failure of the 'Brady Bill'.
17 December 1993
The GATT agreement and peace talks in Northern Ireland
The GATT Trade Agreement, the prospect of peace in Northern Ireland, electoral defeat for Russian authoritarian Vladimir Zhirinovsky and nuclear weapons in North Korea.
24 December 1993
The constitution and religious festivals in America
The difficulty of celebrating a religious festival in America without behaving unconstitutionally, A Christmas Carol, Washington style and the Park Lane Christmas trees.
30 December 1993
Christmas, and Alistair Cooke meets a computer
A 1940s style flight to Vermont brings Alistair Cooke to his family and a computer which has swallowed several libraries, a few archives and already knows all about him.
1994
07 January 1994
New Year's Resolutions
Alistair Cooke looks at the changing fashions in New Year's resolutions, and the success of Alcoholics Anonymous.
14 January 1994
Tip O'Neill
The life and career of 'essential Boston Irish Catholic Democrat' and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill (1912- 1994).
21 January 1994
Freezing weather and earthquakes in 1994
The exceptionally cold weather scouring America, the earthquake in southern California and the conclusion of the Iran-Contra affair investigation are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
28 January 1994
The Bobbitt case
Lorena Bobbitt's acquittal for cutting off her husband's penis causes Alistair Cooke to reflect on legal definitions of insanity in the state of Virginia.
04 February 1994
How ice cream changed America
Reuben Mattus, the inventor of Haagen-Dazs ice-cream, reminds Alistair Cooke of other immigrants who have shaped America.
11 February 1994
Clinton's draft dodge
Bill Clinton's draft dodging during the Vietnam War is remembered by Alistair Cooke upon hearing that America's trade embargo on Vietnam is soon to be lifted.
19 February 1994
History of chocolate
The history of chocolate and how new research is re-defining it as an unlikely health food is considered by Alistair Cooke, on his travels to California.
25 February 1994
Military intervention in Bosnia
President Clinton's concerns over US military intervention, a newfound resolve over the war in Bosnia and a bogeyman in the shape of a Russian bear are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
04 March 1994
Nixon, 'and the rest you know'...
How the wistful sign off "and the rest you know" at the end of Alistair Cooke's letter on how congressional moves to impeach Richard Nixon came about.
11 March 1994
The survival of immigrants in America
A 1930's tourist guide describing Boston's demographic make-up makes Alistair Cooke reflect on how immigrants survive and prosper in America.
18 March 1994
The tobacco industry, and Tonya Harding
The uncertain future of America's tobacco industry and the growing problem of plea bargains after the trial of figure skater Tonya Harding are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
25 March 1994
Admiral William J Crowe
Admiral William J Crowe, the newly appointed American Ambassador to the United Kingdom, is profiled by Alistair Cooke.
01 April 1994
Whitewater
The Whitewater investigation, the reaction to Hilary Clinton's controversial financial dealings and the workings of the commodities market are explained by Alistair Cooke.
08 April 1994
Justice Blackman retires
The retirement of Justice Blackman from the Supreme Court of Justice reminds Alistair Cooke of the good, the bad and the senile aspects of law making.
15 April 1994
Clinton's global reputation
The manipulative power of magazines, President Clinton's reputation abroad and the public demand for representation are explored by Alistair Cooke in the wake of Whitewater.
22 April 1994
Michael Fay in Singapore
Following the detention of 18 year old Michael Fay, an American citizen in Singapore, Alistair Cooke looks at what Fay's treatment can tell us about Singapore.
29 April 1994
Richard Nixon: his great work
In his assessment of Richard Nixon, Alistair Cooke details the life of the only president to resign from office, including his work in China and the Watergate scandal.
06 May 1994
President Clinton's first 15 months
President Clinton's first 15 months in office and the challenges he faces both at home, and abroad including, the looming crisis in Haiti are reflected on by Alistair Cooke.
13 May 1994
American education
The American education system is examined by Alistair Cooke, who considers the rise of progressive schools and asks whether an increase in home schooling is a viable proposition.
20 May 1994
Health bill and Brown v Board Board of Education
Clinton's controversial health bill, and the impact of the famous Brown v Board of Education case 1954, 40 years ago, including its unintended consequences.
27 May 1994
Pearl White
Silent movie actress Pearl White (1889-1938), the case against Dan Rostenkowski and the latest allegations levelled against President Clinton are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
03 June 1994
50th anniversary of D Day, 1994
The Polish contribution to the Normandy landings are examined by Cooke following the 50th D Day commemorations, including why recent allied operations have been less successful.
10 June 1994
Clinton and the military
President Clinton's relationship with the military is explored by Alistair Cooke, who considers whether his lack of active service places him in a compromised position.
17 June 1994
Clinton and Gonzales
The leadership of Clinton and Felipe Gonzalez of Spain is compared by Cooke, who explores how the public expectations of elected officials have changed.
24 June 1994
American sport
The state of sport in America is assessed by Alistair Cooke as the 1994 World Cup commences. And he commemorates the final allied troops leaving Berlin.
01 July 1994
OJ Simpson trial
Unceasing rumours surrounding the OJ Simpson trial make Alistair Cooke reflect on the American desire to know the verdict before hearing the facts.
08 July 1994
OJ Simpson media coverage
How the OJ Simpson trial is being reported on either side of the Atlantic, and some parallels with the abdication of Edward VIII are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
15 July 1994
Haiti
Clinton's desire for a stronger relationship with Germany, the history of Haiti and the latest developments in the OJ Simpson case are mulled over by Alistair Cooke.
22 July 1994
Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Arthur C Clarke
The Comet Shoemaker/Levy 9 collision with Jupiter leads Alistair Cooke to discuss the thinning of the ozone layer and the work of Arthur C Clarke.
29 July 1994
Nuclear non-proliferation
Kathleen Bailey, a straight talking organiser shakes up a world conference at Livermore, with the renewal of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty high on political agendas.
05 August 1994
Preserving the peace in Serbia
America's historic obligation to preserving the peace and protecting the innocent in Greater Serbia, discussed by Alistair Cooke.
12 August 1994
Community policing, protest and riots
The FBI's powers, the need for "community policing", and the history of protest at UC Berkley are discussed by Alistair Cooke following a riot in Harlem Heights.
19 August 1994
Johnny Madison Williams
Bank robber Johnny Madison Williams Junior's story, leads Cooke to explore the concept of the crook as a national hero, and anticipate the fallout from the OJ Simpson trial.
26 August 1994
USA, Cuba, and Guantanamo Bay
The US role in the Cuban War of Independence and how America is housing Cuban refugees in the Guantanamo Bay facility are considered by Alistair Cooke.
02 September 1994
Allied troops leave Berlin in 1994
The Allied troop withdrawals from Berlin prompt Alistair Cooke to remember the division of Germany following the Second World War.
09 September 1994
Employment in America
Employment in America, and attempts to define the modern working population are discussed by Cooke, following the cancellation of the Labor Day parade in New York.
16 September 1994
American political underdogs
How President Clinton's position will be affected by the upcoming congressional elections leads Cooke to recall the underdogs and upsets from the history of American politics.
23 September 1994
American troops in Haiti
As American troops enter Haiti, Alistair Cooke chronicles President Clinton's motivations for intervening in the conflict and explains Jimmy Carter's role in the negotiations.
30 September 1994
North Korean nuclear development
North Korea's persistent nuclear development puts the UN in a tough situation; Cooke wonders whether Jimmy Carters diplomatic discussions or the UN Forces are the best deterrent.
14 October 1994
Diane Feinstein's forestry bill
Senator Diane Feinstein's heroic effort to pass a bill in Congress for the protection of 6 million acres of Californian desert highlights the drama of congressional voting.
21 October 1994
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
A new American ally is assessed by Alistair Cooke, following the donation of four billion dollars to North Korea to curb the production of nuclear arms.
28 October 1994
The Kennedy Family
Senator Edward Kennedy and Mitt Romney's televised debate before the 1994 Congressional elections provides an opportunity to discuss the history of the Kennedy family.
04 November 1994
Halloween 1994
The history of Halloween, how a rise in street crime has affected the celebration and the objections of the Christian right, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
11 November 1994
Clinton's medical reforms
The Republican landslide Senate victory leads Alistair Cooke to critique Clinton's medical reform and recalls presidents who have triumphed in the face of adversity.
18 November 1994
Clinton on welfare and free trade
President Clinton's failure to deliver on welfare reform, the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the need for speculation in journalism.
25 November 1994
Newt Gingrich and the constitution
Newt Gingrich is installed as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alistair Cooke examines his suggested amendments to the constitution, and the life of new legislation.
02 December 1994
Bosnia and the power of NATO
The erosion of San Franciscan water pipes, the continuing conflict in Bosnia and the American feeling that NATO is becoming a redundant entity are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
09 December 1994
Cable TV and local news
The rise of cable television and the difficulty it creates when trying to find a truly local news story, discussed by Alistair Cooke in San Francisco.
16 December 1994
OJ Simpson and the legal process, 1994
A mass shooting on a Long Island commuter train, the OJ Simpson trial and the litigation involved in becoming a US citizen lead Cooke to discuss the legal process in America.
23 December 1994
Carter's diplomacy and White House security
Jimmy Carter's diplomatic efforts, the security problems faced by the White House and the size of Lyndon Johnson's handkerchief are mused over by Alistaire Cooke.
30 December 1994
Barry Goldwater, and Reagan's speech
Former Senator Barry Goldwater, the speech that won Ronald Reagan the Governorship of California and the state of the Republican Party in 1994 are assessed by Alistair Cooke.
1995
06 January 1995
Clinton and 'Me too' Democrats
Newt Gingrich becomes speaker of the US House of Representatives. American apathy towards foreign policy and Clinton's shift towards the centre are explored by Alistair Cooke.
13 January 1995
A Nation of hair stylists
The nature of reviewing the past and predicting the future, and musings on how abstract votes will affect the nomination of Democratic presidential candidate.
20 January 1995
Montgomery bus boycott
During the week of Martin Luther King's birthday holiday, Cooke remembers his 1956 visit to meet with people from both sides of the Montgomery bus boycott prompted by Rosa Parks.
27 January 1995
Dependency on red tape
With the jury selection for the OJ Simpson trial taking longer than expected, Alistair Cooke explores American dependency on red tape and the 'death' of common sense.
03 February 1995
George Abbott remembered
George Abbott (1887-1995), the Broadway producer and director, is remembered, from his humble beginnings as a messenger through to becoming one of America's greatest playwrights.
10 February 1995
Baseball strike 1994-5
The events leading up to the 1994-95 baseball strike in America and the role that Congress could play in bringing the national pastime back from the brink.
17 February 1995
William Fulbright (1905-1995)
Senator William Fulbright (1905-1995) is remembered by Alistair Cooke, including his work as a tenacious young politian and as an ambassador for American students studying abroad.
24 February 1995
The secrets of a long life
What is the secret of longevity? Alistair Cooke investigates the factors that have been attributed to elongated lifespans and profiles the world's oldest woman Jeanne Calment.
03 March 1995
The American deficit
The beginnings of the American deficit and how the gap between the national income and outgoings has been allowed to widen are explored by Alistair Cooke.
10 March 1995
Ringers
The role of 'ringers' to gain unfair advantage in both sport and business, as the baseball strike continues.
17 March 1995
Gingrich and Roosevelt
With a Republican majority in both houses of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, Cooke explores the parallels drawn between Newt Gingrich and President Roosevelt.
24 March 1995
Rudolph Giuliani's New York
School dinners, gangsters, snow ploughs and the other problems faced by the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, are explored by Alistair Cooke.
31 March 1995
The OJ phenomenon
Why Americans are obsessed with the OJ Simpson trial, the viewing habits of a sequestered jury member, and the real winner of the Oscars, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
07 April 1995
The Christian right in politics
The role that the extreme Christian right play in American politics, and whether any religious group has the power to bring a politian down are explored by Alistair Cooke.
14 April 1995
Remembering FDR
The passing of Franklin D Roosevelt (1882 -1945) and FDR's legacy 50 years after his death, the evolution of the breaking news story, and the only third-term in office.
21 April 1995
US taxation in 1995
Are taxes one of only two inevitabilities in life? Alistair Cooke explores how have they have been reduced and simplified in modern-day America.
28 April 1995
Oklahoma City bombing
The impact of home-grown terrorism, and the conflicts that arise when discussing the First Amendment, in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing on 19th April 1995.
05 May 1995
VE Day, fifty years on
The American press reports on the end of the war in Europe, and the comparatively minor celebrations in the US, as remembered by Alistair Cooke, fifty years after VE Day.
12 May 1995
Equality in New York, Clinton in Russia
The development of equality in New York City, and President Clinton's mission to dissuade President Yeltsin from sending nuclear aid to Iran, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
19 May 1995
Rockefeller and Britannica
With the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Rockefeller Centre both experiencing financial difficulties, Alistair Cooke looks at the problems faced by both institutions.
26 May 1995
The White House
Great American inventions, Jackie Kennedy's overhaul of the official rooms of the White House, and the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue to the public in 1995.
02 June 1995
Objectives in modern conflict
President Clinton's speech on the relationship between the American armed forces and NATO, and the public perception of the lack of a clear objective in a modern conflict.
09 June 1995
Bob Dole and the fall of Rome
The work of historian Edward Gibbon, the parallels between modern-day America and the fall of Rome, and Bob Dole's credentials as a presidential candidate.
16 June 1995
American farmers
The evolution of medicine bottles, the problems affecting American farmers, and why private restaurants are a symbol of change in Cuba.
23 June 1995
The first UN Conference
How Field Marshall Jan Smutt and Lord Halifax were led astray by wild flowers at the first United Nations Conference in 1945 in San Francisco.
30 June 1995
St Patrick's parade ban
The ruling allowing a group of Boston war veterans to ban homosexuals and bisexuals from the St Patricks Day parade, and the division it has caused in America.
07 July 1995
Porgy and Bess
The politics of the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess, the effectiveness of affirmative action and the current trend of conservatism in America are explored by Alistair Cooke.
14 July 1995
Clinton and Tiberius
United Nations intervention in Bosnia, the failure of Bill Clinton to act on the crisis, and the inspiration the president may draw from Roman Emperor Tiberius.
21 July 1995
Smith-Corona typewriters
The Smith-Corona Company application for bankruptcy, the demise of the manual typewriter, and the response of the American public to the conflict in Bosnia.
28 July 1995
George Romney, Mitt's father
A discussion on the difficulty of predicting the results of the 1996 election, and a recollection of the mistake that dashed the presidential hopes of Governor George Romney.
04 August 1995
The American relationship with tobacco
As the American relationship with tobacco changes, should President Franklin D Roosevelt's memorial statue still include his omnipresent cigarette?
11 August 1995
The atomic bomb
A recollection of the events leading up to the use of the atomic bomb to end the Second World War, and an examination of the thirty year controversy that followed.
18 August 1995
The American aqueduct scandal
The concept of local identity and blurring of state lines, the delivery of water to 19th century farmers and environmental policy are examined by Alistair Cooke.
25 August 1995
Political vacations
As President Clinton takes his summer holiday, Alistair Cooke explores the way in which presidential vacations have become less about relaxation and more about public relations.
01 September 1995
Third parties
Senator Bill Bradley's decision to not run for re-election to the Senate, the 'broken' nature of American politics and the role of a third political party.
08 September 1995
Labor Day 1995
Labor Day 1995, the continuation of the OJ Simpson murder trial, and President Clinton's promises for campaign for re-election in 1996.
14 September 1995
Senator Robert Packwood
The events which led to the resignation of Senator Robert Packwood, and what Packwood's diary tells us about the lobbying system are explored by Alistair Cooke.
22 September 1995
Online America
The dangers of an online America, the importance of considering a sentence before committing it to paper, and the possible return of the Luddites are considered by Alistair Cooke.
29 September 1995
Colin Powell and Ross Perot
An examination of the increased rate change in America and the possible entrance of Colin Powell and Ross Perot to the Presidential race, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
06 October 1995
The OJ Simpson verdict, 1995
How do Americans feel about the OJ Simpson trial following the delivery of the verdict in October 1995?
13 October 1995
OJ Simpson and race
The race issues surrounding the OJ Simpson trial, the emergence of the black middle class and the future for a divided America, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
20 October 1995
New York taxi drivers
How the demographics of New York taxi drivers change and how President Clinton's relationship with business may be key in the race for re-election, explored by Alistair Cooke.
27 October 1995
Arafat visits New York
The visit of Yasser Arafat to New York City to meet with the United Nations in 1995, the traffic carnage caused in the city and his plea to reconstitute the Security Council.
03 November 1995
Quebec and French relations
The formation of Quebec, the American and Canadian relationship with France and the possibility of a divided neighbour to the north, are explored by Alistair Cooke.
10 November 1995
General Colin Powell
General Colin Powell's electoral appeal, the apathy towards Republican candidates and a shift in political reporting are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
17 November 1995
1995 Shutdown of the federal government
The federal government shutdown on November 14 1995, the events leading up to this national crisis, and an exploration of the history of US debt and the proposed solutions.
24 November 1995
Bosnia and the Dayton Agreement
A possible end to the conflict in Bosnia, the role of the US in the peace treaty, and why the city of Dayton became the venue for the signing in November 1995.
01 December 1995
Church and state
The relationship between church and state, the future of a monument to the Ten Commandments and the existence of freedom of speech in the classroom are explored by Alistair Cooke.
08 December 1995
James Reston (1909-1995)
The Pulitzer winning journalist James "Scottie" Reston (1909-1995) and the writer's transition from young sports commentator to respected political columnist.
15 December 1995
US troops enter Bosnia, 1995
The arrival of the first America soldiers in Bosnia in December 1995, the harsh conditions they face and the position of the constitution on the declaration of war.
22 December 1995
School prayers
The adaptability of American soldiers, the debate in Congress over the reading of prayers in schools, and what makes a good government are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
29 December 1995
Christmas 1995
A Christmas spent in Vermont, the joy of experiencing absolute silence and the progress of the federal government shutdown are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
1996
05 January 1996
Government services and the budget bill
A halt on US Government services and the consequence of the refusal to pass a continuing resolution on the Budget Balancing Bill, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
12 January 1996
The snow of 1996, 1947 and 1888
The New York blizzard of 1996, the great snowfall of 1947 and the "paralysing anxiety" during the blizzard of 1888, as chronicled by Alistair Cooke.
19 January 1996
Hilary Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt and Abigail Smith
The controversy surrounding Hilary Clinton's involvement in the presidency and the actions of Mrs Roosevelt and Mrs Adams, are the subject of a comparison by Alistair Cooke.
26 January 1996
Clinton's State Of The Union address
President Clinton's State of the Union Address and the origins and purposes of the grand jury system.
02 February 1996
The 1996 New Hampshire primary
The importance of the New Hampshire primary election in the race to become president is the subject of a discussion by Alistair Cooke.
09 February 1996
Great American frauds
Phineas T Barnum, Hershel Geguzin and Ruldolph Walter Wanderone, three notable fraudsters, are all profiled by Alistair Cooke.
16 February 1996
The US tax system
The varied nature of democratic governments, the legal and political powers of state government and the arcane operation of the US tax system are considered by Alistair Cooke.
23 February 1996
Pat Buchanan and divisions with the Republican Party
Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, divisions within the Republican Party and the greatest anxiety of "middle America" are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
08 March 1996
Churchill's Soviet warning and the Chinese threat
Fifty years after Churchill's speech warning of Soviet ambitions in Europe, Alistair Cooke considers the new threat posed by communist China.
15 March 1996
Lockerbie and anti-terror laws
The Lockerbie bombing, the unpredictable threat of terrorism and the difficulty of making anti-terror laws compatible with constitutional rights, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
22 March 1996
The first Letter from America 1946
On the 50th anniversary of his Letter from America broadcasts Alistair Cooke re-presents the first talk, describing his return from an austere Britain to a bountiful New York.
29 March 1996
Perot, Buchanan and Dole
Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan's challenge to Bob Dole in the race for the Republican presidential nomination and how a thief in the night may yet undo Bill Clinton.
05 April 1996
Euthanasia and the terminally ill
Euthanasia, and the right to die for the terminally ill, the case of Karen Ann Quinlan, and Dr Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan doctor who has helped 27 dying people.
12 April 1996
The Montana Freemen
The rise of Montana's armed insurgents, their historical inheritance and their opposition in the FBI, as chronicled by Alistair Cooke.
19 April 1996
The South Florida University bomb
The University of South Florida's reaction to a bomb threat leads Alistair Cooke to consider the emergence and nature of America's new anti-terrorism laws.
26 April 1996
Erma Bombeck
The life and work of columnist Erma Bombeck, "America's only woman humourist", and writer of "At Wit's End", is remembered by Alistair Cooke.
03 May 1996
Kennedy's rocking chair
The sale of President Kennedy's rocking chair, JFK's ailments and the discreetness of the press, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
10 May 1996
Diplomacy and the Star Wars defence program
The diplomacies of Wilson and Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan's Star Wars defence programme, and the American response to international elections, as detailed by Alistair Cooke.
17 May 1996
The debate over assisted suicide
The preparations for the upcoming presidential elections, and the resurgence of the legal and moral debate over assisted suicide in the US, as considered by Alistair Cooke.
24 May 1996
Single issue groups
The unique power of single issue groups in American presidential elections and President Clinton's stance on gay marriage are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
31 May 1996
Memorial Day, 1996
Memorial Day, now indistinguishable from Veteran's Day, leads Cooke to consider on how recognition of military service has changed and, how Bill Clinton joined the US army.
07 June 1996
Timothy Leary (1920 -1996)
The death of Timothy Leary, the impact of LSD in the 1960s, and the need for each generation to rebel against the one before, as chronicled by Alistair Cooke.
14 June 1996
Bob Dole to run for president
With Bob Dole resigning from the Senate, Alistair Cooke examines the legislator's time as Senate leader and explores the uncertain future of the Republican Party.
21 June 1996
Max Factor Jr and make-up (1904 - 1996)
The death of Max Factor Jnr. and the origin of the word "make-up" are the subjects considered by Alistair Cooke.
05 July 1996
1996 Russian presidential elections
Boris Yeltsin's victory in the Russian presidential elections, the relative novelty of universal suffrage in the West and the need for democracy, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
12 July 1996
Melvin Belli (1907-1996)
A reflection on the life and legal crusade of the flamboyant US celebrity lawyer Melvin Belli, self-proclaimed defender of the 'little helpless guy'.
19 July 1996
The Helms-Burton Bill
The Helms-Burton bill, which penalises foreign companies doing business with Cuba, Senator Jessie Helms and tobacco , and the importance of Southern states to President Clinton.
26 July 1996
The TWA Flight 800 crash
The TWA Flight 800 crash and the media coverage of the accident, the casino life of the financial markets and Bob Dole's reluctance to embrace the 1990s.
02 August 1996
The welfare and healthcare reform debate
The presidential race, US welfare and healthcare reform and the prurience and pressure surrounding the TWA flight 800 crash investigation.
09 August 1996
Atlanta Olympics 1996
The commercialisation and crass television coverage of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the effect that an influx of money has on sport.
16 August 1996
The 1996 Republican convention
The history of the party nomination conventions, the switch to the primary election as the method of choosing a presidential candidate, and Bill Clinton's lead in the polls.
23 August 1996
The return of Ross Perot and US social concerns
The return of Ross Perot as a presidential candidate, the prohibition of third-trimester abortions, the proliferation of guns and the education of children about global warming.
30 August 1996
Chicago and the Democratic convention
The Democratic Party convention returning to Chicago, the history of the city and the 'circus within a plague' of the last, disastrous conference of 1968.
06 September 1996
Cruise missile strike in Iraq
The US cruise missile strike in Iraq, the claims that the first Gulf War was left unfinished and the complexities of the first conflict, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
13 September 1996
The Defense Of Marriage Act 1996
The Defense of Marriage Act and the implications it has to same sex marriage, and news from Bob Dole's floundering presidential campaign.
20 September 1996
OJ Simpson's civil trial
As O J Simpson's civil trial begins Alistair Cooke considers what can be gained from a civil suit and examines the differences in the way the new trial is being run.
27 September 1996
Boris Yeltin's heart surgery
Boris Yeltsin's heart-bypass surgery and the cultures of secrecy that have surrounded the heath and governance of gravely ill leaders.
04 October 1996
The 1996 presidential debates
The first presidential debate between President Clinton and Mr Dole, and the unique election advantage gifted to incumbent presidents, the presidential halo.
11 October 1996
Vice-presidential responsibilites
Vice-presidential responsibilities, the careers of Bob Dole, Dan Quayle and Jack Kemp, and the false predictions of Lord Kelvin, Albert Einstein and Arthur C Clarke.
18 October 1996
The science of electoral predictions
The science of electoral prediction and the possible pitfalls of keeping one ear to the ground following the Dole and Clinton debates.
25 October 1996
Forest fires, tornadoes and earthquakes
A season of disaster, forest fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and leads to a recollection of a vast storm in 1938 which descended on the Northern Atlantic coast.
01 November 1996
Halloween, 1996
The history Halloween, the origin of the vampire myth and the roaring business performed by pumpkin farmers during the month of October.
08 November 1996
The 1996 presidential election
The results of the presidential elections and how technology is turning busy television studios into silent cathedrals, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
15 November 1996
US intervention in Rwanda
US intervention in the Rwandan refugee crisis and the history of President Clinton's press conferences.
22 November 1996
Sexual harassment in the armed forces
After public revelations of cases of sexual violence in the US Army and Navy Alistair Cooke examines the scandal of the sexual harassment of women in America's armed forces.
29 November 1996
Thanksgiving in California
From California, Alistair Cooke examines the un-politicised institution of Thanksgiving and the changing face of US politics.
06 December 1996
Permissive California
Cults of California, tolerance in San Francisco, and the permissive parenting backlash are discussed by Alistair Cooke in this week's Letter From America.
13 December 1996
Gulf War Syndrome
Madeleine Albright becomes the first Secretary of State in America, and investigations reveal a possible chemical cause of Gulf War Syndrome.
20 December 1996
UN Leader Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali
A tribute to Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former leader of the UN General Assembly, whose peacekeeping skills were put to the test during the Rwandan Genocide.
27 December 1996
A history of Father Christmas
Santa Claus or Father Christmas? The origin of the Patron saint of Christmas is explored. Plus, the surprising popularity of a Tickle Me Elmo toy has caused prices to skyrocket.
1997
03 January 1997
The Boston Massacre
How an engraving by Paul Revere exaggerated the 1770 riot at Boston's Customs House into the Boston Massacre. Plus, the unsolved mystery of why flight TWA 800 crashed in 1996.
10 January 1997
The Speaker of the House
The various roles of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the future of Newt Gingrich following his guilty plea to the charge of misinforming the subcommittee in 1997.
17 January 1997
Presidential Inauguration
Presidential inaugurations - from George Washington's 1789 pomp and parade, to Andrew Jackson's drunken brawl, to finally Bill Clinton's home-grown vegetable dinner.
24 January 1997
A history of Washington DC
The history of Washington D.C as the capital city of the United States, and the effect of the reign of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on the crime rate in New York City in 1997.
31 January 1997
Pope John Paul II (1920 / 2005)
The instillation of Pope John Paul II in 1978 caused a flutter amongst the Polish immigrants in Long Island who worship at Our Lady of Ostrobrama.
07 February 1997
OJ Simpson guilty
Why the jury found OJ Simpson guilty on his second trial. The black-and-white pattern which lies behind the second trial verdict, described as a 'reasonable response to the facts'.
14 February 1997
OJ Simpson's damages
Is the $33.5m damages a fair sum for guilty OJ Simpson to pay, or simply the price of revenge masquerading as justice?
21 February 1997
American Airlines pilots' strike
President Clinton forgets about upsetting organised labour and chooses instead to keep American business flying by forcing a stop to the airline pilots strike.
28 February 1997
Astronaut John Glenn
John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, retires after a lifetime in the public eye.
07 March 1997
Protecting the freedom of speech
The House of Representatives vote in favour of the Ten Commandments. The legal contest between the American Civil Liberties Union's and Judge Moore over the freedom of speech.
14 March 1997
Clinton's campaign money scandal
President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore have been caught soliciting money from inside the White House for use in the presidential campaign. How will the scandal unfold?
21 March 1997
Internet pornography
How does the US restrict children accessing pornography on the internet / without tripping over the Constitution? Does the 1st amendment cover the internet?
28 March 1997
Alan Greenspan
A profile of Alan Greenspan, economist and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve. The most powerful man in the world who no one is ever likely to recognise in public.
04 April 1997
Al Gore's Chinese aeroplane deal
Vice President Al Gore oversees the Boeing 777 jetliners deal with China. Plus, should presidential candidates get free television publicity?
11 April 1997
The Augusta National Golf Club
How the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia became the home of golf in America. Alistair Cooke explores the history of his beloved golf course.
18 April 1997
Jackie Robinson (1919 / 1972)
A tribute to Jackie Robinson (1919 / 1972) the first black Major League baseball player who ended racial segregation when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
25 April 1997
Nicotine addiction
How television has become a valuable historical archive, and how film can be replayed to haunt those taped, not least the tobacco industry bosses who lied about nicotine addiction.
02 May 1997
Tiger Woods' ethnicity
Tiger Woods, the golfing wonder whose ethnicity proves hard to pigeonhole / and, as fellow golf champion Fuzzy Zoeller discovers, can't be joked about.
09 May 1997
Franklin D Roosevelt monument
The unveiling of a Franklin D Roosevelt monument in Washington DC reminds Alistair Cooke of the problems that arise when erecting statues of notable figures.
16 May 1997
Sir Lionel Sackville-West (1827 - 1908)
The 1997 UK general election, viewed from across the Atlantic, and the story of Sir Lionel Sackville-West, the man whose fatuity lost the Democrats the 1888 presidency.
23 May 1997
Spending the nation's money
Alistair Cooke reflects on the differences between the American and British methods of presenting and debating a budget.
30 May 1997
The Kelly Flinn case
The cases of Kelly Flinn and Paula Jones, two women at the heart of sex scandals that could change US military law, or even the Constitution.
06 June 1997
William Clayton (1880-1966)
A look at the life and work of William Clayton, the official who assessed the state of post-war Europe, and returned to the US to play a major role in drafting the Marshall Plan.
13 June 1997
Health scares
The healthy nature of the economy during the Clinton presidency, the need for a scare story in the news media, and the threat of salmonella, cholesterol and alcoholism.
20 June 1997
Watergate - 25 years on
A look back at the break-in at the Watergate office complex in 1972, the details of the FBI investigation in to the incident and the eventual resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974.
27 June 1997
Roswell UFO incident
The reported sightings of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, a review of the military explanations after the incident, and the refusal of some to believe the official accounts.
04 July 1997
The sovereignty of Hong Kong.
The US take on the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese in July 1997, the ceremony accompanying the transfer of power, and the Chinese hopes for a peaceful return of Taiwan.
11 July 1997
The Clinton re-election campaign
Senator Fred Thompson, the mystery of the millions illegally contributed to Clinton's re-election campaign, and the loss of sporting good manners.
18 July 1997
James Stewart
A recollection of the life and work of American actor James Stewart (1908-1997).
25 July 1997
The end of civilisation
The closure of the remaining Woolworth department stores in the US signals the loss of a retail institution for the older generation.
01 August 1997
Clinton: Prosperity and popularity
How the public perception of Bill Clinton as a prosperous president is keeping him at the top of the popularity polls.
08 August 1997
Integration in San Francisco schools
A discussion on the success of Asian immigrants, and a grand jury condemns the failure of integration in San Francisco schools.
15 August 1997
Bottled water
The curious rise in the demand for bottled water, and the speculation all down to status symbol mania taking over plain common sense.
22 August 1997
The 1997 United Parcel Service strike
The United Parcel Service (UPS) employees strike reminds Alistair Cooke of previous union demonstrations of power, including the disastrous 1981 Air Traffic Controllers strike.
05 September 1997
Princess Diana of Wales (1961-1997)
The impact of the death of Princess Diana of Wales in the US, and the moral regulation required for freedom of speech and a free press.
12 September 1997
Megan's Law
Megan's Law, the Miranda law and others named after people, and Elisha Dov Hack's protest about moral standards in Yale university dormitories.
19 September 1997
Rudolph Valentino
In the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana, remembering Rudolph Valentino, the first superstar creation lost in the dazzle of the spotlight.
26 September 1997
American stereotypes on film
An examination of the stereotypes of American life as portrayed in Hollywood movies, and seen by a global audience.
03 October 1997
Dr George Gallup (1901 - 1984)
So you think you know how most people feel? Meet Dr George Gallup, the man who transformed our views on what really constitutes public opinion.
10 October 1997
Clinton's veto
How President Clinton's veto will stop local politicians stuffing themselves with pork barrel amendments; and how it's now OK to eat up all of your egg.
17 October 1997
El Niño
What exactly is El Niño, and why is this phenomenon named the 'Christ Child' causing trouble for more than just the Queen's visit to California?
24 October 1997
The Kennedy Missile Tapes of 1962
The taping discussions in the White House, what the Kennedy tapes reveal about the discovery of missile bases in Cuba, and how the president reacted to the crisis of 1962.
31 October 1997
The Wall Street crash
Highs and lows of the stock market / and a reminder the events leading up to the 1929 Wall Street crash.
07 November 1997
President Jiang in America
Chinese President Jiang's 1997 visit to America to meet President Clinton, the dangers of a strong Chinese economy, and Saddam Hussein's threat to shoot down planes over Iraq.
14 November 1997
Judge Zobel and the Louise Woodward verdict
The verdict in the Louise Woodward trial, the ability of Judge Zobel to reduce the severity of the conviction, and the difference between state and federal law in the US.
21 November 1997
Sir Isaiah Berlin
The continuing search for Saddam's deadly toxic secrets and the loss of a friend, the brilliant, witty and wise Sir Isaiah Berlin
28 November 1997
US national Holidays
National holidays in America, dangerous cholesterol levels at Thanksgiving, and how Alistair Cooke convinced the state of Idaho to celebrate the birthday of George Washington.
05 December 1997
American tourists
Tony Blair's vision of a nodern Britain, alistair Cooke's suggestions for a tour of the US, and Roosevelt's post-war plea for Americans to holiday in the Caribbean.
12 December 1997
Financial crisis in Asia
How the whole world catches a cold from one financial sneeze in Asia / the danger of epidemics in a global economy
26 December 1997
A New York Christmas story
The story of Zebby Adams, the real Santa Claus, and how his joyride got him into trouble / and his Christmas spirit got him out of it
1998
02 January 1998
Helping the homeless
Increased awareness of homelessness and poverty and the failure of ideologies to address the variety of the homeless population are considered by Alistair Cooke.
09 January 1998
Failing to predict the future
Considering failures by expert meteorologists, economists and Kremlinologists to predict the future, why do mere newspaper columnists ever attempt it?
16 January 1998
New York society
Class mobility and social change in New York are illustrated by Alistair Cooke with the stories of the Astors, the Metropolitan Opera House, JP Morgan and Mrs Stuyvesant Fish.
23 January 1998
Cuba after the fall of the USSR
Considering Cuba's remarkable economic survival after the loss of Soviet support, the history of US-Cuban relations, and a visit to the island by Pope John Paul II.
30 January 1998
The Monica Lewinsky scandal emerges
Tapes emerge alledging that Monica Lewinsky was asked to lie on oath about an affair with the President and Clinton delivers a dazzling state of the Union address.
06 February 1998
Clinton's contadictory polls
The contradiction of Clinton's high approval rating and belief that he's lying, shifting taboos on reporting private life and the culture of social arbitration through law courts.
13 February 1998
The problems of military action in Iraq
The UN refuses to take united action against Saddam Hussein and Alistair Cooke considers America's movement towards and the potential problems of military action in Iraq.
20 February 1998
Investigating President Clinton
The investigative process which has led to the Clinton - Lewinsky allegations, the role of special prosecutor Starr, the grand jury and examining President Clinton's response.
27 February 1998
Jerome Murray, inventor (1912-1998)
Jerome Murray inventor of myriad conveniences, from the high speed dentist's drill to covered aeroplane boarding ramps, and the UN weapons inspection agreement with Saddam Hussein.
06 March 1998
Bill Gates and the Senate Judiciary Committee
Bill Gates comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee accused of creating an internet browser monopoly and Alistair Cooke considers previous appearances from Rockefeller to Nixon.
13 March 1998
US power and responsibility abroad
Kosovo, Iraq, Haiti and Nicaragua: US rhetoric and responsibility for life and liberty abroad is compared to past problems of power and responsibility for the British Empire.
20 March 1998
St Patrick's Day controversies
The controversies behind New York's St Patrick's Day Parade, US misconceptions about the status of Northern Ireland and American Irish historical memory of the famine of 1845/6.
27 March 1998
Constitutional rights
The complexities and historical shifts of the interpretation of constitutional rights, freedom of speech and how to fly the American flag.
03 April 1998
Clinton sexual assault case thrown out
Judge Wright throws out Paula Jones' civil prosecution of President Clinton for an alleged sexual assault in 1991. How will it affect the investigation of the Whitewater land deal?
10 April 1998
Consequences of the Disability Act
The consequences Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the influence of the civil courts on pro-golf and a 9 year old girl's debunking of Therapeutic Touch.
17 April 1998
US financial regulation
The uncertain future of the investment bubble, US financial regulation, the lack of open reporting of financial figures in Asian countries and the effects of El Niño on weather.
24 April 1998
US anti-smoking legislation
A history of US anti-smoking legislation, teenage smoking, the attempts of pro-tobacco lobbyists to cut a favourable deal and a draft bill which could cost them $516 billion.
01 May 1998
California's progressive social legislation
The homogenisation of US life and media, California's lead in social legislation and two new Californian propositions on English for immigrants and labour union spending.
08 May 1998
Medicine, inventions and the quick-fix
The desire for a 'quick-fix', the false dawns of the daily medical miracle, the instant imitation of new inventions and excitement over a 'so-called' impotence pill.
15 May 1998
India's first nuclear tests
India's 1998 nuclear tests take the US government by surprise and Alistair Cooke considers the vast changes in the daily burdens of the presidency since the 1920s.
22 May 1998
The Microsoft monopoly actions
Bill Gates' Microsoft faces a barrage of legal actions claiming that the Explorer web browser is a monopoly and Alistair Cooke considers the history of US anti-monopoly law.
29 May 1998
Immigrants to America and assimilation
What happens if immigrants to America don't want to become Americans? Alistair Cooke considers assimilation, patriotism, Memorial Day and proposition 227.
05 June 1998
Barry Goldwater (1909-1998)
Remembering Barry Goldwater, Alistair Cooke considers a most memorable defeated presidential candidate - the cowboy from Phoenix, Arizona who changed the Republican Party forever.
12 June 1998
El Niño making Congress restless
Considering religious freedom, anti-Catholic feeling, same-sex marriage, El Niño and renaming schools named after slave owners as Congress tidies around the edges of major issues.
19 June 1998
Japan's economy, Louise Woodward and homosexuality
US intervention in Japan's economy, Louise Woodward returns to the UK after her life sentence is reduced and Republican Trent Lott calls homosexuality a sin on national TV.
26 June 1998
Clinton in China, June 1998
President Clinton visits China and Alistair Cooke considers US - China relations, their economic balance, disagreement over Taiwan and the changes since Nixon's visit in 1972.
03 July 1998
Bad behaviour in tennis and chivalry in golf
The rise and fall of tennis brats from the riot of McEnroe v Nastase, NYC 1979 to McEnroe's forfiet at the 1990 Australian Open and golf as the last refuge of chivalry in sport.
10 July 1998
Roy Rogers and cinema cowboys
On the death of Roy Rogers (1911 -1998), the singing cowboy, Cooke considers the great film cowboys, Bruce Wayne, William S. Hart, Gary Cooper and the stuntman Yakima Canutt.
17 July 1998
Texas heatwave and investigating Clinton
The emergency caused by the 1998 Texas heatwave and should Clinton's Secret Service men be asked to testify in the Starr investigation into an alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky?
24 July 1998
Clinton's high aproval rating and Monica Lewinsky
Examining allegations that President Clinton persuaded Monica Lewinsky to give false testimony, Clinton's high approval rating and has Alan Greenspan noticed the heat wave?
31 July 1998
The evolution of the grand jury
President Clinton is subpoenaed to appear before Mr Starr's grand jury, the English origins of the US grand jury system and the flaws that led to it being abandoned in Britain.
07 August 1998
Proposition 227, immigration and English
Proposition 227, to teach immigrant's children purely in English, passes in California and Alistair Cooke considers the infamous English of Polish Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn.
14 August 1998
The threat of Y2K
Senator Robert Bennett prepares the US to face millennial computer failure and Alistair Cooke considers the origin and potentially disastrous consequences of the Y2K glitch.
21 August 1998
The President will address the nation
President Clinton makes a televised confession of his affair with Monica Lewinsky: Alistair Cooke considers its inadequacy and the betrayal of those who trusted and supported him.
28 August 1998
US cruise missile strikes
A subdued Clinton family holiday turns to political action as America launches cruise missile attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan and Clinton makes a revitalised public appearance.
04 September 1998
Son of Black Monday
The financial crash of August 1998, its causes and effects are compared with Alistair Cooke's memories of the first Black Monday in 1987 and the Black Thursday of 1929.
11 September 1998
Impeachment for Clinton?
The Lewinsky report is published, the House of Representatives begins to consider evidence and impeachment and President Clinton asks for forgiveness.
18 September 1998
George Wallace
The life of George Wallace, reformed racial segregationist and Governor of Alabama is remembered and Alistair Cooke considers his anger and the humble truth of his repentance.
25 September 1998
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Composer George Gershwin's life and music is remembered for the centenary of his birth and a consideration of the history and post-Soviet boom in Russian immigration to New York.
02 October 1998
The President's economic problems
The Asian economic crisis expands into Brazil and Alistair Cooke considers that though there's little a President can do about economic problems, they will always get the blame.
09 October 1998
Presidential infidelities impeachment
Misconceptions over the frequency of Presidential infidelities, recalling a time when the press never discussed a statesman's private life, and the impeachment process explained.
16 October 1998
Separated by Language
Remembering New York writer Jerome Weidman, Pulitzer prize winner and America's first 'street-smart novelist', Alistair Cooke considers the peculiarities of American English.
23 October 1998
John Glenn returns to Space
As John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth prepares to return to space at the age of 77, Cooke remembers the extraordinary TV broadcast and Glenn's instant fame.
30 October 1998
Congressional midterms 1998
The Republican use of the Lewinsky scandal against Clinton during Congressional elections seems to backfire. Considering the parallel of Grover Cleveland's illegitimate child.
06 November 1998
Democrat victory 1998 midterms
Clinton's Democrats gain seats in the 1998 midterm election, a first for a US ruling party since Roosevelt and 1934, California goes Democrat and Clinton regains his confidence.
13 November 1998
Hurricane Mitch devastates Honduras and Nicaragua
The aid effort begins after hurricane Mitch wreaks devastation in Honduras and Nicaragua and Alistair Cooke considers how relatively trivial news can distract from great disasters.
20 November 1998
Some memorable letters from America
Aaron Burgett's Alcatraz escape, a stolen premature baby and the decline of the summer bachelor; Alistair Cooke recalls his most popular and memorable talks of the last 52 years.
27 November 1998
Saddam's nuclear arsenal
How can America deal with Saddam Hussein's suspected nuclear and biological weapons in Iraq and does a resurgence in US financial markets conceal an unstable future?
04 December 1998
Thanksgiving 1998
From New York to Sarajevo, Alistair Cooke considers the history and traditions of Thanksgiving celebrations, recent opposition and Churchill's first meeting with a turkey dinner.
11 December 1998
Clinton impeachment hearing
The House Judiciary Committee meets to decide on adoption of impeachment proceedings against Clinton Alistair Cooke considers this tortuous process and its likely outcome.
18 December 1998
Operation Desert Fox begins
The Operation Desert Fox bombing campaign begins in Iraq after the UN is refused access to weapons sites and Congress ponders whether Clinton should face an impeachment trial.
25 December 1998
Decline in US personal savings
American personal saving rates drop below zero and Alistair Cooke considers the economists who see this as good news, those who see it as bad and a culture that encourages credit.
1999
01 January 1999
America, 1998
Alistair Cooke reflects on some of the more memorable moments of 1998.
08 January 1999
Illuminating Events with Unpredictable Results
In the light of the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Alistair Cooke remembers the only other presidential impeachment that occurred 130 years ago.
15 January 1999
The US Senate trial of Bill Clinton, 1999
Alistair Cooke reports on the US Senate trial of President Bill Clinton, and reflects on some of the most interesting trials that he covered as a reporter.
22 January 1999
Striving for a More Perfect Union
Alistair Cooke reflects on Clinton's State of the Union address and asks why the only national holiday named after a human being is Rev. Martin Luther King Day.
29 January 1999
The Moral Pillar and the Moral Contortionist
Alistair Cooke reflects on the ethical dilemmas that arise when the Pope visits the United States of America.
05 February 1999
Dot Dot Dash Dash, Over and Out
To commemorate the last wireless telegraph, Alistair Cooke reflects on the creation of Morse code and its most famous uses.
12 February 1999
It ain't Over, Till it's Over
Alistair Cooke celebrates Americans who've coined famous lines and concludes that "it aint over, till it's over" for President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.
19 February 1999
Our Long Holiday from History is Over
Alistair Cooke reflects on the political fallout of President Clinton's impeachment trial and a pilots' strike.
26 February 1999
The Pursuit of Self-Determination
Alistair Cooke reflects on the influence of President Woodrow Wilson on redrawing the map of Europe after the First World War.
05 March 1999
Played for a Sucker
In the light of revelations about the CIA in Iraq, Alistair Cooke ponders the age old question; who watches the watchmen?
12 March 1999
A Natural Gentleman
In a tribute to the placid, talented, baseball player Joe DiMaggio, Alistair Cooke reflects on the character of a gentleman.
19 March 1999
Wholesale Flouting of the Law
Alistair Cooke considers how US Presidents keep flouting the War Powers Resolution, San Francisco's immigrant population and the use of bulk carriers in shipping.
26 March 1999
Doves, Hawks, Owls and the People
Alistair Cooke considers the squawked warnings from two sides of the economic market plunge and the power held by Mr Alan Greenspan, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
02 April 1999
In the Hot Seat
In the light of NATO Airstrike against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Alistair Cooke reflects on the tactics of war from World War Two, to Vietnam, to the Gulf War.
09 April 1999
The Art and Curse of Television
Alistair Cooke considers the power television has in reflecting the real images of war and peace since the abolition of front-line censorship.
16 April 1999
Whatever It Takes
Alistair Cooke considers why the only senator running for office who will acknowledge the NATO war is Senator John McCain.
23 April 1999
What's Your Exit Strategy?
On the 50th anniversary of NATO, Alistair Cooke considers the power it wealds, President Clinton's tactics and the use of exit strategies.
30 April 1999
No Schadenfreude on Nato's Birthday
Alistair Cooke recalls his memories of 1949 when NATO was first created and considers the roles of the founding fathers.
07 May 1999
Columbine High School shootings, 1999
The shootings by schoolboys in Columbine High School, Colorado and the long running fight between gun controllers and the National Rifle Association.
14 May 1999
Two Attitudes about China
After the bombing of a Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan, Alistair Cooke reflects on the subsequent souring of the American-Chinese relations.
21 May 1999
A Course in Manners
Alistair Cooke reflects on Germaine Greer and the feminist movement, and the new US course to teach taxi drivers and other civil servants good manners.
28 May 1999
Witticisms and Crazy One-Liners
Alistair Cooke tries to forget the worrying events like the Balkan wars in the news by remembering some witticism and anecdotes.
04 June 1999
Laws Doomed from the Start
Alistair Cooke explores how one man's use of an electric golf buggy altered the meaning of a US disability law and remembers the UK's struggle with daylight saving.
11 June 1999
Testing Times in the Advancement of Science
With the US in uproar about genetically modified crops, Alistair Cooke remembers other scientific discoveries which caused controversy in their creation.
18 June 1999
Freedom in America
Alistair Cooke ponders on spontaneous protests and reveals what led up to Rosa Parks changing American history.
25 June 1999
Playing for Time
Alistair Cooke reflects on why it takes so long for the judges in the Supreme Court to reach a verdict.
02 July 1999
The First Golden Paratrooper
Alistair Cooke reflects on the golden parachute of retirement and Gloria Minoprio's first stand for women's liberty in the golf world.
09 July 1999
Air Conditioning and Changes in Society
Alistair Cooke concedes to his hot weather house arrest by reflecting on the creation of air conditioning.
16 July 1999
The Brewing of Racial Storms
Alistair Cooke reflects on the long held belief of sports journalist Henry Longhurst that many forms of sporting contests do more harm to international relations than good.
23 July 1999
Tyrants and Curses Live On
Alistair Cooke reflects on the hysterical press coverage of John F. Kennedy Junior's plane crash, and is heartened by a NATO led environmental survey in Yugoslavia.
30 July 1999
Loneliness, Male Companionship and the Hunt
Alistair Cooke discusses his admiration for Ernest Hemingway and provides his own comical parody of his writing style.
06 August 1999
Going to Pot or to Pluto
Alistair Cooke reflects on preaching to the youth of today and is staggered by two little words / "British Citizen".
13 August 1999
No Word from Mount Olympus
Whilst Congress tries to pass a huge tax cut before the summer recess, Alistair Cooke wonders how they could possibly predict the state of the economy in 2010.
20 August 1999
Close, but No Cigar
Alistair Cooke discusses the medical and social aspects of cigar smoking which is becoming fashionable again in the USA.
27 August 1999
Grave Concerns
Alistair Cooke reviews speculation on why the Russians and Chinese have chosen to hold "a friendly summit" and reflects on the non-confession of Governor Bush over cocaine use.
03 September 1999
Re-Writing History
Alistair Cooke critiques a thesis which believes America's new National Policy is following in the footsteps of the British policies that foreshadowed World War Two.
10 September 1999
No Exempt Categories
Alistair Cooke reflects on his visit to a New York hospital, being exempt from jury service and Mayor Rudy Guiliani's recent stint as a juror.
17 September 1999
Barkers at Pleasure Beach Side Shows
Alistair Cooke examines the over-sensationalism within the British Press towards a parasitic virus affecting New York and examines the damage of hurricane Floyd.
24 September 1999
The Ordeal of Hurricane Floyd
Alistair Cooke reflects on the affects of Hurricane Floyd - the massive untold story of the rain it dumped on inland towns and how it lifted the rivers.
01 October 1999
The Arrival of the Golf Hooligan
Alistair Cooke considers the etiquette of sport and reflects on the sad, infamous day that his beloved golf became a victim of audience hooliganism.
08 October 1999
Greed, Liquor, Jingoism and Bad Taste
Alistair Cooke considers why the vices of greed, liquor, jingoism and bad taste should suddenly intrude on the spectator stands at sports events.
15 October 1999
A Plea to the Senate
Alistair Cooke reflects on the European pleas to the US Senate to ratify the Test Ban Treaty, and compares it with the Senate's condemnation of 1919 Treaty of Versailles.
22 October 1999
Wishful Thinking Overload
Alistair Cooke compares the Boston Massacre with the rejection of a nuclear treaty, and explains how a good treaty can still be defeated by a few short-sighted people.
29 October 1999
That Fateful Night in Macbeth
Under imminent attack from the All Hallows' Eve celebrations, Alistair Cooke discusses the origins of Halloween, vampire legends, and the vulnerability of children "trick or treating".
05 November 1999
At the Centre of Things
Upon visiting San Francisco, Alistair Cooke reflects on the ego-centric lives of city dwellers and the great assumptions that they make on a daily basis.
12 November 1999
Democracy in Action
To commemorate 10 years since the fall of the Berlin wall, Alistair Cooke explains why America paid so much attention to the city and the promise it held for democracy.
19 November 1999
Fortress America and Beloved Symbols of Britain
Whilst President Clinton's visit to Oslo fizzed with pomp and glory, Alistair Cooke discusses how it managed to overshadow the real reason for going; a memorial service in honour of Yitzhak Rabin. Plus, he evaluates Tony Blair's banishment of hereditary p
26 November 1999
The Most American of All American Festivals
Whilst turkeys roast and yams bake, Alistair Cooke reflects on the traditions, history and recipes of the traditional American Thanksgiving.
03 December 1999
The Last Demo Circus of the Year
Alistair Cooke discusses the protests against the World Trade Organisation convention in Seattle and argues that globalisation can no more be abolished than can the internet.
10 December 1999
Renewed Concern Over Secondhand Smoke
Passive smoking fears make Alistair Cooke evaluate the cleanliness of the air around us. Plus, he adds a postscript to his evaluation of the protest against the World Trade Organisation in Seattle.
17 December 1999
Old Sentiment and New Honesty
A vintage edition of Letter from America, first broadcast in December 1967. Alistair Cooke muses on parking tickets for senators and tells a Christmas story.
24 December 1999
Park Avenue's colourful Christmas
Whilst looking on the tasteful fairy lights of Park Avenue's festival decorations, Alistair Cooke reflects on how, not so long ago, Christmas had a reputation of debauchery.
31 December 1999
On Y2K Alert
Alistair Cooke discusses the precautions being taken by the US government to minimise the potential damage to the banking and administration services from the millennium bug.
2000
07 January 2000
A Breathtaking Global Tour and a Resignation
Alistair Cook discusses the global televised countdown to the millennium; Russian president Boris Yeltsin's resignation, and the audacity of Mr Putin in praising the Soviet secret police.
14 January 2000
The Death of the Old Media
Alistair Cook takes in the story of Rip Van Winkle as he tries (and fails) to make sense of the multi-million dollar tie up between Time Warner and America Online.
21 January 2000
What are Animals put on Earth For?
Upon finding that "Fur is back" Alistair Cook reasons America's climate is the reason it never actually went away.
28 January 2000
A Gentleman but not a Scholar
Following North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms's scolding lecture to the United Nations, Alistair Cook reviews how his message was received.
04 February 2000
Conventional Wisdom
Reflecting on the history of how political parties choose their candidates, Alistair Cook finds that the conventions have become coronations, and hails the power of the primary.
11 February 2000
Fickle Crushes and Volatile Markets
Considering America's financial situation, Alistair Cook remembers a forgotten lesson: the folly of economic prophecy.
18 February 2000
Charles Schulz: A Great and Good Man
Alistair Cooke commemorates the life of Charles Schultz, the creator of the comic strip characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock.
25 February 2000
Fuelling Inflation
Alistair Cook considers how a meeting of Opec and the price of oil may ultimately affect the future of the US more than Republican primaries.
03 March 2000
Double diplomatic turmoil
America's tricky relationship with Taiwan is under the spotlight as the country enrages China by ordering $6bn of warships from the US.
10 March 2000
A Brief Joust and Tumble with Sir Galahad
Alistair Cook looks at the rise and fall of Senator John McCain - briefly a challenger to George W Bush to be the Republican party's candidate in the forthcoming election.
17 March 2000
Buying Judges and Acquiring a Patron Saint
Recalling a misleading first impression of America, Alistair Cook examines St. Patrick's Day celebrations and the influence of Irish immigrants on the Democratic Party.
24 March 2000
A National Figure of Charm and Pity
Alistair Cooke discusses the case of 6 year old Cuban Elian Gonzalez, the sole survivor of a group of would-be illegal immigrants whose boat capsized off the Florida coast.
31 March 2000
The Most Significant Event of Recent Times
Alistair Cooke considers the ramifications of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station and the Pope's apology for the Catholic Church's sins against unbelievers.
07 April 2000
Never-failing, Ever-soaring, High-flying, Hi-techs
While technology stocks are puzzling financial experts, Alistair Cook wonders what alternative sources will be found to create energy.
14 April 2000
The Year of the Census
Alistair Cooke examines whether questions on the US census invade individuals' privacy and explores the uses of private information.
21 April 2000
Cycle of Boom and Bust
After the New York stock exchange plunges more than 600 points, periods of boom and bust are remembered by Alistair Cook.
28 April 2000
A Sordid Struggle
Alistair Cooke examines the legal battle to declare six year old Cuban Elian Gonzalez eligible for permanent asylum in the US and the political ramifications of the case.
05 May 2000
The Outrageous David Merrick
The life and times of a colourful character in American theatre - David Merrick - are remembered by Alistair Cooke.
12 May 2000
The China Bill and other Kickshaws
Whilst the House of Representatives vote on granting China permanent trading privileges, Alistair Cooke considers San Francisco's law against sizeism.
19 May 2000
Historic Turning Points
After a shock announcement from New York City Mayor Giuliani, Alistair Cooke considers when the taboo of writing about the private life of prominent politicians was lifted.
26 May 2000
A Giant Step for Womankind
If the mother of invention is necessity, then Alistair Cooke reflects that the father is resistance. In the light of unions disagreeing to trade with China, he reflects that all inventions meet with resistance at first...including dishwashers.
02 June 2000
Diet, Longevity and a Custard Pie
Alistair Cooke reflects on the beginning of the national obsession with cholesterol and the scientific study which proved eating too much meat is bad for you.
09 June 2000
Polishing up his Escutcheon
Alistair Cooke reflects on how President Clinton is polishing up his political legacy with his recent Chinese and Russian treaty summits.
16 June 2000
A Wonderful Work or a Rat Trap?
In light of a new vedict surrounding the visiting rights of grandparents, Alistair Cooke reflects on the pace at which the Supreme Court makes its decisions.
23 June 2000
This Great Festival of Consumerism
Alistair Cooke ponders on how long the ordinary American family has been paying attention to Father's Day and is worried by the great festival of consumerism.
30 June 2000
Pursuing a Will-o-the-wisp
On the 50th anniversary of the United Nation's Korean War Alistair Cooke remembers the conflict that was often called the "forgotten war", including how the veto clause was written into the UN charter.
07 July 2000
Where Have all the Answers Gone?
Alistair Cooke bends his alphabet into a metaphysical helix in order to gain an understanding of the human genome.
14 July 2000
Now Read On...
Alistair Cooke remembers George Gallup, the man whose scientific polling method changed the study of government and public opinion forever.
21 July 2000
Ghostly Applause for a News Blackout
Alistair Cooke evaluates the effect of the news blackouts surrounding the Israel and Palestinian peace talks and reflects on their joint history and turbulent relationship.
28 July 2000
From Party Convention to Coronation
On the eve of the political parties choosing a nominee for the presidency of the United States, Alistair Cooke remembers some previous party conventions.
04 August 2000
From Exciting Horserace to Exhibition Trot
Alistair Cooke considers the outdated presidential nominating conventions and remembers the dramatic evenings of the longest ballot in US history.
11 August 2000
Running Mates and Carpet Baggers
Alistair Cooke explains the origins of the American political phrases "carpet bagger" and "running mate" as well as the role of the vice president.
18 August 2000
Mother Nature's Wild Fires
Alistair Cooke talks about the colossal forest fires raging across the United States and explains how they've started to become an issue of political partisanship.
25 August 2000
Russia: The Victim of Democracy
Alistair Cooke considers the tragic sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk and what public reaction in Russia has revealed about the government's relationship with it's people.
01 September 2000
Father, God, Undefined
Alistair Cooke considers the American passion for trusting in God and how religion is linked to the American constitutional rights.
08 September 2000
Doing What Comes Naturally
Alistair Cooke examines the lengths athletes go to for sporting success and reflects on the history of bodily enhancement through drugs, hormones and exercise techniques.
15 September 2000
Trouble with the English Language
In the run up to the presidential election Alistair Cooke considers the affect of the poll ratings, Governor Bush's language gaffs and personality contests.
22 September 2000
Just the Facts, Ma'am
In the midst of the reporting from the Sydney Olympic Games, Alistair Cooke is surprised by an article detailing the legal status of prostitution in Australia. Whilst reviewing the article he reflects on the eternal struggle between political idealism and
29 September 2000
A Vague Beast Called Big Oil
Whilst the rising price of gasoline (or petrol to the European listener) is casusing a problem across both Europe and the US, Alistair Cooke considers who, if anyone, is really to blame for this big oil situation.
06 October 2000
There He Goes Again
With a presidential election a month or so away, Alistair Cook ponders the history of the American presidential debates.
13 October 2000
The World's Tumult and the Price of a Barrel of Oil
Alistair Cook considers two conflicts - the rioting in Jerusalem and the revolution in Belgrade.
20 October 2000
A Supreme Diarist
Alistair Cooke celebrates the life and work of diarist James Agate and contemplates how he would have approached the pressing issues of the modern world. .
27 October 2000
Suffocating in an Ocean of Advertising
Alistair Cooke looks forward with pleasure to the Presidential election and an end to wall-to-wall lobbying and advertising.
03 November 2000
The Day of Judgement
Democrat or Republican? Gore or Bush? Who will be the next President? Alistair Cooke reviews the two candidates.
10 November 2000
Paralysis by Analysis
Given the closeness of the recent election, Alistair Cooke asks what sort of mandate the next President will really possess.
17 November 2000
The Florida re-count, 2000
The various legal issues underlying the failure to elect either George W Bush or Al Gore as president are explained by Alistair Cooke.
24 November 2000
The Origin of the Continental Blow Out
Alistair Cooke looks at the origins of Thanksgiving and seasonal trends in food.
01 December 2000
It's a Nine Ring Circus and You'll Never be Bored
Alistair Cooke examines the voting irregularities of 1876 and applies the lessons learned from them to the current electoral crisis in Florida.
08 December 2000
Bedazzled and Bewildered
Alistair Cooke asks whether the doubts about the result of the Florida vote are paralysing America's government.
15 December 2000
An Embarrassing Relic of Authoritarianism
Alistair Cooke contemplates the pros and cons of democracy and the role of America's Electoral College.
22 December 2000
How Wrong We've Been, from Madison to Roosevelt
Alistair Cooke explains how America was able to wait patiently for the confirmation of their new president, George Bush.
29 December 2000
America is Back to Normal
Alistair Cooke discusses the reality of wind chill, questionnaires for appointing cabinet officers and the secrets to old age.
2001
05 January 2001
The Magic of the Internet?
Alistair Cooke contemplates whether the internet really is the miracle cure for the US economy.
12 January 2001
First and Foremost Bureaucrats
A childhood fishing trip becomes more poignant to Alistair Cooke after discovering that the North Sea is falling victim to water pollution.
19 January 2001
Grandiose Inaugurations we Have Known
Alistair Cooke compares Andrew Jackson's rowdy inauguration with that of George W Bush.
26 January 2001
A Precautionary Bit of Advice
Alistair Cooke compares the colourful characters of past US presidents, including Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Harry S Truman.
02 February 2001
How am I doing?
Alistair Cooke investigates the quirky work habits of past US presidents, including Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Calvin Coolidge.
09 February 2001
Famous and Good Intermediate Clowns
Alistair Cooke remarks on the cynicism of old motion picture comic WC Fields and considers George W Bush's push to decentralise government.
16 February 2001
From Shirtsleeves to Shirt Sleeves in Three Generations
Alistair Cooke reflects on the generations of wealthy families who prosper or loose it all.
23 February 2001
The Scandal of Pardons and White House Furniture
The controversial Clinton exit inspires Alistair Cooke to investigate past presidents' departures from the White House.
02 March 2001
A Villain of American History
Alistair Cooke is shocked by the results from a national poll asking US citizens to name the four greatest presidents in American history.
09 March 2001
The Vice Presidency and a Precaution Against Death
Alistair Cooke considers the health of the American vice-president, Dick Cheney, and wonders whether the Senate could pass President Bush's tax bill and make it law.
16 March 2001
Sounding the Alarm to Farmers
Alistair Cooke reflects on the foot and mouth epidemic affecting Britain, and the ban implemented by America on all living animals imported from Europe.
23 March 2001
Bush Leads from the Right
Alistair Cooke considers the first two months of George W. Bush in the White House.
30 March 2001
The Entire Civilised World is Shocked Beyond Civilised Expression
Alistair Cooke reflects on President George W. Bush's decision not to support the Kyoto Treaty.
06 April 2001
A Hero's Welcome: John McCain is Back!
Alistair Cooke considers Senator John McCain's campaign funding reform bill.
13 April 2001
Déjà Vu All Over Again
Alistair Cooke reflects on the crash landing of an American spy plane on a Chinese island.
20 April 2001
Trilbies are Fashionable Again!
Alistair Cooke considers the unfashionable problem of carbon dioxide emissions and the renewed amour for trilby wearing.
27 April 2001
The Media Just Love Anniversaries - However Grim
Alistair Cooke examines the media depiction of violence and reviews the coverage of the second anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.
04 May 2001
The Supreme Court
Alistair Cooke reflects on the Supreme Court and the way in which it makes its decisions.
11 May 2001
A Universal Shout
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the credibility of the United Nations has been eroded, and how a "universal shout" of anti-Americanism has echoed around the world.
18 May 2001
California Dreaming
Alistair Cooke considers arguments surrounding the power failure crisis in California and explores the deregulation of resources.
25 May 2001
The City that Waits
Alistair Cooke examines how earthquakes in San Francisco are over shadowed by power problems, and reflects on President George W. Bush's reduction in foreign policy.
01 June 2001
Life's a Gamble!
Alistair Cooke reflects on the political centrism occuring in both the US and the UK. He considers the new conservatism of the Labour party in Britain, and the differences between the Democrats and Republicans in the US.
08 June 2001
Prescription for a Pessimist
After taking a break from the news in an attempt to remain light-hearted in the face of huge world problems, Alistair Cooke reflects on his timeout, and how news reports affect a person's psyche.
15 June 2001
Diplomacy and Public Relations
Alistair Cooke considers President Bush's political blueprints for his European policy discussions.
22 June 2001
Wake Up to Summer
Alistair Cooke reflects on how people switch their political interests from the national to the local and the talents of the mocking bird.
29 June 2001
Changing Tastes: 25 Years of Social Taboos
Alistair Cooke reflects on the changing social taboos and bigotries over the past quarter of a century.
06 July 2001
Ringing the Changes!
Whilst fireworks burn brightly in the sky, Alistair Cooke reflects on the celebrations that take place every 4th of July to commemorate US independence, and the women's finals at Wimbledon.
13 July 2001
Secret Service Secrets
Alistair Cooke considers the private and public life of a President as George Bush takes his presidential vacation with a small army of domestic and overseas reporters.
20 July 2001
Stem Cell Brain Drain
Alistair Cooke debates the ethical and political difficulties surrounding human embryo stem cell research.
27 July 2001
Policies and Popularity
Whilst Presidential poll ratings stagnate, Alistair Cooke considers the affect of policies on George Bush's popularity.
03 August 2001
East meets West
Alistair Cooke explores Europe's ignorance of America's long and continuous concern with Pacifica and the Far East.
10 August 2001
Golf: It's a Very Difficult Game
An special mixed-couples golf match that paired Tiger Woods with Annika Sorenstam, and David Duval with Karrie Webb, inspires Alistair Cooke to reflect on his most beloved sport, golf.
17 August 2001
Life, Death and Medical Research
A coma patient kept on life support for 22 years makes Alistair Cooke consider the complex political and ethical issues of medical advancement.
24 August 2001
Financial Wizards and Economic Prophecy
Alistair Cooke reflects on the worldwide pandemic of economic decline.
31 August 2001
The Threat from Wobbling Warheads
Alistair Cooke reflects on President Bush's determination to build an all-embracing defence missile shield.
07 September 2001
A Conference Against Human Prejudice
Alistair Cooke likens the problems arising from the UN Convention on racism to those found on and off the professional tennis court.
14 September 2001
America's Day of Terror, 9/11
Alistair Cooke reflects on how he and the rest of the American population reacted to the World Trade Center terrorist attack on September 11th 2001.
21 September 2001
America on Standby
In the aftermath of September 11th, Alistair Cooke considers how the actions of New York City Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, compare with the activities of President Bush and his government.
28 September 2001
The "Loss of Eden"
Alistair Cooke considers the lifespan of a letter written by Einstein to warn the President of the power unleashed by nuclear reactions, and how terrorism is used by governments.
05 October 2001
Civil Rights and Censorship
Alistair Cooke compares the uses and abuses of civil rights and censorship by UK and US governments during wartime.
12 October 2001
Blair and Bush: The special relationship
Alistair Cooke questions the use of anxiety inducing warnings from the FBI of imminent terrorist attacks, the partiality towards singing the national anthem, and Tony Blair's popularity ratings in America.
19 October 2001
In The Olden Time: Before 11 September
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the September 11th attack has changed the American psyche, and considers how letters filled with anthrax are exacerbating the problems.
26 October 2001
Living with anthrax
Whilst coping with the daily threat of possibly finding anthrax in the mail, Alistair Cooke reflects on how hope and fear are wrapped up within the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
02 November 2001
The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
Alistair Cooke reflects on how America is coping in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on September 11th.
09 November 2001
The Stars and Stripes
Alistair Cooke reflects on the outpouring of patriotism and the outburst of flag hanging in response to the September 11th attacks.
16 November 2001
Project Space Guard
Alistair Cooke discusses the creation of The Space Guard Project, invented to eliminate potential extraterrestrial catastrophes.
23 November 2001
French forces in Afghanistan, November 2001
The coincidences between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy. Plus, the UN debate on war with Afghanistan.
30 November 2001
The Terrorists' Trojan Horse
Alistair Cooke reflects on the horror of home grown terrorists used by al-Qaeda and other terrorist cells.
07 December 2001
Security, Civil Rights and New Laws
Alistair Cooke considers the political and ethical dilemmas of "racial profiling" at airports since September 11th.
14 December 2001
The Golden Gate
Alistair Cooke discusses the rumour of a potential attack on the San Francisco Bridge and the warnings by scientists about global warming.
21 December 2001
The Messiah at Christmas
In the wake of 9/11, Alistair Cooke remembers introducing Bernstein to Handel's Messiah and admires the generosity of Tiger Woods. First broadcast 21 December 2001.
28 December 2001
Tears and Anthems
Alistair Cooke questions why hearing the American national anthem should be uniquely affecting since the attacks on September 11th.
2002
04 January 2002
Ringing the Changes
Alistair Cooke considers change, the election of George W Bush, the transformation of Rudolph Giuliani after September 11 and Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New York.
11 January 2002
There's No Place Like Home
Alistair Cooke on how an unlikely political allegiance is transforming American education, the altered state of US law making after September 11 and Milosevic at the Hague.
18 January 2002
Living Like a Queen
Alistair Cooke wonders, upon considering the reality, why anyone would want to live like a Queen and examines the lifestyles of US presidents.
25 January 2002
Batten Down the Hatches
Alistair Cooke examines the very real impact of inaccurate weather forecasts; the fall of Enron and the new US foreign policy being enacted at Guantanamo Bay.
01 February 2002
Aftermath of War
Alistair Cooke examines the ever changing nature of war, the history of four Geneva Conventions and argues the case for a new convention for a new type of war.
08 February 2002
Pork and Dogs
Alistair Cooke explains why we should all be interested in the President's budget; the new found importance of US homeland defence and the pork barrel metaphor.
15 February 2002
The Next Step for the USA
Alistair Cooke expresses his concern about the US government's conception of an "axis of evil", their desire to invade Iraq and the possible restraining power of the UN.
22 February 2002
Giuliani Receives Knighthood
Why shouldn't Rudolph Giuliani receive a knighthood? Alistair Cooke reveals the historical objections and misconceptions of America's relationship with honours.
01 March 2002
High Noon
Alistair Cooke offers his view of the flawed ideology behind the idea of an "axis of evil" and the US's relationship with its traditional allies and its many new ones.
08 March 2002
The Day the Money Stopped
Alistair Cooke recalls his personal experience of the day in 1933 when every bank in America shut and the lessons it taught him about how economies work.
15 March 2002
Memory of a True Great
Alistair Cooke explores the difficult and exceptional life of champion American golfer, lawyer, scholar and engineer Robert Tyre Jones.
22 March 2002
The Unsung Heroes
Alistair Cooke praises unseen fighter pilots protecting New York and examines the stepping-up of internal security and the publication of a list of nuclear threats to the US.
29 March 2002
Persian Poets Need Not Apply
Alistair Cooke considers the contrasting ways in which English and American high schools teach science and the difference a scientific education makes in every field.
05 April 2002
Medical Buzz Words
Alistair Cooke considers the use of medical buzz words such as virus and Alzheimer's.
12 April 2002
Middle East: Mind Your Language
Alistair Cooke examines the historical roots of US involvement in the conflict between Isreal and the Palestinians and why, when it comes to treaties, even the smallest words count.
19 April 2002
A Window of Relief
Alistair Cooke explains the exhausting effects of transcontinental flight and examines the split between the Democrats and Republicans over the attitude of Ariel Sharon.
26 April 2002
The Catholic Church and Child Sex Abuse
Alistair Cooke considers the scandals of child sex abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic church and the role of bishops and cardinals in enabling abusers.
03 May 2002
New York: How are you Doing?
Alistair Cooke on the psychological damage done to New York school children by the September 11 attacks and the prevalence of al Qaeda cells in countries allied with the US.
10 May 2002
Princes of the Church Live as Princes of the World
Alistair Cooke talks about airport security on a war footing; deep vein thrombosis, and how the Roman Catholic church uses canon law to protect its clergy.
17 May 2002
Joy and Sorrow for the Libertarians
Alistair Cooke on the libertarian Cato institute, economist Milton Friedman, why China's newfound capitalism is fully sanctioned by Marx and the massive deficits of US states.
24 May 2002
Secret of Eternal Youth
Alistair Cooke on the elderly residents of Florida who think they've discovered the state's legendary fountain of youth and the alleged forewarning of the September 11 attacks.
31 May 2002
Fountains and Trade Wars
Alistair Cooke examines George Bush's visit to Europe in the midst of a trade war and reflects on why you can't have plastic surgery if you want a personality.
07 June 2002
A Ruin Running to the Horizon
Alistair Cooke reflects on the wreckage of the Twin Towers, a vast canyon in the heart of Manhattan and how the ramifications of 9/11 stretch from school children to horse racing.
14 June 2002
The Last of the Old Time Gangsters
Alistair Cooke considers the life and death of infamous American Mafia boss John Gotti.
21 June 2002
Goldfinger is Still Alive and Well
Alistair Cooke remembers Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the second Gulf War and the brutal repression of the Kurds and considers the continuing threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
28 June 2002
American Policy has One Main Aim
A letter from a student leads Alistair Cooke to consider anti-semitism in New York, and the ramifications of President Truman's decision to help found and protect an Israeli Jewish state.
05 July 2002
The Old West
Alistair Cooke on why Deadman Flat is the closest the public can get to the G8 conference; why sweat shops are good for their workers; the Duke of Norfolk and the Fourth of July.
12 July 2002
Don't Name it, Cure it
Alistair Cooke considers his shifting habits and examines what President George W Bush is doing about fraudulent financial deals by corporations and, allegedly, Bush himself.
19 July 2002
The Avenues to Express Greed had Grown
Whilst corporate fraud and greed hit the news headlines, Alistair Cooke considers the complicated language used by Alan Greenspan to calm the stock markets. Plus, he explores the education choice in 1951 for a young black girl.
26 July 2002
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Alistair Cooke reflects on the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, and the vice of greed within philanthropy.
02 August 2002
Dead Cat Bounce
Alistair Cooke on the US stock market; the trapped Pennsylvania miners; troops required for invasion of Iraq and Pope John Paul II's visit to Toronto.
09 August 2002
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Whilst the warship, Monitor, is dredged out of the Atlantic Ocean, Alistair Cooke reflects that Europe's reliance on the UN for sanctions against Saddam Hussein is an 'easy cop out'.
16 August 2002
Cool it, Man!
Alistair Cooke talks about floods in Europe; Dresden damage during WWII; air conditioning & the heatwave; forest fires; floods in Mississippi.
23 August 2002
If in Doubt, Find an Anniversary
Alistair Cooke explores the weird and wonderful anniversaries of 1902, including how the teddy bear was named, the zipper and American slang.
30 August 2002
Fireworks over Manhattan
Alistair Cooke talks about the US Open tennis championships ceremony paying tribute to heroes of 9/11 and how former NY mayor David Dinkins loved tennis.
06 September 2002
President Bush II has never been busier, 2002
Alistair Cooke reflects on President George Bush's recent holiday and considers the workload of "the most powerful man in the world" with reference to the Iraq crisis.
13 September 2002
It's Been Hard Convincing Allies that it's War
Alistair Cooke reflects on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks and considers a type of warfare so new that some European generals can't be convinced it is war at all.
20 September 2002
President Kennedy had Just had a Nasty Shock
Alistair Cooke considers the Cuban missile crisis, weapons inspections in Iraq and the scandal of Richard Nixon's membership of an all white golf club.
27 September 2002
Watch out for Isidore
Alistair Cooke ponders names - the names of hurricanes, black Christian names and biblical names, as well as phonetics and the recital alphabet.
04 October 2002
What the American People Want
Alistair Cooke examines the relationship between politicians and public opinion, as well as the life and polling discoveries of George H Gallup.
11 October 2002
Protest for Peace
Alistair Cooke considers drafting during the American Civil War, anti-war protesters, rioting and the history and nature of Al Qaeda .
18 October 2002
Heaven on the Half Shell
Alistair Cooke ponders the topics he chooses for his essays, his memories of San Francisco and the historical connection between China and California.
25 October 2002
Implement Me No Directives!
Alistair Cooke contemplates the excellence of the Old Testament as a work of literature, Churchill's use of language and the wording of UN treaties.
01 November 2002
All Politics is Local
Alistair Cooke recalls his very odd introduction to American politics; explains why Boston's top politicians have always been Irish and why all politics is really local.
08 November 2002
When the Miraculous Computer Fails
Alistair Cooke explains why 31 small and rarely mentioned American political parties can be all important in US elections and what happens when the polling computer stops working.
15 November 2002
Iraq's Midsummer Nightmare
Alistair Cooke considers the US congressional elections and the passing of the United Nations Security Council resolution of warning to Saddam Hussein.
22 November 2002
Armageddon Can Wait
Alistair Cooke contemplates what he considers to be; 'the striking resemblance of the events of the past year or so to the chronicles of the Bible'.
29 November 2002
Patriotism, Thanksgiving - and Apple Sauce
Alistair Cooke looks back to the origins of the festival and remembers the day in 1938 when Franklin D Roosevelt declared 24 November to be "a day of general Thanksgiving".
06 December 2002
The Marshall Plan
Alistair Cooke ponders Britain's anti-American feelings and George W Bush's obsession with Saddam Hussein.
13 December 2002
Remembering a Dear Friend
Upon the death of a dear friend we are told a secret about President Kennedy that Alistair Cooke has kept for a lifetime
20 December 2002
The Daily Sweat of Politics
Alistair Cooke ponders the daily grind of politics, and the struggle of President Lyndon Johnson in getting the whole idea of Medicare turned into law and made a reality.
27 December 2002
Christmas Reflections
Alistair Cooke contemplates the meaning of Christmas as it is celebrated now, and remembers the Christmases' of three famous men.
2003
03 January 2003
Security and Psychic Powers
Alistair Cooke considers security in Times Square on New Year's Eve, a Chinese immigrant who took a prophet to court, and the apparent lack of professional predictions for 2003.
10 January 2003
Big Brother is Watching
Alistair Cooke explores the branch of the US Homeland Security System which has the power to keep files on anybody in the country who gives off even a whiff of suspicion.
17 January 2003
Sharing the Water
Alistair Cooke considers California's drought worries and contemplates how to split resources like water equally.
24 January 2003
Getting Away From It All
Alistair Cooke ponders on how to relax when the body can no longer use physical exercise as a release.
31 January 2003
Peace For Our Time
Alistair Cooke explains how he is haunted by the similarities between the beginnings of World War Two and the current crisis in Iraq.
07 February 2003
John Glenn at the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster funeral
Alistair Cooke reflects on astronaut John Glenn's eventful earth landing in his Mercury capsule, Friendship 7.
14 February 2003
Nobody is Breathing Fire and Smoke
Alistair Cooke considers how much caution should be taken when the National Security threat level is raised to 'imminent attacks'.
21 February 2003
A Planet of Snow
Alistair Cooke considers how cold winters affect New York's economy and reflects on his experience of 26 inches of snow on Boxing Day 1947.
28 February 2003
The Secret of Life
Alistair Cooke looks back to the discovery of the chemical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid - slangily known as DNA.
07 March 2003
The Flaws of the UN?
Alistair Cooke reflects on the lives of three extraordinary men; Sir Alexander Cadogan, Philip Larkin and Mister Rogers.
14 March 2003
Avoiding the Scourge of War
Alistair Cooke considers the ineffectiveness of the UN as an enforcing power and retells the history of Washington DC.
21 March 2003
America invades Iraq
36 hours into the war with Iraq, Alistair Cooke considers the public and political support for the war and George Bush's lack of diplomacy.
28 March 2003
The Anxiety of War
Alistair Cooke reflects of the casualties of war and losing friendships to time.
04 April 2003
Senator Moynihan: A Social Conscience
Alistair Cooke pays tribute to the brilliant and eccentric former senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
11 April 2003
Saint Carlo
Alistair Cooke considers how to grow old successfully and pays tribute Dr. Carlo Urbani, the man who pioneered Doctors Without Borders.
18 April 2003
The Lessons of Potsdam
Alistair Cooke considers how people can become desensitised to the horrifying images of war, using Winston Churchill's Potsdam experience for reference.
25 April 2003
Taking it to the Brink
Unions, strikes and last minute negotiation talks blot out world catastrophes for Alistair Cooke.
02 May 2003
No More Wine and Roses
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the desert town of Las Vegas became the biggest tourist honey trap.
09 May 2003
Today's News is Tomorrow's Collectors' Item
Alistair Cooke explains how Leo Szilard, a little know Hungarian refugee, helped stop World War II.
16 May 2003
Tackling the Looters
Alistair Cooke contemplates how to prevent Iraq from descending into anarchy.
23 May 2003
The Creator of the Talent Industry
Alistair Cooke pays tribute to the life and work of "the Oracle" Mark McCormack.
30 May 2003
Don't Pollute the Enemy's Water
Alistair Cooke questions how much confidence people should have in the military, the President, and in Congress.
06 June 2003
Who Shall Police the Policemen?
Alistair Cooke asks how we can police the world in a time of modern terrorist conflict since America's founding fathers never legislated for an "undeclared" war.
13 June 2003
Dramatic Turns of History
Alistair Cooke contemplates how some political decisions change the entire course of world history by examining Saddam Hussain's decision to invade Kuwait.
20 June 2003
The Maddest and Most Criminal of Tyrants
Alistair Cooke examines tyrants who commit mass murder and compares Stalin with Hitler.
27 June 2003
Were We Misled into War?
Alistair Cooke asks whether the invasion of Iraq was based on a false premise: the existence of hidden weapons.
04 July 2003
Meeting the Stars
Alistair Cooke remembers meeting Ronald Colman and Katherine Hepburn.
11 July 2003
Americans Choose Tony Blair
Alistair Cooke reflects on why Americans seem to trust Tony Blair more than their own president, George Bush.
18 July 2003
The Power of a Phrase
Alistair Cooke examines the power of the catchphrase whether it be "uranium from Africa"; "winds of change"or "I was brainwashed".
25 July 2003
It's Dangerous for Journalists to Retire
Alistair Cooke rejects the thought of retirement but contemplates the pastime of golf in the light of recent scientific studies.
01 August 2003
The Original Fast Talker
Following the death of two centenarians, Alistair Cooke discusses Bob Hope and Lord Shawcross and how their longevity relates to the pensions crisis.
08 August 2003
Healing the Alliance Against Terrorism
Given the failure to reach consensus at the UN on how to tackle terrorism, Alistair Cooke reassesses his letter of 1998 discussing Bill Clinton's failure to get his way at the UN.
15 August 2003
Some Colourful Legends are Based in Fact
Upon receiving a letter containing a Winston Churchill legend, Alistair Cooke remembers some more myths surrounding other famous characters.
22 August 2003
It Seemed like Doomsday at the Time
Alistair Cooke contemplates the importance of electricity in the light of recent power cuts in New York and Baghdad.
29 August 2003
The Drastic Social Change in a Once Genteel Game
Alistair Cooke examines why how tennis at Wimbledon and across the globe reconciles traditional values with the modern world.
05 September 2003
A Million Iraqis Will Get the Message
Alistair Cooke contrasts the "crisis" in the tennis world with that in Iraq and bemoans the lack of sports stars who can put their troubles in perspective.
12 September 2003
In Memory of Henry Longhurst
Alistair Cooke celebrates the life of golfing correspondent and commentator Henry Longhurst.
19 September 2003
A Category Five Hurricane
Alistair Cooke tells us two stories because in times of great stress - and waiting for hurricane Isabel is stressful - people have told stories.
26 September 2003
Why it Costs so Much to Rebuild Iraq
Alistair Cooke asks why it is costing so much to rebuild Iraq and seizes the launch of a four-bladed razor to analyse the process of shaving.
03 October 2003
I am a Jelly Doughnut
Alistair Cooke examines the roles Robert Lochner and Alexander Butterfield have played in American state affairs over the past four decades, including JF Kenndy's speech "Ich bin ein Berliner".
10 October 2003
The California Election
Alistair Cooke contemplates the result of the Californian Election and Arnold Schwarzenegger's role as governor.
17 October 2003
Separated by Language
Alistair Cooke was unable to give his talk. In this repeat, from October 1998, Alistair Cooke muses on curious linguistic differences between America and England.
24 October 2003
The Pledge of Allegiance
Alistair Cooke examines the Pledge of Allegiance and its role in an increasingly secular society.
31 October 2003
Towering Glass and Steel
Forty years on Alistair Cooke examines the knock on effect of the destruction of the original Pennsylvania Station.
07 November 2003
Social Lion and Remarkable Architect
Alistair Cooke celebrates the architectural achievements of Stanford White, amongst them Madison Square Gardens.
14 November 2003
The Appetite for War
In anticipation of George Bush's visit to Europe, Alistair Cooke examines how the announcement of casualty numbers influences the public's appetite for war.
21 November 2003
Chinese Textile Tariffs
Alistair Cooke compares tariffs set on Chinese imports with similar attempts to protect America's home economy with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff during the great depression.
28 November 2003
Healthy Eating
Alistair Cooke looks back at the history of Thanksgiving in the light of modern concerns about healthy eating.
05 December 2003
Why the War Couldn't Wait
Alistair Cooke examines why it is so difficult to establish democracy in Iraq.
12 December 2003
Looking for an Anniversary
If in doubt, find an anniversary! Alistair Cooke remembers when the centenary of Queen Victoria receiving the Koh-I-Noor diamond helped him out of a tricky situation.
19 December 2003
Birth of a Christmas Fairy Tale
Alistair Cooke recalls the circumstances that led to the creation of Charles Dickens' most famous story.
26 December 2003
Pork Barrel Politics
As the United States enters an election year, Alistair Cooke describes how congressmen will be trying to secure re-appointment.
2004
02 January 2004
The Problem with Sport
With the New Year unfolding, Alistair Cooke wonders what makes people favour athletic prowess over academic skill.
09 January 2004
Not Worth Talking About
Alistair Cooke refuses to join the throng of commentators writing themselves into exhaustion about the presidential candidates.
16 January 2004
Temperatures Drop
Alistair Cooke thinks back to a winter in Palm Beach, as Arctic weather hits the northern states.
23 January 2004
The Day of the GP is Over
Alistair Cooke remembers the days before specialisation when doctors in the USA used to make house calls.
30 January 2004
Was Saddam a Threat or Not?
Alistair Cooke discusses the resignation of the US chief weapons inspector, Dr David Kay.
06 February 2004
Encounters with Intelligence
Alistair Cooke looks at the meaning of 'intelligence' and recounts how he was mistaken for a spy during World War II.
13 February 2004
How WWI turned slimming into a fashion
Alistair Cooke recalls how slimming became fashionable during the food shortages that followed the First World War.
20 February 2004
Alistair Cooke's Last Letter
In Alistair Cooke's last letter, he considers how the war in Iraq is a key element in the run-up to the US Presidential Election.
07 January 2000
A Breathtaking Global Tour and a Resignation
Alistair Cook discusses the global televised countdown to the millennium; Russian president Boris Yeltsin's resignation, and the audacity of Mr Putin in praising the Soviet secret police.
14 January 2000
The Death of the Old Media
Alistair Cook takes in the story of Rip Van Winkle as he tries (and fails) to make sense of the multi-million dollar tie up between Time Warner and America Online.
21 January 2000
What are Animals put on Earth For?
Upon finding that "Fur is back" Alistair Cook reasons America's climate is the reason it never actually went away.
28 January 2000
A Gentleman but not a Scholar
Following North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms's scolding lecture to the United Nations, Alistair Cook reviews how his message was received.
04 February 2000
Conventional Wisdom
Reflecting on the history of how political parties choose their candidates, Alistair Cook finds that the conventions have become coronations, and hails the power of the primary.
11 February 2000
Fickle Crushes and Volatile Markets
Considering America's financial situation, Alistair Cook remembers a forgotten lesson: the folly of economic prophecy.
18 February 2000
Charles Schulz: A Great and Good Man
Alistair Cooke commemorates the life of Charles Schultz, the creator of the comic strip characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock.
25 February 2000
Fuelling Inflation
Alistair Cook considers how a meeting of Opec and the price of oil may ultimately affect the future of the US more than Republican primaries.
03 March 2000
Double diplomatic turmoil
America's tricky relationship with Taiwan is under the spotlight as the country enrages China by ordering $6bn of warships from the US.
10 March 2000
A Brief Joust and Tumble with Sir Galahad
Alistair Cook looks at the rise and fall of Senator John McCain - briefly a challenger to George W Bush to be the Republican party's candidate in the forthcoming election.
17 March 2000
Buying Judges and Acquiring a Patron Saint
Recalling a misleading first impression of America, Alistair Cook examines St. Patrick's Day celebrations and the influence of Irish immigrants on the Democratic Party.
24 March 2000
A National Figure of Charm and Pity
Alistair Cooke discusses the case of 6 year old Cuban Elian Gonzalez, the sole survivor of a group of would-be illegal immigrants whose boat capsized off the Florida coast.
31 March 2000
The Most Significant Event of Recent Times
Alistair Cooke considers the ramifications of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station and the Pope's apology for the Catholic Church's sins against unbelievers.
07 April 2000
Never-failing, Ever-soaring, High-flying, Hi-techs
While technology stocks are puzzling financial experts, Alistair Cook wonders what alternative sources will be found to create energy.
14 April 2000
The Year of the Census
Alistair Cooke examines whether questions on the US census invade individuals' privacy and explores the uses of private information.
21 April 2000
Cycle of Boom and Bust
After the New York stock exchange plunges more than 600 points, periods of boom and bust are remembered by Alistair Cook.
28 April 2000
A Sordid Struggle
Alistair Cooke examines the legal battle to declare six year old Cuban Elian Gonzalez eligible for permanent asylum in the US and the political ramifications of the case.
05 May 2000
The Outrageous David Merrick
The life and times of a colourful character in American theatre - David Merrick - are remembered by Alistair Cooke.
12 May 2000
The China Bill and other Kickshaws
Whilst the House of Representatives vote on granting China permanent trading privileges, Alistair Cooke considers San Francisco's law against sizeism.
19 May 2000
Historic Turning Points
After a shock announcement from New York City Mayor Giuliani, Alistair Cooke considers when the taboo of writing about the private life of prominent politicians was lifted.
26 May 2000
A Giant Step for Womankind
If the mother of invention is necessity, then Alistair Cooke reflects that the father is resistance. In the light of unions disagreeing to trade with China, he reflects that all inventions meet with resistance at first...including dishwashers.
02 June 2000
Diet, Longevity and a Custard Pie
Alistair Cooke reflects on the beginning of the national obsession with cholesterol and the scientific study which proved eating too much meat is bad for you.
09 June 2000
Polishing up his Escutcheon
Alistair Cooke reflects on how President Clinton is polishing up his political legacy with his recent Chinese and Russian treaty summits.
16 June 2000
A Wonderful Work or a Rat Trap?
In light of a new vedict surrounding the visiting rights of grandparents, Alistair Cooke reflects on the pace at which the Supreme Court makes its decisions.
23 June 2000
This Great Festival of Consumerism
Alistair Cooke ponders on how long the ordinary American family has been paying attention to Father's Day and is worried by the great festival of consumerism.
30 June 2000
Pursuing a Will-o-the-wisp
On the 50th anniversary of the United Nation's Korean War Alistair Cooke remembers the conflict that was often called the "forgotten war", including how the veto clause was written into the UN charter.
07 July 2000
Where Have all the Answers Gone?
Alistair Cooke bends his alphabet into a metaphysical helix in order to gain an understanding of the human genome.
14 July 2000
Now Read On...
Alistair Cooke remembers George Gallup, the man whose scientific polling method changed the study of government and public opinion forever.
21 July 2000
Ghostly Applause for a News Blackout
Alistair Cooke evaluates the effect of the news blackouts surrounding the Israel and Palestinian peace talks and reflects on their joint history and turbulent relationship.
28 July 2000
From Party Convention to Coronation
On the eve of the political parties choosing a nominee for the presidency of the United States, Alistair Cooke remembers some previous party conventions.
04 August 2000
From Exciting Horserace to Exhibition Trot
Alistair Cooke considers the outdated presidential nominating conventions and remembers the dramatic evenings of the longest ballot in US history.
11 August 2000
Running Mates and Carpet Baggers
Alistair Cooke explains the origins of the American political phrases "carpet bagger" and "running mate" as well as the role of the vice president.
18 August 2000
Mother Nature's Wild Fires
Alistair Cooke talks about the colossal forest fires raging across the United States and explains how they've started to become an issue of political partisanship.
25 August 2000
Russia: The Victim of Democracy
Alistair Cooke considers the tragic sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk and what public reaction in Russia has revealed about the government's relationship with it's people.
01 September 2000
Father, God, Undefined
Alistair Cooke considers the American passion for trusting in God and how religion is linked to the American constitutional rights.
08 September 2000
Doing What Comes Naturally
Alistair Cooke examines the lengths athletes go to for sporting success and reflects on the history of bodily enhancement through drugs, hormones and exercise techniques.
15 September 2000
Trouble with the English Language
In the run up to the presidential election Alistair Cooke considers the affect of the poll ratings, Governor Bush's language gaffs and personality contests.
22 September 2000
Just the Facts, Ma'am
In the midst of the reporting from the Sydney Olympic Games, Alistair Cooke is surprised by an article detailing the legal status of prostitution in Australia. Whilst reviewing the article he reflects on the eternal struggle between political idealism and
29 September 2000
A Vague Beast Called Big Oil
Whilst the rising price of gasoline (or petrol to the European listener) is casusing a problem across both Europe and the US, Alistair Cooke considers who, if anyone, is really to blame for this big oil situation.
06 October 2000
There He Goes Again
With a presidential election a month or so away, Alistair Cook ponders the history of the American presidential debates.
13 October 2000
The World's Tumult and the Price of a Barrel of Oil
Alistair Cook considers two conflicts - the rioting in Jerusalem and the revolution in Belgrade.
20 October 2000
A Supreme Diarist
Alistair Cooke celebrates the life and work of diarist James Agate and contemplates how he would have approached the pressing issues of the modern world. .
27 October 2000
Suffocating in an Ocean of Advertising
Alistair Cooke looks forward with pleasure to the Presidential election and an end to wall-to-wall lobbying and advertising.
03 November 2000
The Day of Judgement
Democrat or Republican? Gore or Bush? Who will be the next President? Alistair Cooke reviews the two candidates.
10 November 2000
Paralysis by Analysis
Given the closeness of the recent election, Alistair Cooke asks what sort of mandate the next President will really possess.
17 November 2000
The Florida re-count, 2000
The various legal issues underlying the failure to elect either George W Bush or Al Gore as president are explained by Alistair Cooke.
24 November 2000
The Origin of the Continental Blow Out
Alistair Cooke looks at the origins of Thanksgiving and seasonal trends in food.
01 December 2000
It's a Nine Ring Circus and You'll Never be Bored
Alistair Cooke examines the voting irregularities of 1876 and applies the lessons learned from them to the current electoral crisis in Florida.
08 December 2000
Bedazzled and Bewildered
Alistair Cooke asks whether the doubts about the result of the Florida vote are paralysing America's government.
15 December 2000
An Embarrassing Relic of Authoritarianism
Alistair Cooke contemplates the pros and cons of democracy and the role of America's Electoral College.
22 December 2000
How Wrong We've Been, from Madison to Roosevelt
Alistair Cooke explains how America was able to wait patiently for the confirmation of their new president, George Bush.
29 December 2000
America is Back to Normal
Alistair Cooke discusses the reality of wind chill, questionnaires for appointing cabinet officers and the secrets to old age.
2001
05 January 2001
The Magic of the Internet?
Alistair Cooke contemplates whether the internet really is the miracle cure for the US economy.
12 January 2001
First and Foremost Bureaucrats
A childhood fishing trip becomes more poignant to Alistair Cooke after discovering that the North Sea is falling victim to water pollution.
19 January 2001
Grandiose Inaugurations we Have Known
Alistair Cooke compares Andrew Jackson's rowdy inauguration with that of George W Bush.
26 January 2001
A Precautionary Bit of Advice
Alistair Cooke compares the colourful characters of past US presidents, including Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Harry S Truman.
02 February 2001
How am I doing?
Alistair Cooke investigates the quirky work habits of past US presidents, including Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Calvin Coolidge.
09 February 2001
Famous and Good Intermediate Clowns
Alistair Cooke remarks on the cynicism of old motion picture comic WC Fields and considers George W Bush's push to decentralise government.
16 February 2001
From Shirtsleeves to Shirt Sleeves in Three Generations
Alistair Cooke reflects on the generations of wealthy families who prosper or loose it all.
23 February 2001
The Scandal of Pardons and White House Furniture
The controversial Clinton exit inspires Alistair Cooke to investigate past presidents' departures from the White House.
02 March 2001
A Villain of American History
Alistair Cooke is shocked by the results from a national poll asking US citizens to name the four greatest presidents in American history.
09 March 2001
The Vice Presidency and a Precaution Against Death
Alistair Cooke considers the health of the American vice-president, Dick Cheney, and wonders whether the Senate could pass President Bush's tax bill and make it law.
16 March 2001
Sounding the Alarm to Farmers
Alistair Cooke reflects on the foot and mouth epidemic affecting Britain, and the ban implemented by America on all living animals imported from Europe.
23 March 2001
Bush Leads from the Right
Alistair Cooke considers the first two months of George W. Bush in the White House.
30 March 2001
The Entire Civilised World is Shocked Beyond Civilised Expression
Alistair Cooke reflects on President George W. Bush's decision not to support the Kyoto Treaty.
06 April 2001
A Hero's Welcome: John McCain is Back!
Alistair Cooke considers Senator John McCain's campaign funding reform bill.
13 April 2001
Déjà Vu All Over Again
Alistair Cooke reflects on the crash landing of an American spy plane on a Chinese island.
20 April 2001
Trilbies are Fashionable Again!
Alistair Cooke considers the unfashionable problem of carbon dioxide emissions and the renewed amour for trilby wearing.
27 April 2001
The Media Just Love Anniversaries - However Grim
Alistair Cooke examines the media depiction of violence and reviews the coverage of the second anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.
04 May 2001
The Supreme Court
Alistair Cooke reflects on the Supreme Court and the way in which it makes its decisions.
11 May 2001
A Universal Shout
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the credibility of the United Nations has been eroded, and how a "universal shout" of anti-Americanism has echoed around the world.
18 May 2001
California Dreaming
Alistair Cooke considers arguments surrounding the power failure crisis in California and explores the deregulation of resources.
25 May 2001
The City that Waits
Alistair Cooke examines how earthquakes in San Francisco are over shadowed by power problems, and reflects on President George W. Bush's reduction in foreign policy.
01 June 2001
Life's a Gamble!
Alistair Cooke reflects on the political centrism occuring in both the US and the UK. He considers the new conservatism of the Labour party in Britain, and the differences between the Democrats and Republicans in the US.
08 June 2001
Prescription for a Pessimist
After taking a break from the news in an attempt to remain light-hearted in the face of huge world problems, Alistair Cooke reflects on his timeout, and how news reports affect a person's psyche.
15 June 2001
Diplomacy and Public Relations
Alistair Cooke considers President Bush's political blueprints for his European policy discussions.
22 June 2001
Wake Up to Summer
Alistair Cooke reflects on how people switch their political interests from the national to the local and the talents of the mocking bird.
29 June 2001
Changing Tastes: 25 Years of Social Taboos
Alistair Cooke reflects on the changing social taboos and bigotries over the past quarter of a century.
06 July 2001
Ringing the Changes!
Whilst fireworks burn brightly in the sky, Alistair Cooke reflects on the celebrations that take place every 4th of July to commemorate US independence, and the women's finals at Wimbledon.
13 July 2001
Secret Service Secrets
Alistair Cooke considers the private and public life of a President as George Bush takes his presidential vacation with a small army of domestic and overseas reporters.
20 July 2001
Stem Cell Brain Drain
Alistair Cooke debates the ethical and political difficulties surrounding human embryo stem cell research.
27 July 2001
Policies and Popularity
Whilst Presidential poll ratings stagnate, Alistair Cooke considers the affect of policies on George Bush's popularity.
03 August 2001
East meets West
Alistair Cooke explores Europe's ignorance of America's long and continuous concern with Pacifica and the Far East.
10 August 2001
Golf: It's a Very Difficult Game
An special mixed-couples golf match that paired Tiger Woods with Annika Sorenstam, and David Duval with Karrie Webb, inspires Alistair Cooke to reflect on his most beloved sport, golf.
17 August 2001
Life, Death and Medical Research
A coma patient kept on life support for 22 years makes Alistair Cooke consider the complex political and ethical issues of medical advancement.
24 August 2001
Financial Wizards and Economic Prophecy
Alistair Cooke reflects on the worldwide pandemic of economic decline.
31 August 2001
The Threat from Wobbling Warheads
Alistair Cooke reflects on President Bush's determination to build an all-embracing defence missile shield.
07 September 2001
A Conference Against Human Prejudice
Alistair Cooke likens the problems arising from the UN Convention on racism to those found on and off the professional tennis court.
14 September 2001
America's Day of Terror, 9/11
Alistair Cooke reflects on how he and the rest of the American population reacted to the World Trade Center terrorist attack on September 11th 2001.
21 September 2001
America on Standby
In the aftermath of September 11th, Alistair Cooke considers how the actions of New York City Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, compare with the activities of President Bush and his government.
28 September 2001
The "Loss of Eden"
Alistair Cooke considers the lifespan of a letter written by Einstein to warn the President of the power unleashed by nuclear reactions, and how terrorism is used by governments.
05 October 2001
Civil Rights and Censorship
Alistair Cooke compares the uses and abuses of civil rights and censorship by UK and US governments during wartime.
12 October 2001
Blair and Bush: The special relationship
Alistair Cooke questions the use of anxiety inducing warnings from the FBI of imminent terrorist attacks, the partiality towards singing the national anthem, and Tony Blair's popularity ratings in America.
19 October 2001
In The Olden Time: Before 11 September
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the September 11th attack has changed the American psyche, and considers how letters filled with anthrax are exacerbating the problems.
26 October 2001
Living with anthrax
Whilst coping with the daily threat of possibly finding anthrax in the mail, Alistair Cooke reflects on how hope and fear are wrapped up within the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
02 November 2001
The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
Alistair Cooke reflects on how America is coping in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on September 11th.
09 November 2001
The Stars and Stripes
Alistair Cooke reflects on the outpouring of patriotism and the outburst of flag hanging in response to the September 11th attacks.
16 November 2001
Project Space Guard
Alistair Cooke discusses the creation of The Space Guard Project, invented to eliminate potential extraterrestrial catastrophes.
23 November 2001
French forces in Afghanistan, November 2001
The coincidences between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy. Plus, the UN debate on war with Afghanistan.
30 November 2001
The Terrorists' Trojan Horse
Alistair Cooke reflects on the horror of home grown terrorists used by al-Qaeda and other terrorist cells.
07 December 2001
Security, Civil Rights and New Laws
Alistair Cooke considers the political and ethical dilemmas of "racial profiling" at airports since September 11th.
14 December 2001
The Golden Gate
Alistair Cooke discusses the rumour of a potential attack on the San Francisco Bridge and the warnings by scientists about global warming.
21 December 2001
The Messiah at Christmas
In the wake of 9/11, Alistair Cooke remembers introducing Bernstein to Handel's Messiah and admires the generosity of Tiger Woods. First broadcast 21 December 2001.
28 December 2001
Tears and Anthems
Alistair Cooke questions why hearing the American national anthem should be uniquely affecting since the attacks on September 11th.
2002
04 January 2002
Ringing the Changes
Alistair Cooke considers change, the election of George W Bush, the transformation of Rudolph Giuliani after September 11 and Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New York.
11 January 2002
There's No Place Like Home
Alistair Cooke on how an unlikely political allegiance is transforming American education, the altered state of US law making after September 11 and Milosevic at the Hague.
18 January 2002
Living Like a Queen
Alistair Cooke wonders, upon considering the reality, why anyone would want to live like a Queen and examines the lifestyles of US presidents.
25 January 2002
Batten Down the Hatches
Alistair Cooke examines the very real impact of inaccurate weather forecasts; the fall of Enron and the new US foreign policy being enacted at Guantanamo Bay.
01 February 2002
Aftermath of War
Alistair Cooke examines the ever changing nature of war, the history of four Geneva Conventions and argues the case for a new convention for a new type of war.
08 February 2002
Pork and Dogs
Alistair Cooke explains why we should all be interested in the President's budget; the new found importance of US homeland defence and the pork barrel metaphor.
15 February 2002
The Next Step for the USA
Alistair Cooke expresses his concern about the US government's conception of an "axis of evil", their desire to invade Iraq and the possible restraining power of the UN.
22 February 2002
Giuliani Receives Knighthood
Why shouldn't Rudolph Giuliani receive a knighthood? Alistair Cooke reveals the historical objections and misconceptions of America's relationship with honours.
01 March 2002
High Noon
Alistair Cooke offers his view of the flawed ideology behind the idea of an "axis of evil" and the US's relationship with its traditional allies and its many new ones.
08 March 2002
The Day the Money Stopped
Alistair Cooke recalls his personal experience of the day in 1933 when every bank in America shut and the lessons it taught him about how economies work.
15 March 2002
Memory of a True Great
Alistair Cooke explores the difficult and exceptional life of champion American golfer, lawyer, scholar and engineer Robert Tyre Jones.
22 March 2002
The Unsung Heroes
Alistair Cooke praises unseen fighter pilots protecting New York and examines the stepping-up of internal security and the publication of a list of nuclear threats to the US.
29 March 2002
Persian Poets Need Not Apply
Alistair Cooke considers the contrasting ways in which English and American high schools teach science and the difference a scientific education makes in every field.
05 April 2002
Medical Buzz Words
Alistair Cooke considers the use of medical buzz words such as virus and Alzheimer's.
12 April 2002
Middle East: Mind Your Language
Alistair Cooke examines the historical roots of US involvement in the conflict between Isreal and the Palestinians and why, when it comes to treaties, even the smallest words count.
19 April 2002
A Window of Relief
Alistair Cooke explains the exhausting effects of transcontinental flight and examines the split between the Democrats and Republicans over the attitude of Ariel Sharon.
26 April 2002
The Catholic Church and Child Sex Abuse
Alistair Cooke considers the scandals of child sex abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic church and the role of bishops and cardinals in enabling abusers.
03 May 2002
New York: How are you Doing?
Alistair Cooke on the psychological damage done to New York school children by the September 11 attacks and the prevalence of al Qaeda cells in countries allied with the US.
10 May 2002
Princes of the Church Live as Princes of the World
Alistair Cooke talks about airport security on a war footing; deep vein thrombosis, and how the Roman Catholic church uses canon law to protect its clergy.
17 May 2002
Joy and Sorrow for the Libertarians
Alistair Cooke on the libertarian Cato institute, economist Milton Friedman, why China's newfound capitalism is fully sanctioned by Marx and the massive deficits of US states.
24 May 2002
Secret of Eternal Youth
Alistair Cooke on the elderly residents of Florida who think they've discovered the state's legendary fountain of youth and the alleged forewarning of the September 11 attacks.
31 May 2002
Fountains and Trade Wars
Alistair Cooke examines George Bush's visit to Europe in the midst of a trade war and reflects on why you can't have plastic surgery if you want a personality.
07 June 2002
A Ruin Running to the Horizon
Alistair Cooke reflects on the wreckage of the Twin Towers, a vast canyon in the heart of Manhattan and how the ramifications of 9/11 stretch from school children to horse racing.
14 June 2002
The Last of the Old Time Gangsters
Alistair Cooke considers the life and death of infamous American Mafia boss John Gotti.
21 June 2002
Goldfinger is Still Alive and Well
Alistair Cooke remembers Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the second Gulf War and the brutal repression of the Kurds and considers the continuing threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
28 June 2002
American Policy has One Main Aim
A letter from a student leads Alistair Cooke to consider anti-semitism in New York, and the ramifications of President Truman's decision to help found and protect an Israeli Jewish state.
05 July 2002
The Old West
Alistair Cooke on why Deadman Flat is the closest the public can get to the G8 conference; why sweat shops are good for their workers; the Duke of Norfolk and the Fourth of July.
12 July 2002
Don't Name it, Cure it
Alistair Cooke considers his shifting habits and examines what President George W Bush is doing about fraudulent financial deals by corporations and, allegedly, Bush himself.
19 July 2002
The Avenues to Express Greed had Grown
Whilst corporate fraud and greed hit the news headlines, Alistair Cooke considers the complicated language used by Alan Greenspan to calm the stock markets. Plus, he explores the education choice in 1951 for a young black girl.
26 July 2002
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Alistair Cooke reflects on the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, and the vice of greed within philanthropy.
02 August 2002
Dead Cat Bounce
Alistair Cooke on the US stock market; the trapped Pennsylvania miners; troops required for invasion of Iraq and Pope John Paul II's visit to Toronto.
09 August 2002
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Whilst the warship, Monitor, is dredged out of the Atlantic Ocean, Alistair Cooke reflects that Europe's reliance on the UN for sanctions against Saddam Hussein is an 'easy cop out'.
16 August 2002
Cool it, Man!
Alistair Cooke talks about floods in Europe; Dresden damage during WWII; air conditioning & the heatwave; forest fires; floods in Mississippi.
23 August 2002
If in Doubt, Find an Anniversary
Alistair Cooke explores the weird and wonderful anniversaries of 1902, including how the teddy bear was named, the zipper and American slang.
30 August 2002
Fireworks over Manhattan
Alistair Cooke talks about the US Open tennis championships ceremony paying tribute to heroes of 9/11 and how former NY mayor David Dinkins loved tennis.
06 September 2002
President Bush II has never been busier, 2002
Alistair Cooke reflects on President George Bush's recent holiday and considers the workload of "the most powerful man in the world" with reference to the Iraq crisis.
13 September 2002
It's Been Hard Convincing Allies that it's War
Alistair Cooke reflects on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks and considers a type of warfare so new that some European generals can't be convinced it is war at all.
20 September 2002
President Kennedy had Just had a Nasty Shock
Alistair Cooke considers the Cuban missile crisis, weapons inspections in Iraq and the scandal of Richard Nixon's membership of an all white golf club.
27 September 2002
Watch out for Isidore
Alistair Cooke ponders names - the names of hurricanes, black Christian names and biblical names, as well as phonetics and the recital alphabet.
04 October 2002
What the American People Want
Alistair Cooke examines the relationship between politicians and public opinion, as well as the life and polling discoveries of George H Gallup.
11 October 2002
Protest for Peace
Alistair Cooke considers drafting during the American Civil War, anti-war protesters, rioting and the history and nature of Al Qaeda .
18 October 2002
Heaven on the Half Shell
Alistair Cooke ponders the topics he chooses for his essays, his memories of San Francisco and the historical connection between China and California.
25 October 2002
Implement Me No Directives!
Alistair Cooke contemplates the excellence of the Old Testament as a work of literature, Churchill's use of language and the wording of UN treaties.
01 November 2002
All Politics is Local
Alistair Cooke recalls his very odd introduction to American politics; explains why Boston's top politicians have always been Irish and why all politics is really local.
08 November 2002
When the Miraculous Computer Fails
Alistair Cooke explains why 31 small and rarely mentioned American political parties can be all important in US elections and what happens when the polling computer stops working.
15 November 2002
Iraq's Midsummer Nightmare
Alistair Cooke considers the US congressional elections and the passing of the United Nations Security Council resolution of warning to Saddam Hussein.
22 November 2002
Armageddon Can Wait
Alistair Cooke contemplates what he considers to be; 'the striking resemblance of the events of the past year or so to the chronicles of the Bible'.
29 November 2002
Patriotism, Thanksgiving - and Apple Sauce
Alistair Cooke looks back to the origins of the festival and remembers the day in 1938 when Franklin D Roosevelt declared 24 November to be "a day of general Thanksgiving".
06 December 2002
The Marshall Plan
Alistair Cooke ponders Britain's anti-American feelings and George W Bush's obsession with Saddam Hussein.
13 December 2002
Remembering a Dear Friend
Upon the death of a dear friend we are told a secret about President Kennedy that Alistair Cooke has kept for a lifetime
20 December 2002
The Daily Sweat of Politics
Alistair Cooke ponders the daily grind of politics, and the struggle of President Lyndon Johnson in getting the whole idea of Medicare turned into law and made a reality.
27 December 2002
Christmas Reflections
Alistair Cooke contemplates the meaning of Christmas as it is celebrated now, and remembers the Christmases' of three famous men.
2003
03 January 2003
Security and Psychic Powers
Alistair Cooke considers security in Times Square on New Year's Eve, a Chinese immigrant who took a prophet to court, and the apparent lack of professional predictions for 2003.
10 January 2003
Big Brother is Watching
Alistair Cooke explores the branch of the US Homeland Security System which has the power to keep files on anybody in the country who gives off even a whiff of suspicion.
17 January 2003
Sharing the Water
Alistair Cooke considers California's drought worries and contemplates how to split resources like water equally.
24 January 2003
Getting Away From It All
Alistair Cooke ponders on how to relax when the body can no longer use physical exercise as a release.
31 January 2003
Peace For Our Time
Alistair Cooke explains how he is haunted by the similarities between the beginnings of World War Two and the current crisis in Iraq.
07 February 2003
John Glenn at the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster funeral
Alistair Cooke reflects on astronaut John Glenn's eventful earth landing in his Mercury capsule, Friendship 7.
14 February 2003
Nobody is Breathing Fire and Smoke
Alistair Cooke considers how much caution should be taken when the National Security threat level is raised to 'imminent attacks'.
21 February 2003
A Planet of Snow
Alistair Cooke considers how cold winters affect New York's economy and reflects on his experience of 26 inches of snow on Boxing Day 1947.
28 February 2003
The Secret of Life
Alistair Cooke looks back to the discovery of the chemical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid - slangily known as DNA.
07 March 2003
The Flaws of the UN?
Alistair Cooke reflects on the lives of three extraordinary men; Sir Alexander Cadogan, Philip Larkin and Mister Rogers.
14 March 2003
Avoiding the Scourge of War
Alistair Cooke considers the ineffectiveness of the UN as an enforcing power and retells the history of Washington DC.
21 March 2003
America invades Iraq
36 hours into the war with Iraq, Alistair Cooke considers the public and political support for the war and George Bush's lack of diplomacy.
28 March 2003
The Anxiety of War
Alistair Cooke reflects of the casualties of war and losing friendships to time.
04 April 2003
Senator Moynihan: A Social Conscience
Alistair Cooke pays tribute to the brilliant and eccentric former senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
11 April 2003
Saint Carlo
Alistair Cooke considers how to grow old successfully and pays tribute Dr. Carlo Urbani, the man who pioneered Doctors Without Borders.
18 April 2003
The Lessons of Potsdam
Alistair Cooke considers how people can become desensitised to the horrifying images of war, using Winston Churchill's Potsdam experience for reference.
25 April 2003
Taking it to the Brink
Unions, strikes and last minute negotiation talks blot out world catastrophes for Alistair Cooke.
02 May 2003
No More Wine and Roses
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the desert town of Las Vegas became the biggest tourist honey trap.
09 May 2003
Today's News is Tomorrow's Collectors' Item
Alistair Cooke explains how Leo Szilard, a little know Hungarian refugee, helped stop World War II.
16 May 2003
Tackling the Looters
Alistair Cooke contemplates how to prevent Iraq from descending into anarchy.
23 May 2003
The Creator of the Talent Industry
Alistair Cooke pays tribute to the life and work of "the Oracle" Mark McCormack.
30 May 2003
Don't Pollute the Enemy's Water
Alistair Cooke questions how much confidence people should have in the military, the President, and in Congress.
06 June 2003
Who Shall Police the Policemen?
Alistair Cooke asks how we can police the world in a time of modern terrorist conflict since America's founding fathers never legislated for an "undeclared" war.
13 June 2003
Dramatic Turns of History
Alistair Cooke contemplates how some political decisions change the entire course of world history by examining Saddam Hussain's decision to invade Kuwait.
20 June 2003
The Maddest and Most Criminal of Tyrants
Alistair Cooke examines tyrants who commit mass murder and compares Stalin with Hitler.
27 June 2003
Were We Misled into War?
Alistair Cooke asks whether the invasion of Iraq was based on a false premise: the existence of hidden weapons.
04 July 2003
Meeting the Stars
Alistair Cooke remembers meeting Ronald Colman and Katherine Hepburn.
11 July 2003
Americans Choose Tony Blair
Alistair Cooke reflects on why Americans seem to trust Tony Blair more than their own president, George Bush.
18 July 2003
The Power of a Phrase
Alistair Cooke examines the power of the catchphrase whether it be "uranium from Africa"; "winds of change"or "I was brainwashed".
25 July 2003
It's Dangerous for Journalists to Retire
Alistair Cooke rejects the thought of retirement but contemplates the pastime of golf in the light of recent scientific studies.
01 August 2003
The Original Fast Talker
Following the death of two centenarians, Alistair Cooke discusses Bob Hope and Lord Shawcross and how their longevity relates to the pensions crisis.
08 August 2003
Healing the Alliance Against Terrorism
Given the failure to reach consensus at the UN on how to tackle terrorism, Alistair Cooke reassesses his letter of 1998 discussing Bill Clinton's failure to get his way at the UN.
15 August 2003
Some Colourful Legends are Based in Fact
Upon receiving a letter containing a Winston Churchill legend, Alistair Cooke remembers some more myths surrounding other famous characters.
22 August 2003
It Seemed like Doomsday at the Time
Alistair Cooke contemplates the importance of electricity in the light of recent power cuts in New York and Baghdad.
29 August 2003
The Drastic Social Change in a Once Genteel Game
Alistair Cooke examines why how tennis at Wimbledon and across the globe reconciles traditional values with the modern world.
05 September 2003
A Million Iraqis Will Get the Message
Alistair Cooke contrasts the "crisis" in the tennis world with that in Iraq and bemoans the lack of sports stars who can put their troubles in perspective.
12 September 2003
In Memory of Henry Longhurst
Alistair Cooke celebrates the life of golfing correspondent and commentator Henry Longhurst.
19 September 2003
A Category Five Hurricane
Alistair Cooke tells us two stories because in times of great stress - and waiting for hurricane Isabel is stressful - people have told stories.
26 September 2003
Why it Costs so Much to Rebuild Iraq
Alistair Cooke asks why it is costing so much to rebuild Iraq and seizes the launch of a four-bladed razor to analyse the process of shaving.
03 October 2003
I am a Jelly Doughnut
Alistair Cooke examines the roles Robert Lochner and Alexander Butterfield have played in American state affairs over the past four decades, including JF Kenndy's speech "Ich bin ein Berliner".
10 October 2003
The California Election
Alistair Cooke contemplates the result of the Californian Election and Arnold Schwarzenegger's role as governor.
17 October 2003
Separated by Language
Alistair Cooke was unable to give his talk. In this repeat, from October 1998, Alistair Cooke muses on curious linguistic differences between America and England.
24 October 2003
The Pledge of Allegiance
Alistair Cooke examines the Pledge of Allegiance and its role in an increasingly secular society.
31 October 2003
Towering Glass and Steel
Forty years on Alistair Cooke examines the knock on effect of the destruction of the original Pennsylvania Station.
07 November 2003
Social Lion and Remarkable Architect
Alistair Cooke celebrates the architectural achievements of Stanford White, amongst them Madison Square Gardens.
14 November 2003
The Appetite for War
In anticipation of George Bush's visit to Europe, Alistair Cooke examines how the announcement of casualty numbers influences the public's appetite for war.
21 November 2003
Chinese Textile Tariffs
Alistair Cooke compares tariffs set on Chinese imports with similar attempts to protect America's home economy with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff during the great depression.
28 November 2003
Healthy Eating
Alistair Cooke looks back at the history of Thanksgiving in the light of modern concerns about healthy eating.
05 December 2003
Why the War Couldn't Wait
Alistair Cooke examines why it is so difficult to establish democracy in Iraq.
12 December 2003
Looking for an Anniversary
If in doubt, find an anniversary! Alistair Cooke remembers when the centenary of Queen Victoria receiving the Koh-I-Noor diamond helped him out of a tricky situation.
19 December 2003
Birth of a Christmas Fairy Tale
Alistair Cooke recalls the circumstances that led to the creation of Charles Dickens' most famous story.
26 December 2003
Pork Barrel Politics
As the United States enters an election year, Alistair Cooke describes how congressmen will be trying to secure re-appointment.
2004
02 January 2004
The Problem with Sport
With the New Year unfolding, Alistair Cooke wonders what makes people favour athletic prowess over academic skill.
09 January 2004
Not Worth Talking About
Alistair Cooke refuses to join the throng of commentators writing themselves into exhaustion about the presidential candidates.
16 January 2004
Temperatures Drop
Alistair Cooke thinks back to a winter in Palm Beach, as Arctic weather hits the northern states.
23 January 2004
The Day of the GP is Over
Alistair Cooke remembers the days before specialisation when doctors in the USA used to make house calls.
30 January 2004
Was Saddam a Threat or Not?
Alistair Cooke discusses the resignation of the US chief weapons inspector, Dr David Kay.
06 February 2004
Encounters with Intelligence
Alistair Cooke looks at the meaning of 'intelligence' and recounts how he was mistaken for a spy during World War II.
13 February 2004
How WWI turned slimming into a fashion
Alistair Cooke recalls how slimming became fashionable during the food shortages that followed the First World War.
20 February 2004
Alistair Cooke's Last Letter
In Alistair Cooke's last letter, he considers how the war in Iraq is a key element in the run-up to the US Presidential Election.
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