Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Reagan Years (1981-1988)

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Ronald Reagan’s presidency: Reagonomics, the Grenada invasion, the Iran-contra scandal and reconciliation with the Soviet. Alistair Cooke's fascinating account of American life.

BBC Radio 4


    • Dec 9, 1988 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 300 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Reagan Years (1981-1988)

    Gorbachev's perilous experiment

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 1988 14:02


    Misgivings over Gorbachev's liberalisation proposals as observers fear further splits from satellite nations. 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.

    Yasser Arafat's speech at the UN, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 1988 14:09


    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.

    Fears over US deficit

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 1988 14:17


    The economy will be the first challenge facing the new president when his term starts in January. 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.

    A dirty campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 1988 13:42


    Slander and innuendo are nothing new in campaigning - but the rhetoric will soon be erased. 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 1988 presidential election

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 1988 13:52


    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 for the archive.

    George H W Bush vs Michael Dukakis

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 1988 27:58


    A review of George H W Bush and Michael Dukakis' presidential campaigns, key values and demographics, and predicted performances before the 1988 elections.

    The Bess Myerson trial begins

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 1988 14:08


    The 1988 trial of Bess Myerson, the former Miss America and head of consumer affairs to New York City, accused of tax fraud and bribing a judge.

    Baseball and politics in 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 1988 13:44


    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.

    Testing public opinion

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 1988 13:03


    Quavering Quale affects voters' views on choice for president. 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.

    1988 televised debates, and Thatcher in 1979

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 1988 13:55


    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.

    Looking good on TV

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 1988 14:07


    As the presidential candidates debate on TV, political prowess seems to be in the eye of the beholder. 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.

    Hurricane Gilbert

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 1988 13:53


    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.

    The Democratic outsider

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 1988 13:35


    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.

    Yellowstone National Park, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 1988 14:44


    Too strange to be believed, the natural phenomena that prompted the founding of the US national parks. 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.

    Etiquette for presidential candidates and the heat wave of Summer 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 1988 13:35


    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?

    Dan Quayle for vice president

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 1988 27:37


    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.

    President Reagan’s final Republican Convention

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 1988 13:50


    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.

    Ed Koch, Mayor of New York

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 1988 13:32


    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.

    Day care and recreation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 1988 13:23


    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.

    America's polluted waters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 1988 14:06


    Alistair Cooke reports on the polluted state of America's waters, coastline and lakes, its effect on the wildlife and the reactions of the public.

    Democratic National Convention, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 1988 14:15


    Michael Dukakis is nominated as the Democrat presidential candidate, but divisions within the party are exposed at the 1988 Democratic convention.

    Indict and remand

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 1988 13:52


    Alistair Cooke reflects on protection rackets in 1930s Manhattan, the meaning of indict and remand, and the purpose and history of the US Grand Jury.

    Iran Air Flight 655

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 1988 14:13


    An Iranian airliner carrying 290 civilians is shot down by US missiles over the Persian Gulf, killing all on board.

    Seeing justice done

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 1988 14:20


    Historic judgment in Iran-Contra legal wrangle is reduced to a series of melodramatic videotape clips. 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.

    Goodbye to men's clubs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 1988 14:07


    Writing on the wall for men's clubs as judges rule they infringe personal liberties. 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 Stand in the Schoolhouse Door of 1963

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 1988 14:15


    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.

    Bush will win it

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 1988 13:57


    George Bush may have to play down his preppy background, but he's still looking like a winner. 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.

    Golf in Russia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 1988 14:09


    As the West's sport becomes tainted by money-grubbing, the Soviets announce their first golf course. 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.

    Nancy Reagan's astrologer, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 1988 13:53


    Former White House aide Donald Regan makes public the First Lady's intrusion on policy and appointments. 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.

    Lame duck President Reagan, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 1988 13:47


    Considered a lame duck since his farewell State of the Union address in January 1988, Cooke muses on the real power of outgoing President Reagan.

    The forgotten William Le Queux

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 1988 13:51


    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).

    Irving Berlin turns 100, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 1988 14:06


    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.

    George H W Bush nominated

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 1988 14:15


    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.

    Stanton Delaplane (1907-1988)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 1988 13:49


    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.

    The Augusta National, 1988

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 1988 14:19


    Enjoying a different pace of life at the Augusta National, a Georgia Shangri-La. 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.

    Correspondents answered

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 1988 14:18


    Replying to listeners who have been unable to pick up on an intended humorous tone. 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.

    Democrat agony

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 1988 14:16


    Bush a shoe-in for Republicans but Democrat agony continues as Jackson and Dukakis run neck-and-neck. 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.

    Warnings for Gorbachev

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 1988 13:52


    Misgivings over future of Gorbachev and modernising reforms voiced by commentators. 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.

    California public health laws

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 1988 13:49


    Alistair Cooke is in California, where farmers and manufacturers are facing a drought and tougher rules on illegal immigrants and public health.

    1988 presidential primaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 1988 13:42


    The 1988 presidential primaries are underway, the Democrats are ambivalent about their contenders, and California aims to curb developers in Orange County.

    Black Monday remembered

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 1988 14:15


    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.

    Serious Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 1988 14:37


    London satire fails to entertain the New York audiences. 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.

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