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

Chrysler financial crisis deepens

Auto workers lobby Reagan as Chrysler's financial crisis worsens.

Haig joins Cabinet

President-elect announces General Haig as his choice for Secretary of State.

John Lennon’s assassination

Will the death of John Lennon have an effect on the gun rights lobby in America?

The waiting game

Pundits speculate on Reagan's true intentions while the Carter regime plays on.

Reagan's charm offensive

Washington dazed by Reagan's charm offensive.

Reagan's political honeymoon

President-elect Reagan enjoys his honeymoon period.

Why the pollsters got it wrong

How a 'close contest' turned into a landslide.

Ronald Reagan’s victory, 1980

Ronald Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election.

The World Series gets the vote, 1980

Voters tune in to the World Series while the candidates slug it out.

The book-selling business

How publishing became the book-selling business.

Independents switch to Reagan

Voters switch their support from independent candidate Anderson to Reagan.

Candidates claim victory in TV debate

Reagan and Anderson both claim victory in TV debate.

Small car sales boom

New car plant to make only smaller cars as sales of gas-guzzlers slump.

Candidates consider TV debate

Presidential candidates consider possible three-way TV debate.

American know-how

How the rest of the world caught up with American know-how.

Energy assistance bill

Republicans swing voting over energy assistance bill.

America's Electoral College

How the Electoral College has the last say over US votes.

Jimmy Carter is nominated for re-election

Edward Kennedy makes the best speech of his career at the Democratic Party conference.

Covering the 1980 presidential campaign

Is there too much news coverage of the 1980 Democratic nomination campaigns?

Carter ratings lowest ever

Democrats despair over slump in Carter's popularity rating.

Bush to be Reagan's running mate

Drama at convention over choice of running mate for Reagan.

Reagan wins Republican nomination

Republican convention gives overwhelming backing to Reagan.

Row over abortion ruling

Public divided on ruling over whether abortion should be state-funded.

The Supreme Court

Alistair Cooke reflects on the wide-ranging functions of the US Supreme Court.

Unemployment looms in Hollywood

Recession hits even the movie-making industry.

Isao Aoki, golfing hero

Japanese golf champion Isao Aoki gives hope to millions.

Carter's visits fail to ignite campaign

President Carter's visits to trouble spots seen as political.

Republicans solid for Reagan

Democrats waver over candidates while the Republicans back Reagan.

Puerto Rican immigration

Learning the lessons from New York's Puerto Rican influx of the 1950s.

Mount St Helens erupts

Mount St Helens eruption damages almost a quarter of the country's crops.

Car sales slump

Sales of US-made cars fall by a third in just one year.

Recession may finish Carter

Carter's ratings slump as recession bites.

Why Vance quit

Secrets and lies behind Secretary of State's resignation.

Iranian hostage rescue attempt, 1980

President Carter's attempt to rescue the US hostages being held in Iran ends in tragedy.

Kennedy's last stand

Senator Kennedy's last hope of winning backing for presidential vote.

New York transport strike

Mass transport workers' strike hits New York.

Extension of primary elections

How suspicion of party bosses led to extended primary elections.

Kennedy's brief triumph

Landslide win for Kennedy in New York primary.

Illinois crucial in presidential race

Illinois primary gives clues to likely presidential contenders.

Inflation fuels alarm over policies

Carter under fire over inflation, yet primaries go his way.

Foreign policy wobbles

Outcry as US changes its vote on West Bank settlements.

Iran hostage crisis goes on

No movement over US hostages held in Iran.

New Hampshire, the political weathervane

Keeping an eye on the political weather for the New Hampshire primary.

Carter's ultimatum under fire

President's threat over Olympic boycott criticised.

The Canadian Caper in Tehran, 1979

The Canadian rescue of US diplomats during the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran.

Carter steals rivals' thunder

President's State of the Union speech steals rivals' rhetoric.

UN vote condemns Soviets

Soviet allies back West in UN vote against invasion.

Call for Olympics boycott

Carter weighs up boycott of Moscow Olympics.

Carter boosts arms budget

President to beef up military spending in wake of Soviet aggression.

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Carter stunned by Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Iran sanctions stalled in UN

Move to enforce sanctions against illegal Iran regime held up by UN.

Cambodian refugee crisis

Refugees starve as Cambodian regimes block food aid.

US and Iran

US goes it alone over respondng to Khomeini's takeover of Iran.

Public back Carter on hostage crisis

Public boost for President Carter's measured response on hostage crisis.

Bungle claim over Iran hostage crisis

White House had been warned of possible embassy seizure in Tehran.

American embassy hostages stalemate

Frustration over impotence of America on embassy hostages.

Tehran hostage crisis

Carter praised for reaction to Tehran hostage crisis.

Pork barrel politics

Carter uses 'pork barrel' patronage to bolster popularity.

Interest rates rise

Interest rates hiked to 15% by Federal Reserve.

No more nukes

Anti-nuclear protests gather force.

New York Times mistake

Muddling a neutron for a neutrino, and the death of actor Clarence Muse.

A common language?

American English - not quite the Queen's English.

Pope John Paul II's visit

Pope John Paul II's joyous visit to the US, and Catholicism in America.

Dubious poll results

Doubt cast on reliability of polls testing Carter's ratings with the voters.

Jean Seberg and the FBI, 1979

How actress Jean Seberg (1938-79) was tormented by the FBI.

Soviet troops in Cuba

SALT talks in jeopardy as Soviet troops appear in Cuba.

Dalai Lama visits US

Dalai Lama makes low-key visit to US.

Murder of Lord Mountbatten

Mountbatten murder prompts need for clearer understanding of Irish conflict.

Stagnant economy warning

Congress warns of economy stagnating.

Young's final diplomacy

Andrew Young's last act of diplomacy before departure.

Small earthquake in 'Frisco

Small earthquake in San Francisco sparks big headlines.

The politics of plain speaking

When times are tough, it pays politicians to speak plainly.

Carter reshuffles his team

Carter reshuffles his team of advisers.

Cabinet resignation call

Carter calls for US Cabinet to resign.

Skylab crash lands

US Skylab crash lands from earth orbit.

Carter silent on oil crisis

President Carter cancels television speech on oil crisis.

Gromyko's threat to SALT treaty

Soviet foreign minister Gromyko threatens to sink SALT treaty.

The murder of Bill Stewart in Nicaragua, 1979

The horror of seeing reporter Bill Stewart shot dead in Nicaragua in front of TV cameras.

John Wayne obituary, 1979

John Wayne - obituary for an enduring hero.

Pope visits Poland

Pope John Paul II visits Poland.

O.J.Simpson, sports star

Sports star O.J.Simpson, the national black hero.

Harvey Milk killing

Fury over lenient sentence for Harvey Milk killer.

Petrol shortage in US

US petrol shortage blamed on oil companies.

William Safire on Thatcher

Columnist William Safire on Thatcher's election victory.

US v UK elections

UK elections become more like their US counterparts.

Press freedom

Press freedom challenged in CBS case.

Lee Marvin property suit

Film star Lee Marvin sued by ex-partner.

Government unable to vouch for nuclear safety

Public voice fears as government unable to guarantee nuclear safety.

Three Mile Island Accident

The future of nuclear power following the Three Mile Island disaster.

Inflation at 14.4 per cent

Inflation rises to over 14 per cent. Carter praised for Egypt-Israel peace deal.

How Texas became American

How Americans settled, then annexed, the state of Texas.

Carter's popularity slumps

President Carter's popularity with voters slides.

Mexico strikes oil

Major oil find in Mexico.

Jane Byrne voted Chicago mayor

Surprise win for Jane Byrne in Chicago mayoral vote.

Freedom of Information Act

Freedom of Information Act reveals government collection of data.

Oil rationing threat

Threat of oil rationing after Iran coup.

Chinese visit rattles USSR

Soviets rattled over Chinese deputy premier's visit to US.

Chinese state visit

Chinese deputy premier on state visit to US.

Carter's austere budget

President Carter unveils austerity budget.

Shah flees Iran

Shah of Iran loses power.

Pol Pot regime falls

Pol Pot regime toppled by Vietnamese.

White Christmas in Vermont

Family Christmas holiday in snowy Vermont.

End of the year report, 1978

Gloomy end of year report with inflation looming and prices rising.

Carter and Taiwan

President Carter ends Taiwan defence treaty, recognising China.

Human rights and the UN

Human rights and the not-quite United Nations.

Carter at the opera

Carter first sitting president to attend Met opera.

Jonestown massacre

Jonestown massacre. History of Rev Jim Jones's cult.

Mid-term election, November 1978

Mid-term election. Local issues skew public view of Carter.

Economic predictions, November 1978

Economic predictions. Possible recession looming.

NY newspaper strike ends

New York newspapers back on the streets.

Mid-term elections

Mid-term elections stir local issues.

Inflation fears rise

Inflation fears rise as business ponders possible recession.

Carter's three bills passed

Carter's three main bills finally get approval.

Shevchenko's affairs

Shevchenko's mistress claims she's paid by CIA.

Airlines back Laker

US airline chiefs back cheap-flight pioneer Laker.

Carter boosted by summit

President Carter gets ratings boost after summit.

Muhammad Ali, September 1978

Muhammad Ali on Dick Cavett show September 1978. Rising popularity of Edward Kennedy.

Camp David summit

Carter hosts Camp David Middle East summit.

New York's ethnic mix

The ethnic mixture of immigrants that makes up New York.

Energy bill at risk

Carter's energy bill at risk of Congress veto.

Carter vetoes defence bill

President Carter vetoes defence bill passed by Congress.

Long Island life

History of Long Island and the north-south divide.

Using the First Amendment

Uses - or abuses - of the First Amendment.

Joggers in Central Park

Central Park taken over by the latest craze - jogging.

Billy Martin leaves Yankees

NY Yankees manager Billy Martin quits.

Political prisoners

Spotlight on America's 'prisoners of conscience' after ambassador's gaffe.

US foreign policy unclear

Lack of clarity about Carter's foreign policy objectives.

Fourth of July

Changing work patterns mean a long weekend for Independence Day.

Bakke case ruling

Supreme Court rules in favour of Bakke in discrimination case.

Carter's civil defence policy

Carter changes tack on civil defence.

Commencement

Commencement - also known as Degree Day.

Cities' finance problems

US cities hit by finance problems.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon and other tourist attractions.

Proposition 13

Californians to vote on Proposition 13 tax change.

News timing

News events don't stick to deadlines.

Murder of Aldo Moro

Murder of former Italian premier Aldo Moro by Red Brigades.

Modern weddings

Modern weddings - and why it's best not to write your own service.

Protest and historical change

Eldridge Cleaver, and protest by college students in 1978.

Panama treaty agreed

Triumph for Carter as Senate approve Panama treaty.

Inflation fears

Inflation cause of high anxiety among Americans.

New York financial crisis

New York faces financial crisis over city workers pay claims.

Carter's broken promises

President Carter's long list of broken election promises.

Snow in Mexico

Unexpected snow storm in Mexico brings out the crowds.

Holiday reading

What to read on holiday.

From Mexico

Illegal immigration and Averell Harriman.

Dollar slumps in Europe

Dollar loses value against European currencies.

Ten years after Tet, February 1978

Ten years after Tet offensive. Muhammad Ali defeated by Spinks.

Fighter planes for Egypt

President Carter agrees to sell fighter planes to Egypt.

Dr Strangelove and the Soviet spy satellite

The appalling possibilities revealed since the crash of a Soviet spy satellite.

Foreign correspondents

Why capital city bases are not always the best choice for foreign correspondents.

Mayor Koch snowed under

Snow storms threaten to swamp NY Mayor Koch.

Hubert Humphrey obituary

Obituary for former vice president Hubert Humphrey.

Radio City to close

New York landmark Radio City faces closure.

Domestic affairs

Carter's foreign ambitions are at the expense of domestic affairs.

Britons are too happy

Britons are happier than ever, survey finds.

Groucho Marx and Bing Crosby

Profiles of entertainers Groucho Marx (1898-1977) and Bing Crosby (1903-1977).

Smallpox eradicated

World Health Organisation announces smallpox has been eradicated.

National miners' strike

Coal miners call national strike as energy plans top national agenda.

US defence of Israel

Middle East peace talks falter as US considers its defence of Israel.

Sadat in Israel

Egyptian President Sadat visits Israel.

Armed service pregnancy

US air force makes new rule allowing pregnant servicewomen to stay.

Local issues

Local issues dominate county elections.

UN and plane hijacking

UN tackles the global problem of plane hijacking.

The United Nations

Today's UN - failing to achieve the world's high hopes.

The World Series

The World Series - US baseball play-offs.

The political filibuster

Understanding the art of the political filibuster.

Ralph Nader tackles sport

Consumer champion Ralph Nader takes on sports organisers.

Arrival of autumn

Myths and fallacies concerning arrival of autumn.

Anti-Semitism and WASPs

This episode contains references to racially offensive song lyrics.

The rat race

Quitting the rat race.

Panama Canal treaty

Panama Canal treaty to be renegotiated.

'Son of Sam' killer caught

Son of Sam killer caught. Echoes of Sacco and Vanzetti case.

Death of Elvis, August 1977

Death of Elvis. Carter's move away from liberal promises.

Carter's energy bill

Congress passes President Carter's energy bill.

Media coverage of looting

Suggestion that radio coverage of blackout fuelled looting.

Urban problems are universal

New York's problems are faced in London too.

New York looting

NY looting a symptom of resentment from urban deprived.

New York blackout

Power outage hits New York.

SALT talks

Arms limitation talks with Russia.

Loss of sportsmanship

Sporting manners vanish as big money takes over games.

New York car parking ban

New York bans daytime car parking in Manhattan.

Big cars are back

Big car sales boom after energy crisis.

Royal Jubilee

US view of the Queen's Royal Jubilee.

Frost/Nixon interview cut

Part of Frost/Nixon TV interview deleted from transmission.

Kingman Brewster

Kingman Brewster appointed UK ambassador.

Health and safety

Health and safety warnings grow in number.

Carter on energy policy

President Carter focuses on the US's energy consumption.

Frost/Nixon TV interviews, May 1977

Frost/Nixon TV interviews grab huge audiences in US and UK.

Carter's first Europe visit

Carter's first trip to Europe as US president.

Corporal punishment ruling

Supreme Court allows corporal punishment in schools.

Presidential expectations

What the people expect of their president.

US-Soviet arms talks collapse

Human rights row leads to collapse of US-Soviet arms talks.

Carter's popularity soars

President Carter gaining in popularity.

When fact becomes fiction

How a small story grows into a much larger rumour.

Falling standards of literacy

Failed students complain while literacy standards drop.

Carter cuts aid deals

President Carter ends aid deals over human rights abuses.

Equal Rights hold-up

Equal Rights amendment delayed by states refusal to ratify.

Collective bargaining law

Carter faces labour backlash over collective bargaining law.

Obscenity laws

Maintaining freedom of speech while curbing obscenity.

First weeks of Carter presidency

President Carter's first changes in the White House regime.

Severe winter weather

Severe winter weather hits North American continent.

Government by the people

Carter promises more public consultation on issues.

President Carter inaugurated

President Jimmy Carter's inauguration day. Snow storms abate for the big day.

Carter's inauguration preparations

Preparations for Jimmy Carter's presidential inauguration.

Death with dignity law

California introduces 'death with dignity' legislation.

Christmas in Vermont, 1976

A traditional New England Christmas for the Cooke family.

Racial discrimination, 1976

Racial discrimination in private US clubs.

Immigrant work ethic

Immigrant work ethic. Prejudices about national character.

Bertram Lance appointed budget director

Bertram Lance appointed Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Friedman warns on inflation

Milton Friedman warns Carter on potential for inflation.

Assassinations committee

Doubt over FBI evidence as new probe into assassinations is launched.

Shining the light on payola

The Sunshine laws and endemic payola.

Jimmy Carter elected president, 1976

How Americans feel about Jimmy Carter.

Presidential election, November 1976

Carter wins presidential election.

Presidential election polls, October 1976

What the pollsters predict about the presidential election.

Politics v baseball

World Series final clashes with Carter-Ford TV debate.

Presidential candidates' TV debates

Carter v Ford presidential campaign TV debates.

Unsporting manners

Unsporting manners. Violence erupts outside Yankee Stadium.

Carter Playboy interview, September 1976

Carter Playboy interview. Public reaction to Carter's 'adultery in my heart' admission.

Vietnam asks for UN membership

Vietnam's UN membership request delayed by presidential campaign.

Double-deck bus trouble in NY

NY double-deck bus order a mistake.

Jimmy Carter's background

This episode contains references to racially offensive character names.

Reagan loses Republican nomination

Reagan loses Republican nomination. Chinese rejection of US aid after earthquake.

Republican convention Kansas

Buckley joins Republican presidential hopefuls at Kansas convention.

Ford bounces back in opinion polls

Ford bounces back in opinion polls. Carter now not such a shoe-in.

China earthquake

Massive earthquake in China. US offers of aid are rebuffed by Chinese.

Special relationship especially warm

US-UK special relationship especially warm this summer.

Private security firms

Private security firms expand. National Democratic convention in NY.

Britain's heatwave

Britain swelters in a heatwave without air conditioning.

Party conventions

Party conventions aren't what they used to be.

Italian elections

Italy's Communists fail to win support they'd hoped for.

Ford and Reagan battle for Republican nomination

Republicans split between Ford or Reagan for presidential nominee.

Carter and Ford face conventions

Carter and Ford at opposite ends of popularity stakes as they prepare for conventions.

Primary battle reaching climax

Tensions rise as presidential hopefuls face important primaries.

California's Proposition 15

Californians to vote on proposition which could curb nuclear power.

Maintenance workers strike

New York apartment block maintenance workers strike.

US-USSR nuclear deal kept quiet

President Ford keeps US-USSR nuclear pact low-key by signing in private.

Panama blunder by Reagan

Presidential hopeful Reagan blunders over Panama Canal policy.

UN wasting money

UN wasting money. Food programme spends too much on management, director claims.

Spring heatwave, 1976

Spring heatwave. Congress wants more say on foreign policy.

San Francisco transport strike

Strike hits San Francisco commuters as transport workers demand more pay.

Anxiety over Soviet superpower

NATO at risk from growing Soviet superpower.

Ford boosts defence spending

President Ford reacts to voters' fears by boosting defence spending.

Swine flu outbreak

Ford backs universal vaccination in swine flu outbreak.

The special relationship

Harold Wilson's resignation, and the special relationship between the US and UK.

Social surveys

Social surveys blow apart US stereotypes.

Massachusetts primary, March 1976

Massachusetts primary. Voters drift to conservatism.

First primary in presidential campaign

First primary in 1976 presidential campaign.

Presidential campaign begins

Bicentennial year presidential campaign opens.

Gossip

The word 'gossip', and Nixon's invitation to China.

Hearst jury selected

Jury selected for Patty Hearst case.

Preconceptions about place

Wrong assumptions come from misplaced preconceptions.

American political parties

A history of the American party system.

Musical comedy

Landmark production in US musical comedy.

Anne Armstrong appointed London envoy

Republican Anne Armstrong named as US ambassador to London.

Bicentennial year

Enter the year of the Bicentennial Burger.

Ford loses Angola aid vote

Senate refuses to back Ford's bid for aid to Angolan fighters.

Moynihan angry over UN's Zionist vote

UN ambassador Moynihan voices anger at anti-Zionist vote.

NYC aid bill passed

Aid bill for NYC goes through as filibuster attempt fails.

Hazards of ballet dancing

Ballet dancers - like professional sports players - suffer for their art.

Report uncovers CIA murder plots

Senate report uncovers CIA plans to murder foreign leaders.

Reagan declares candidacy

Ronald Reagan announces he will stand for Republican nomination.

Ford shakes up team

President Ford fires Schlesinger, demotes Kissinger in team shake-up.

Stand-off over NYC finances

US public opinion backs federal help for NYC's financial crisis.

New bonds deal for NY finances

Ford cagey on New York financial bail-out, suggests new bonds issue.

Russians win US grain deal

US agreement over grain for Russia deal.

Ford-Rockefeller squabble over NY finances

Ford and Rockefeller disagree over solution to New York's financial crisis.

Networks refuse Ford air time

President Ford's proposed speech on tax cuts barred from TV networks.

Visit of Japanese emperor

Security arrangements surrounding visit of Emperor of Japan.

Patty Hearst arrest, 1975

Patty Hearst arrest and media speculation. Assassination attempts on President Ford.

Assassination attempt on Ford

Are presidents too at risk to mingle with crowds, and is it necessary in the TV age?

Ford on Portuguese revolution

Ford warns Soviets on interfering in Portugese revolution.

Grain export boycott

Dock workers boycott grain shipments to USSR.

Nuclear power

Hazards of relying on nuclear power.

The secret of longevity

What’s the secret to a long, happy life?

US/USSR handshakes, 1975

Russian-American handshakes in space, and the denunciations of Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

The Helsinki Accords

Signing of the Helsinki Accords treaty.

Tax exiles, July 1975

Noel Coward, Sean Connery, Tony Jacklin - all tax exiles.

The Ford presidency

Ford's presidency is working better than most expected.

Travel myths

Travel myths rarely live up to reality.

Big MAC saves New York

Big MAC to take over troubled NYC finances.

Doctors' strike

Doctors strike over rocketing insurance cover.

English language problems

Same language, different country can lead to misunderstandings.

Global climate change

Global weather is cooling, say forecasters.

Cambodia gunboat diplomacy

Reports that the US has sunk three Cambodian ships lead to tense diplomacy.

Arab-Israeli peace deal collapses, March 1975

Arab-Israeli peace deal fails. King Faisal shot. Cambodia collapses.

Women's Lib, 1975

Equal Rights amendment splits both Women's and Men's Lib factions.

Row over Cambodia aid

Ford presses for further aid package to Cambodia.

US import restrictions, March 1975

US import restrictions. Possible trade with Cuba.

Changing United Nations

How the power balance at the UN is shifting to the Third World.

TV news coverage, 1974

America's rolling TV news coverage, and why it makes for better democracy.

Boston busing crisis, 1974

The violent protests against W Arthur Garrity Jr's forced busing in South Boston.

Gerald Ford, the new man in the White House, 1974

New revelations about President Gerald Ford's past, are discussed by the press.

Nixon's resignation speech, August 1974

Nixon's resignation speech. No apology from Nixon in resignation speech.

Nixon's resignation, 1974

Nixon's political downfall and resignation on 9 August 1974.

San Francisco: Detroit of the Pacific?

The crime, gang problems and skyscrapers spoiling San Francisco, and Patty Hearst.

Duke Ellington

A profile of jazz musician Duke Ellington (1899-1974).

Corruption

When lobbying goes too far, and degenerates into morally contemptible corruption.

Nixon's tax returns go public

Nixon makes tax returns public after evasion claims.

Should Nixon resign?

The Arab embargo on oil to the US, and what the polls show about Nixon's reputation.

Watergate investigators and Nixon

President Nixon's refusal to assist the Watergate investigators.

The inauguration of Gerald Ford as Vice President, 1973

The transition of power to Gerald Ford after the resignation of Vice President Agnew.

Nixon's Watergate speech, 1973

The polling that showed Nixon's speech on Watergate failed to persuade Americans.

Watergate: Nixon's changing stories, 1973

Nixon's changing explanations of the events leading to Watergate.

Sam Ervin and Watergate

How the tenacious lawyer Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina challenged Nixon.

Watergate reporting

The impact of the reporting of the Watergate scandal.

Watergate hearings 1973

Can the Watergate hearings restore public trust in government?

Roe v Wade

The US Supreme Court rules on abortion for all in Roe v Wade.

President Truman (1884–1972)

An obituary of President Harry S Truman (1884–1972).

Richard Nixon re-elected President, 1972

Why Americans chose Republican Richard Nixon on 7 November 1972.

American reactions to Bloody Sunday, 1972

News of 'Deep interrogation' used by the British against the IRA shocks Americans.

Taiwan and China

How the balance of power at the United Nations is changing, as Taiwan is forced out.

Art Buchwald

The wit of Art Buchwald, a political satirist for the Washington Post.

Louis Armstrong

A profile of trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971).

Veteran's Day 1970

Why protests at Hunter College, New York, dishonour those who died for their country.

The atom bomb warning of 1939

How two refugees warned Roosevelt of the German nuclear threat.

The My Lai massacre revealed, 1969

The horrors of the massacre at My Lai in 1968, shatter the joy of Thanksgiving in 1969.