Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Clinton Years (1997-2000)

Follow Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Clinton Years (1997-2000)
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Alistair Cooke on Bill Clinton’s second term including Monica Lewinsky scandal, the attempt to impeach him, the al-Qaeda attack on US embassies in east Africa and war in Kosovo.

BBC Radio 4


    • Dec 29, 2000 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 207 EPISODES


    More podcasts from BBC Radio 4

    Search for episodes from Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Clinton Years (1997-2000) with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Clinton Years (1997-2000)

    America is Back to Normal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2000 13:26


    Alistair Cooke discusses the reality of wind chill, questionnaires for appointing cabinet officers and the secrets to old age.

    How Wrong We've Been, from Madison to Roosevelt

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2000 12:54


    Alistair Cooke explains how America was able to wait patiently for the confirmation of their new president, George Bush.

    An Embarrassing Relic of Authoritarianism

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2000 13:30


    Alistair Cooke contemplates the pros and cons of democracy and the role of America's Electoral College.

    Bedazzled and Bewildered

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2000 13:51


    Alistair Cooke asks whether the doubts about the result of the Florida vote are paralysing America's government.

    It's a Nine Ring Circus and You'll Never be Bored

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2000 13:30


    Alistair Cooke examines the voting irregularities of 1876 and applies the lessons learned from them to the current electoral crisis in Florida.

    The Origin of the Continental Blow Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2000 13:31


    Alistair Cooke looks at the origins of Thanksgiving and seasonal trends in food.

    The Florida re-count, 2000

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2000 13:33


    The various legal issues underlying the failure to elect either George W Bush or Al Gore as president are explained by Alistair Cooke.

    Paralysis by Analysis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2000 12:49


    Given the closeness of the recent election, Alistair Cooke asks what sort of mandate the next President will really possess.

    The Day of Judgement

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2000 13:34


    Democrat or Republican? Gore or Bush? Who will be the next President? Alistair Cooke reviews the two candidates.

    Suffocating in an Ocean of Advertising

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2000 13:40


    Alistair Cooke looks forward with pleasure to the Presidential election and an end to wall-to-wall lobbying and advertising.

    A Supreme Diarist

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2000 13:31


    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. .

    The World's Tumult and the Price of a Barrel of Oil

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2000 13:23


    Alistair Cook considers two conflicts - the rioting in Jerusalem and the revolution in Belgrade.

    There He Goes Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2000 13:38


    With a presidential election a month or so away, Alistair Cook ponders the history of the American presidential debates.

    A Vague Beast Called Big Oil

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2000 13:58


    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.

    Just the Facts, Ma'am

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2000 13:33


    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 reality.

    Trouble with the English Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2000 13:21


    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.

    Doing What Comes Naturally

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2000 13:25


    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.

    Father, God, Undefined

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2000 12:34


    Alistair Cooke considers the American passion for trusting in God and how religion is linked to the American constitutional rights.

    Russia: The Victim of Democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2000 13:32


    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.

    Mother Nature's Wild Fires

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2000 13:55


    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.

    Running Mates and Carpet Baggers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2000 13:37


    Alistair Cooke explains the origins of the American political phrases "carpet bagger" and "running mate" as well as the role of the vice president.

    From Exciting Horserace to Exhibition Trot

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2000 13:51


    Alistair Cooke considers the outdated presidential nominating conventions and remembers the dramatic evenings of the longest ballot in US history.

    From Party Convention to Coronation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2000 12:54


    On the eve of the political parties choosing a nominee for the presidency of the United States, Alistair Cooke remembers some previous party conventions.

    Ghostly Applause for a News Blackout

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2000 12:54


    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.

    Now Read On...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2000 13:23


    Alistair Cooke remembers George Gallup, the man whose scientific polling method changed the study of government and public opinion forever.

    Where Have all the Answers Gone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2000 13:55


    Alistair Cooke bends his alphabet into a metaphysical helix in order to gain an understanding of the human genome.

    Pursuing a Will-o-the-wisp

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2000 13:46


    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.

    This Great Festival of Consumerism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2000 13:41


    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.

    A Wonderful Work or a Rat Trap?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2000 13:19


    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.

    Polishing up his Escutcheon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2000 13:03


    Alistair Cooke reflects on how President Clinton is polishing up his political legacy with his recent Chinese and Russian treaty summits.

    Diet, Longevity and a Custard Pie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2000 13:48


    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.

    A Giant Step for Womankind

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2000 13:55


    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.

    Historic Turning Points

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2000 13:45


    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.

    The China Bill and other Kickshaws

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2000 13:48


    Whilst the House of Representatives vote on granting China permanent trading privileges, Alistair Cooke considers San Francisco's law against sizeism.

    The Outrageous David Merrick

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2000 13:39


    The life and times of a colourful character in American theatre - David Merrick - are remembered by Alistair Cooke.

    A Sordid Struggle

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2000 14:13


    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.

    Cycle of Boom and Bust

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2000 13:52


    After the New York stock exchange plunges more than 600 points, periods of boom and bust are remembered by Alistair Cook.

    The Year of the Census

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2000 14:19


    Alistair Cooke examines whether questions on the US census invade individuals' privacy and explores the uses of private information.

    Never-failing, Ever-soaring, High-flying, Hi-techs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2000 13:34


    While technology stocks are puzzling financial experts, Alistair Cook wonders what alternative sources will be found to create energy.

    The Most Significant Event of Recent Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2000 13:18


    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.

    A National Figure of Charm and Pity

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2000 13:41


    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.

    Buying Judges and Acquiring a Patron Saint

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2000 13:11


    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.

    Claim Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Clinton Years (1997-2000)

    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