Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Clinton Years (1993-1996)
206 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 27 years ago - ★★★★ - 8 ratingsBill Clinton’s first term encompassed controversies from the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo accords and gays in the military to the North American Free Trade Agreement and an attempt at healthcare reform. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Christmas 1995
December 29, 1995 21:00 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MBA Christmas spent in Vermont, the joy of experiencing absolute silence and the progress of the federal government shutdown are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
School prayers
December 22, 1995 21:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBThe adaptability of American soldiers, the debate in Congress over the reading of prayers in schools, and what makes a good government are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
US troops enter Bosnia, 1995
December 15, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBThe arrival of the first America soldiers in Bosnia in December 1995, the harsh conditions they face and the position of the constitution on the declaration of war.
James Reston (1909-1995)
December 08, 1995 21:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBThe Pulitzer winning journalist James "Scottie" Reston (1909-1995) and the writer's transition from young sports commentator to respected political columnist.
Church and state
December 01, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe relationship between church and state, the future of a monument to the Ten Commandments and the existence of freedom of speech in the classroom are explored by Alistair Cooke.
Bosnia and the Dayton Agreement
November 24, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBA possible end to the conflict in Bosnia, the role of the US in the peace treaty, and why the city of Dayton became the venue for the signing in November 1995.
1995 Shutdown of the federal government
November 17, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe federal government shutdown on November 14 1995, the events leading up to this national crisis, and an exploration of the history of US debt and the proposed solutions.
General Colin Powell
November 10, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBGeneral Colin Powell's electoral appeal, the apathy towards Republican candidates and a shift in political reporting are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Quebec and French relations
November 03, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBThe formation of Quebec, the American and Canadian relationship with France and the possibility of a divided neighbour to the north, are explored by Alistair Cooke.
Arafat visits New York
October 27, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBThe visit of Yasser Arafat to New York City to meet with the United Nations in 1995, the traffic carnage caused in the city and his plea to reconstitute the Security Council.
New York taxi drivers
October 20, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBHow the demographics of New York taxi drivers change and how President Clinton's relationship with business may be key in the race for re-election, explored by Alistair Cooke.
OJ Simpson and race
October 13, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBThe race issues surrounding the OJ Simpson trial, the emergence of the black middle class and the future for a divided America, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
The OJ Simpson verdict, 1995
October 06, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBHow do Americans feel about the OJ Simpson trial following the delivery of the verdict in October 1995?
Colin Powell and Ross Perot
September 29, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBAn examination of the increased rate change in America and the possible entrance of Colin Powell and Ross Perot to the Presidential race, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Online America
September 22, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe dangers of an online America, the importance of considering a sentence before committing it to paper, and the possible return of the Luddites are considered by Alistair Cooke.
Senator Robert Packwood
September 14, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe events which led to the resignation of Senator Robert Packwood, and what Packwood's diary tells us about the lobbying system are explored by Alistair Cooke.
Labor Day 1995
September 08, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MBLabor Day 1995, the continuation of the OJ Simpson murder trial, and President Clinton's promises for campaign for re-election in 1996.
Third parties
September 01, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBSenator Bill Bradley's decision to not run for re-election to the Senate, the 'broken' nature of American politics and the role of a third political party.
Political vacations
August 25, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBAs President Clinton takes his summer holiday, Alistair Cooke explores the way in which presidential vacations have become less about relaxation and more about public relations.
The American aqueduct scandal
August 18, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBThe concept of local identity and blurring of state lines, the delivery of water to 19th century farmers and environmental policy are examined by Alistair Cooke.
The atomic bomb
August 11, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBA recollection of the events leading up to the use of the atomic bomb to end the Second World War, and an examination of the thirty year controversy that followed.
The American relationship with tobacco
August 04, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBAs the American relationship with tobacco changes, should President Franklin D Roosevelt's memorial statue still include his omnipresent cigarette?
George Romney, Mitt’s father
July 28, 1995 20:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBA discussion on the difficulty of predicting the results of the 1996 election, and a recollection of the mistake that dashed the presidential hopes of Governor George Romney.
Smith-Corona typewriters
July 21, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe Smith-Corona Company application for bankruptcy, the demise of the manual typewriter, and the response of the American public to the conflict in Bosnia.
Clinton and Tiberius
July 14, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBUnited Nations intervention in Bosnia, the failure of Bill Clinton to act on the crisis, and the inspiration the president may draw from Roman Emperor Tiberius.
Porgy and Bess
July 07, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBThe politics of the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess, the effectiveness of affirmative action and the current trend of conservatism in America are explored by Alistair Cooke.
St Patrick's parade ban
June 30, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBThe ruling allowing a group of Boston war veterans to ban homosexuals and bisexuals from the St Patricks Day parade, and the division it has caused in America.
The first UN Conference
June 23, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBHow Field Marshall Jan Smutt and Lord Halifax were led astray by wild flowers at the first United Nations Conference in 1945 in San Francisco.
American farmers
June 16, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MBThe evolution of medicine bottles, the problems affecting American farmers, and why private restaurants are a symbol of change in Cuba.
Bob Dole and the fall of Rome
June 09, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBThe work of historian Edward Gibbon, the parallels between modern-day America and the fall of Rome, and Bob Dole's credentials as a presidential candidate.
Objectives in modern conflict
June 02, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBPresident Clinton's speech on the relationship between the American armed forces and NATO, and the public perception of the lack of a clear objective in a modern conflict.
The White House
May 26, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBGreat American inventions, Jackie Kennedy's overhaul of the official rooms of the White House, and the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue to the public in 1995.
Rockefeller and Britannica
May 19, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBWith the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Rockefeller Centre both experiencing financial difficulties, Alistair Cooke looks at the problems faced by both institutions.
Equality in New York, Clinton in Russia
May 12, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBThe development of equality in New York City, and President Clinton's mission to dissuade President Yeltsin from sending nuclear aid to Iran, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
VE Day, fifty years on
May 05, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBThe American press reports on the end of the war in Europe, and the comparatively minor celebrations in the US, as remembered by Alistair Cooke, fifty years after VE Day.
Oklahoma City bombing
April 28, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBThe impact of home-grown terrorism, and the conflicts that arise when discussing the First Amendment, in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing on 19th April 1995.
US taxation in 1995
April 21, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBAre taxes one of only two inevitabilities in life? Alistair Cooke explores how have they have been reduced and simplified in modern-day America.
Remembering FDR
April 14, 1995 20:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBThe passing of Franklin D Roosevelt (1882 -1945) and FDR's legacy 50 years after his death, the evolution of the breaking news story, and the only third-term in office.
The Christian right in politics
April 07, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBThe role that the extreme Christian right play in American politics, and whether any religious group has the power to bring a politian down are explored by Alistair Cooke.
The OJ phenomenon
March 31, 1995 20:00 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MBWhy Americans are obsessed with the OJ Simpson trial, the viewing habits of a sequestered jury member, and the real winner of the Oscars, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Rudolph Giuliani's New York
March 24, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBSchool dinners, gangsters, snow ploughs and the other problems faced by the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, are explored by Alistair Cooke.
Gingrich and Roosevelt
March 17, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBWith a Republican majority in both houses of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, Cooke explores the parallels drawn between Newt Gingrich and President Roosevelt.
Ringers
March 10, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBThe role of 'ringers' to gain unfair advantage in both sport and business, as the baseball strike continues.
The American deficit
March 03, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe beginnings of the American deficit and how the gap between the national income and outgoings has been allowed to widen are explored by Alistair Cooke.
The secrets of a long life
February 24, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBWhat is the secret of longevity? Alistair Cooke investigates the factors that have been attributed to elongated lifespans and profiles the world's oldest woman Jeanne Calment.
William Fulbright (1905-1995)
February 17, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBSenator William Fulbright (1905-1995) is remembered by Alistair Cooke, including his work as a tenacious young politian and as an ambassador for American students studying abroad.
Baseball strike 1994-5
February 10, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBThe events leading up to the 1994-95 baseball strike in America and the role that Congress could play in bringing the national pastime back from the brink.
George Abbott remembered
February 03, 1995 21:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBGeorge Abbott (1887-1995), the Broadway producer and director, is remembered, from his humble beginnings as a messenger through to becoming one of America's greatest playwrights.
Dependency on red tape
January 27, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBWith the jury selection for the OJ Simpson trial taking longer than expected, Alistair Cooke explores American dependency on red tape and the 'death' of common sense.
Montgomery bus boycott
January 20, 1995 21:00 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBDuring the week of Martin Luther King's birthday holiday, Cooke remembers his 1956 visit to meet with people from both sides of the Montgomery bus boycott prompted by Rosa Parks.