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

BBC

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.

  • 14 minutes 11 seconds
    Chrysler financial crisis deepens

    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.

    26 December 1980, 5:32 pm
  • 14 minutes 29 seconds
    Haig joins Cabinet

    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.

    19 December 1980, 1:43 pm
  • 13 minutes 51 seconds
    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.

    12 December 1980, 9:00 pm
  • 13 minutes 37 seconds
    The waiting game

    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.

    5 December 1980, 1:37 pm
  • 14 minutes 12 seconds
    Reagan's charm offensive

    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.

    28 November 1980, 5:27 pm
  • 13 minutes 45 seconds
    Reagan's political honeymoon

    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.

    21 November 1980, 5:16 pm
  • 13 minutes 42 seconds
    Why the pollsters got it wrong

    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.

    14 November 1980, 5:14 pm
  • 13 minutes 46 seconds
    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.

    7 November 1980, 9:00 pm
  • 14 minutes 8 seconds
    The World Series gets the vote, 1980

    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.

    17 October 1980, 9:53 am
  • 13 minutes 48 seconds
    The book-selling business

    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.

    10 October 1980, 3:58 pm
  • 14 minutes 16 seconds
    Independents switch to Reagan

    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.

    3 October 1980, 3:49 pm
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