BBC Radio Podcasts from Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Bush Sr Years (1989-1992)
An economic summit
Bill Clinton's plan to solve the debt crisis in America.
The English language and immigration
Is the policy of unlimited immigration one that can be sustained indefinitely?
Casablanca 50th anniversary, 1992
The 50th anniversary of the release of Casablanca.
Clinton's economy
Does a new president mean a boost in public confidence and the economy?
Millicent Fenwick
A profile of politician Millicent Fenwick (1910-1992).
The executive branch
Why does it take so long to move in, and out, of the White House?
Predicting elections
How did Ross Perot affect the result of the 1992 presidential election?
Bill Clinton's clothes
Why do journalists flock to Washington for the presidential election?
Election predictions and certainties
Is it possible to predict the outcome of a presidential election?
The business of sport
An embarrassing incident involving the Canadian flag in the 1992 World Series.
Columbus: hero or villain?
Should Christopher Columbus be regarded as a hero or a villain by Americans?
Electoral debates past and present
How can a televised debate change the public perception of a politician?
Touring authors
General H Norman Schwarzkopf and the plight of the touring author.
Historical events of the 20th Century
A review of some major events from the 20th Century.
Black Wednesday 1992
What could Europe learn from the distribution of power in the US?
Burma and Quentin Burdick
A profile of Senator Quentin Burdick (1908-1992) of North Dakota.
Moving to Mexico
The American firms moving to Mexico under the Free Trade agreement.
Hurricanes 1992
Alistair Cooke's recollection of the 1938 New England hurricane.
Conventions and opinion polls
What effect will the 1992 Republican convention have on the opinion polls?
Clark Clifford
A profile of presidential advisor Clark Clifford (1906-1998).
Ross Perot withraws
The mystery of Ross Perot's withdrawal from the 1992 presidential race.
A history of party conventions
A recollection of dramatic party conventions from 1924, 1940 and 1960.
Canada and other democracies
Does America need to compare itself to other democratic countries?
Olympic sportsmanship
The use of steroids in the run up to the Barcelona Olympic games.
Extradition and freedom of speech
The court rulings on Albert Alvarez-Machain and cross burning in Minnesota.
United Nations' first reporters
The first gathering of the UN, and the journalists who reported on it.
Military downsizing and Rio
How will cuts to the military affect unemployment in America?
The problems with the two party system, 1992
Does two party politics lead to an apathetic American voter?
Ross Perot runs for American presidency
Analysis of businessman Ross Perot who is running in the 1992 American presidency race.
The end of the LA riots
The reaction of the White House to the violent disturbances in Los Angeles.
Space shuttle Endeavour
The details of the latest mission by the space shuttle Endeavour.
Cities and social problems
The work of Jack Kemp, the Secretary of Housing and Development.
Riots in Los Angeles, 1992
The Rodney King police trial and the start of the 1992 LA riots.
Columbus and Asimov
Should Americans celebrate, or be embarrased by, Columbus Day?
Tax fraud
The case of Leona Helmsley (1920-2007), the New York hotelier accused of tax fraud.
Perils of the welfare state
Details of Ross Perot's plan to reduce the welfare state.
The Army of North Virginia
The last stand of General E Lee in North Virginia on 9th July 1865.
The French and immigration
The differing attitudes of the French and Americans to immigration.
The bank of the House of Representatives
The closure of the bank of the House of Representatives is examined by Alistair Cooke.
What Richard Nixon did next
A profile of Richard Nixon's dimplomatic work after leaving office.
Pat Buchanan
Is a vote for Pat Buchanan in the New Hampshire primary a vote against George Bush?
Judge Clarence Thomas
The details of the allegations made against Judge Clarence Thomas in 1992.
Japanese Americans 1942
The order by FDR to remove of all Japanese living in California in 1942.
New Hampshire primaries 1992
Who are the candidates in the 1992 New Hampshire primary election?
Events of 1991
A review of the major news stories of 1991 by Alistair Cooke.
US defence spending
The reactions of both Republicans and Democrats to the cutting of the US defence budget.
Governor Bill Clinton
The press scrutiny of the personal life of Governor Bill Clinton in 1992.
Operation Desert Storm
What can be learned from the successes and failures of Operation Desert Storm?
Japanese trade
A history of Japanese trade and how General MacArthur shaped modern Japan
American public schools
The work of Kevin Welch, and the limitations of American public schools.
Shared concerns in Britain and America
Considering an increased sharing of economic and social concerns across the Atlantic.
America’s recession and Russian nuclear security
Recession in America, more modest foreign policy aims and nuclear fears in ex-USSR states.
Robert Maxwell and libel law
Robert Maxwell, obscuring controversy and comparing libel law in England and the US.
Biden and Kinnock
Joe Biden's alleged plagiarism of a speech by Neil Kinnock in 1987.
George H W's popularity in 1991
Why has the American public lost confidence in George H W Bush?
David Duke
A profile of David Duke, former Klu Klux Klan member and potential governor of Louisiana.
The lucky George Bush
Will George Bush's luck prevail and inspire confidence in the American public in 1991?
Robert Maxwell and Fred MacMurray
Profiles of Robert Maxwell and Fred MacMurray, who both passed away in 1991.
Tobacco brands at the 1991 World Baseball Series
Why did the Federal Trade Commission ban tobacco brands after the World Baseball Series?
1991 Cambodian peace treaty
Cambodian dictator Pol Pot is compared to Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro.
Sexual harassment and Judge Clarence Thomas
Exploring Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against Judge Clarence Thomas.
America’s children, families and education
Concern over the state of the American education system and President Bush's reforms.
Relations between Israel and the US
The strained relations between Israel and the US; the plight of Middle Eastern refugees.
Colonel Oliver North's trial
The trial of former Marine Colonel Oliver North over the 1986 Iran-Contra scandal.
Congressional hearings
Some prominent tv trials and congressional committee hearings.
President Bush and Winston Churchill
President George H W Bush's handling of foreign affairs helps his re-election.
Gorbachev's nuclear arsenal
After Yanayev's 1991 August coup, who is in charge of the Soviet nuclear arsenal?
The August Coup, 1991
Gennady Yanayev and the Gang of Eight grab for power in the 1991 coup against Gorbachev.
UN economic sanctions
Could the United Nations' economic sanctions have crippled Saddam Hussein?
Mayor David Dinkins asks NYC public
Mayor of New York City, David Dinkins, asks the public for advice on social problems.
President George W H Bush’s re-election
Is President George H W Bush unbeatable in the next election?
Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal
John Major's comments on the Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal.
Gorbachev and the G7 summit
How the world now sees Gorbahev and the 1991 G7 summit in London, England.
Stress related illness
How stress related illnesses have become acknowledged in both America and Britain.
Gavrilo Princip kills Duke Franz Ferdinand
How Serbian Gavrilo Princip murdered Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary.
Nude dancing in Indiana
American Supreme Court decides whether nude dancing in Indiana violates the 1st Amendment.
Boris Yeltsin's White House visit
Boris Yeltsin's visit to the White House in June 1991 contrasts with his one in 1989,
Michael Weiss the zip code wizard
How Michael Weiss' research into zip codes can aid advertisers.
Freedom of Information
Should the Department of Defence publish a list of Iraqi casualties from the Gulf War?
Tompkins Square Park Riot (1988)
How riots in Tompkins Square Park were sparked by social injustice.
Passive smoking and cholesterol control
How the Food and Drug Administration combats public smoking and cholesterol.
President Bush’s heart surgery
President Bush's heart surgery leads to the scrutiny of vice president Dan Quayle.
May Day protest in Moscow
The 1991 May Day parade in Moscow is discussed with UN Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko.
Nancy Reagan's biography
Is an unauthorised biography of ex-president's wife, Mrs Reagan, just salacious gossip?
Gorbachev’s Japanese investment trip
Why did Gorbachev's visit to Japan fail to encourage financial investment?
President Bush defends Gulf War
President George H W Bush has to defend his Gulf War actions against Saddam
CNN post-war malaise
How CNN's constant Gulf War coverage has led to post war malaise.
Gorbachev's Yeltsin rally ban
Gorbachev's banning of a Yeltsin rally in Moscow worries Alistair Cooke.
Ambassador Glaspie's interventions
Did April Glaspie's conversations with Saddam Hussein aid the 1991 Persian Gulf War?
John Maynard Keynes
Can John Maynard Keynes' economic strategy help Congress divide their 1992 budget?
End of the Gulf War
How long can President Bush hold onto his Gulf War glory?
Kuwait on the map
The notoriety of Kuwait, Riyadh and Baghdad due to the Gulf War and beyond.
Drought and domestic partnerships
A report from California on water in LA, and domestic partnerships in San Francisco.
Indecent behaviour during war
In times of war how much care-free behaviour should we indulge in?
Airport terrorist attack fears
What is the link between fears over terrorist attacks and the Gulf War?
Gulf War censorship
Should news from the Gulf War be censored?
Saddam Hussein or the Bogie Man
How is Saddam Hussein's dictatorship and the Gulf war viewed by the Iraqi people?
The Gulf War begins, January 1991
Aerial bombs dropping on Kuwait signal the start of the Gulf war.
Pan Am declares bankruptcy
The rise and fall of iconic American airline Pan Am.
Legal guns vs murder rates
Does legal firearm ownership increase the number of murders in America?
Vermont, snowboarders, and Nancy Cruzan
A discussion of the campaign for the right to die by the family of Nancy Cruzan.
Gender-specific terminology and Michael Milken
Is the Mayor of Los Angeles' fight to eliminate gender-specifc terminology in vain?
Black Americans in the armed forces
Why are there a disproportionate number of African Americans in the US army in 1990?
Pearl Harbour, Dick Cheney and Saddam Hussein
Does the power to take America to war belong to President Bush or the US Congress?
Margaret Thatcher and travelling during Thanksgiving
What does the American public think about British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher?
150,000 more troops to Iraq
Will an increase of troops in the Gulf have an effect on George Bush's approval ratings?
1990 mid-term elections
Analysis of the 1990 mid-term elections and the divide within the Democratic Party.
The CIA and Kuwaiti conspiracy
Are the murmurings of a CIA and Kuwaiti conspiracy over a war in the Gulf to be believed?
Intervention in the Gulf and no new taxes
President Bush's fight to agree a national budget and gain support for a war in the Gulf.
President Bush and the 1990 national budget
Is it inevitable that President Bush and the Senate would struggle to agree on a budget?
End of the fiscal year, 1990
The appointment of Justice David Souter and the end of the fiscal year for 1990.
The 14th amendment
A history of the role of women in the US military following a ruling on locker rooms.
A unanimous United Nations
Why is a unanimous vote in the United Nations Security Council such a rare occurrence?
New York - a melting pot?
How wide are the cultural divisions with New York, and do they pose a threat to the city?
Chernobyl and the Star Wars defence program
What can the accident at Chernobyl teach us about the future for nuclear weapons?
James Baker and Russians in Iraq
Secretary James Baker before the Senate, and Russian advisors to Saddam Hussein.
The Path To Kuwait, 1990
Does George H W Bush's meeting with world leaders signal American intervention in Iraq?
Shipbuilding In California
A recollection of the work of Henry Kaiser to improve the economy of California.
NYC's new immigrants
New immigrants to New York City in 1990 and the languages they speak.
William J Brennan and David Souter
How does the a new judge become appointed to the Supreme Court?
The Cambodian guerilla coalition
The withdrawal of US recognition of the regime of the Cambodian guerrilla coalition.
The 1990 World Cup
How interested are Americans in soccer and how will the US perform at World Cup '94?
Independence Day 1990
What the French think of Independence Day, and does the US conform to British stereotypes?
Nelson Mandela In America
The impact of Nelson Mandela's 1990 diplomatic visit to the United States.
An Indepedent Quebec
Is the prospect of an independent Quebec a threat to American and Canadian relations?
Diane Feinstein
Senator Diane Feinstein, the Democratic nomination for governorship of California in 1990.
Richard Paul Pavlik
A recollection of the assassination attempt by Richard Paul Pavlik on John F Kennedy.
Memorial Day, 1990
Will new legislation in 1990 mean a difficult future for the American tobacco industry?
Greta Garbo and Jim Henson
The lives and careers of Greta Garbo (1905-1990) and Jim Henson (1936-1990)
Robert Mapplethorpe in Cincinnati
Robert Mapplethorpe's controversial photography exhibition arrives in Cincinnati.
The End of the Eighties - Great or Greedy?
Does the end of the Reagan era mean an end to the culture of greed of the 1980s?
Earth Day, 1990
Earth Day, acid rain, and the Clean Air Act passed by Congress in 1963.
Diverse peoples under one language
President Theodore Roosevelt's attempt to unite America under the English language.
Harry Bridges
The life and career of the labour leader and activist Harry Bridges (1901-1990).
President Bush's broccoli
George H W Bush's dislike of broccoli lands him in trouble with food lobbyists.
Pearl Harbour and church attendance
Were the Japanese peace envoys sent to the US during Pearl Harbour being used as decoys?
Apocolyptic cults
American religious gurus and prophets from Aimee Semple McPherson to now.
The final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird
Public spending cuts, and the decommissioning of the SR-71 Blackbird.
Nicaraguan election 1990
Democracy at work in Nicaragua, and the role of the US in the elections.
Presidential speechwriters
How far can a great speech go in changing the public perception of a politician?
Kansas City
Why Kansas City has lost its unique identity, and become like so much of America.
US Foreign policy and defence spending
An upsurge in American public interest in foreign affairs, and the threat of Gorbachev.
McEnroe and Gorbachev
John McEnroe's dismissal from the 1990 Australian Open, and Gorbachev's plans for peace.
Foreign aid budget
The causes of the reduction in the American foreign aid budget in 1990.
Changes to the American Family
An examination of the changes to the structure of the American family since 1960.
A brand new decade - 1990
What effect did the presidency of Ronald Reagan have on the American welfare system?
The capture of General Noriega, 1990
General Manuel Noriega's capture by American military forces in Panama.
1989 in review
A review of the major news stories of 1989, including revolutions and invasions.
American intervention in Panama
Is the American invasion of Panama legal following the failure to capture Noriega?
Dan Quayle and the Soviet Union
Details of Dan Quayle's comments on the threat posed by the Sovier Union.
Soviets need soap, December 1989
Shortage of consumer basics threatens stability of the Soviet economy.
Thomas Paine and the uprisings in Czechoslovakia and Hungary
Why is President George Bush so reluctant to comment on the uprising in Hungary?
Hurricane Hugo, Galileo, and the cranberry scare of 1959
Is there any truth in the belief that the Galileo spacecraft is affecting the weather?
The opening of the Berlin Wall, 1989
Gorbachev proclaims that Germany will not become a capitalist state after reunification.
1989 local elections and the defeat of propostions S and P
The defeat of the Domestic Partnership Bill and proposition to retire Candlestick Park.
Coverage of the 1989 earthquake and the domestic partnership bill
An examination of the arguments surrounding the domestic partnership bill.
1989 earthquake in California
The aftermath of the 1989 earthquake in California, and the vast television coverage.
Nimitz freeway collapse
Bridge and roadways collapse in California earthquake.
The failed coup against Manuel Noriega
Is American intervention in Panama inevitable after a failed coup?
Emission controls in California
Does California's environmental legislation set an example for other states to follow?
Bush's 1989 speech at the United Nations
Do nuclear weapons still pose a threat in 1989, and why is George Bush so popular?
The reunification of Germany and Mayor Edward Koch
A profile of Edward Koch, the Mayor of New York City from 1977 to 1989.
The Wall Street crash and Crown Prince Humbert
A review of the major news stories from 1929.
Narcotics, interdiction and Columbian drug lords
The National Narcotics Border Interdiction System, and George Bush's war on drugs.
The US Open, Wimbledon and air conditioning
The joys of tennis and air conditioning, as pondered by Alistair Cooke.
Protection of property by the Declaration of Independence
Does the Declaration of Independence guarantee the protection of personal property?
Colin Powell and "Mickey" Leland
Profiles of politicians Colin Powell and "Mickey" Leland (1944-1989)
James Baker in Mexico
Secretary James Baker's meeting with Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari.
Colonel William R Higgins
Is the grief for murdered Colonel William Higgins the reponse sought by his killers?
Chinese refugees at UC Berkley
Details of the Chinese students seeking refuge at UC Berkley after Tiananmen Square.
1989 economic summit in Paris
The 1989 economic summit in Paris, and the role of George Bush in proceedings.
The 1812 earthquake in Tennessee
Details of the 1812 earthquake in Tennessee and the inevitability of "the Big One".
Abortion law thunderbolt
Judgment hands back abortion rulings to state control.
The New York water shortage
Should Congress be able to perform corrective action on rulings it doesn't agree with?
The desecration of the American flag
Is the burning of an American flag stretching the freedom of speech too far?
Liberty in China
Is the military action in Tiananmen Square a sign of Chinese attitudes towards liberty?
Tiananmen Square protests, 1989
The 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square and the military crackdown on those involved.
Claude Pepper
The life of politician Claude Pepper (1900-1989)
Jim Wright and the Baltic rebellion
The beginnings of the rebellions in the Baltic states of Estonia and Lithuania.
The Soviet-Chinese relationship
Does the 1989 Soviet-Chinese summit in Beijing pose a threat to the West?
Colonel North's orders
Who was giving Colonel Oliver North his orders when he was aiding the Nicaraguan rebels?
Oliver North's jury
Finding an unbiased jury in the television age.
The Missouri abortion case
The case of Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, a landmark trial on abortion rights.
Happy birthday, Charlie Chaplin
A profile of Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Atlanta and Augusta
A history of the Augusta National Golf Club from its formation in 1777.
James Munroe's declaration of independence
President James Munroe's battle to keep America out of the hands of European invaders.
A Portrait Of Washington, D.C.
A brief history of Washington and an investigation in to the abnormally high crime rate.
The New York City Board of Estimate
Is the New York City Board of Estimate an unconstitutional organisation?
Food safety and standards
The poisoning of two grapes from Chile, and the role of the EPA and FDA.
The continuing case of John Tower
Do a politician's personal problems affect their ability to govern?
John Tower and Colonel North
Do the personal problems of John Tower mean he is unable to advise President Bush?
Satanic Verses outcry
Book stores return book to public display after initial removal.
1989 Soviet-Chinese summit
The background to, and aftermath of, the 1989 Soviet-Chinese summit in Beijing.
Revenue enhancements and the Nixon files
What is the difference between a tax and a revenue enhancement?
Ethical behaviour
Bush warns aides he expects high ethical standards.
Bush's stance on abortion
A discussion on President Bush's position on the difficult issue of abortion.
Bush's first week and 'African-Americans'
Reverend Jessie Jackson's campaign for the recognition of the term 'African-American'.
The inauguration of George Bush, 1989
A review of George H W Bush's cabinet, and his campaign for the presidency.
George Bush, the 41st president
The arrival of George H W Bush as the President of the United States of America.