Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980)

Follow Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980)
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

From America’s great hope after Nixon’s election victory, to disillusionment after Watergate through to President Carter’s election. Alistair Cooke's account of American life.

BBC Radio 4


    • Dec 26, 1980 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 300 EPISODES


    More podcasts from BBC Radio 4

    Search for episodes from Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980) with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980)

    Chrysler financial crisis deepens

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 1980 14:11


    Auto workers call on Reagan's help as jobs are threatened by Chrysler cash crisis. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Haig joins Cabinet

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 1980 14:29


    Nixon's top aide is offered senior post - but the hearings on his fitness to serve could be damaging. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    John Lennon’s assassination

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 1980 13:51


    The shooting of John Lennon on the 8th December 1980 sparks a debate over the need for national gun control law in America.

    The waiting game

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 1980 13:37


    Hostages and the growing Polish crisis will prove to be among Reagan's first presidential headaches. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Reagan's charm offensive

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 1980 14:12


    President-elect Reagan wins over Washington with his charm offensive. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Reagan's political honeymoon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 1980 13:45


    President-elect Reagan turns his honeymoon period into a Washington courtship ritual. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Why the pollsters got it wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 1980 13:42


    Humiliation for pollsters who made completely wrong call on the presidential election. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Ronald Reagan’s victory, 1980

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 1980 13:46


    As Ronald Reagan wins the 1980 US presidential election, Alistair Cooke reflects on the causes of Jimmy Carter's downfall.

    The World Series gets the vote, 1980

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 1980 14:08


    The World Series gets the popular vote while the presidential candidates get mean with each other. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    The book-selling business

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 1980 13:48


    How the book-selling business creates a bestseller from a book which isn't selling. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Independents switch to Reagan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 1980 14:16


    Campaign sees Carter's support slipping as independent voters switch to Reagan. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Candidates claim victory in TV debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 1980 14:22


    Polls will chart Carter's performance in TV debate while the other two candidates both claim victory. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Small car sales boom

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 1980 14:21


    US car makers to concentrate on making smaller cars as sale of thrifty foreign imports boom. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Candidates consider TV debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 1980 13:51


    Three-way TV debate for presidential candidates could leave Carter at a disadvantage. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    American know-how

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 1980 13:58


    America's lead in the technological revolution has been lost during the past thirty years as Europe and the Far East steam ahead. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Energy assistance bill

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 1980 14:04


    Surprise swing of Republican voting in favour of the cold north over energy assistance bill. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    America's Electoral College

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 1980 14:09


    Why size matters when it comes to vote-counting by the US Electoral College. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Jimmy Carter is nominated for re-election

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 1980 13:52


    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.

    Covering the 1980 presidential campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 1980 13:43


    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.

    Carter ratings lowest ever

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 1980 14:07


    Democrat convention faces disarray over lowest-ever popularity ratings by sitting President Carter. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Bush to be Reagan's running mate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 1980 14:24


    Ford loses out to Bush as running mate for Reagan in race for the White House. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Reagan wins Republican nomination

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 1980 14:35


    Republican convention endorses the nomination of 70-year-old Ronald Reagan as its presidential candidate. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Row over abortion ruling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 1980 14:15


    Ruling over whether abortions should be state-funded is likely to spark further equal rights amendments. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    The Supreme Court

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 1980 13:38


    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.

    Unemployment looms in Hollywood

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 1980 14:06


    As the recession begins to bite, even Hollywood is facing the prospect of rising unemployment. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Isao Aoki, golfing hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 1980 14:14


    Unusual technique of Japanese champion Isao Aoki gives hope to millions of golfing duffers. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Carter's visits fail to ignite campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 1980 14:15


    President Carter's flying visits to crisis-torn areas seen only as political and fail to boost his standing. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Republicans solid for Reagan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 1980 14:11


    For once, the Republican party is solidly united for one candidate while the Democrats lose backing for both Carter and Kennedy. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Puerto Rican immigration

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 1980 14:21


    The 1950s flood of Puerto Ricans to New York should act as a warning over the new arrivals from Cuba. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Mount St Helens erupts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 1980 14:09


    Mount St Helens eruption blights farming across north and west while the southern state of Florida erupts into race riots over Cuban refugee influx. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Car sales slump

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 1980 14:15


    Massive slump in US-made car sales signals recession is biting. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Recession may finish Carter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 1980 14:05


    Recession timing bad for Carter's hopes of a second term. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Why Vance quit

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 1980 13:54


    Point of principle lay behind resignation of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance following secrecy over hostage rescue attempt. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Iranian hostage rescue attempt, 1980

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 1980 14:00


    How will President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the Americans being held hostage by Iran affect the forthcoming election?

    Kennedy's last stand

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 1980 14:19


    Senator Kennedy talks tough as he faces last major showdown in the Democrats' primaries. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    New York transport strike

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 1980 14:32


    Bargaining details behind the transport strike which has left New York train-free for days. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Extension of primary elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 1980 14:14


    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. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Kennedy's brief triumph

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 1980 13:45


    Surprise at Senator Kennedy's landslide win at the New York Democrat primary. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Illinois crucial in presidential race

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 1980 14:21


    Why the Illinois 'beauty contest' is so important to those aiming for the White House in a presidential election year. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Inflation fuels alarm over policies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 1980 13:55


    President Carter not suffering primary defeats, despite fears over raging inflation. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. . Programme recording incomplete. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Foreign policy wobbles

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 1980 14:21


    New foreign policy wobble as US cites 'mistake' on voting intentions over Israel. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Iran hostage crisis goes on

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 1980 14:08


    Iran refuses negotiation attempt over US hostages the country is holding. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

    Claim Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: From Nixon to Carter (1969-1980)

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel