Mother Nature's Wild Fires
Alistair Cooke talks about the colossal forest fires raging across the United States and explains how they've started to become an issue of political partisanship.
Letter from America: The Clinton Years (1997-2000)
The archive of Alistair Cooke's Letter from America offers a unique window into a specific, turbulent era. This curated series from BBC Radio 4 focuses on the final chapter of his legendary broadcast career, covering President Bill Clinton's second term from 1997 to 2000. While the Monica Lewinsky scandal and impeachment proceedings provide a gripping domestic narrative, Cooke's perspective widens the lens. His weekly letters weave together the seismic foreign policy events of the time-like the emerging threat of al-Qaeda and the war in Kosovo-with his astute observations on the underlying social and cultural currents shaping the nation. Listening to this podcast is an exercise in time travel, guided by Cooke's distinctive voice and elegant prose. You hear a master journalist contextualizing the daily frenzy within a broader historical framework, finding the human story within the political storm. It’s more than a political history; it’s a curated audio essay on the American condition at the close of a century, capturing the texture of life, the mood of the public, and the complexities of power through the eyes of a seasoned outsider who called America home for decades. Each episode stands as a self-contained reflection, a primary source that feels remarkably immediate and relevant.
Episodes
Running Mates and Carpet Baggers
Alistair Cooke explains the origins of the American political phrases "carpet bagger" and "running mate" as well as the role of the vice president.
From Exciting Horserace to Exhibition Trot
Alistair Cooke considers the outdated presidential nominating conventions and remembers the dramatic evenings of the longest ballot in US history.
From Party Convention to Coronation
On the eve of the political parties choosing a nominee for the presidency of the United States, Alistair Cooke remembers some previous party conventions.
Ghostly Applause for a News Blackout
Alistair Cooke evaluates the effect of the news blackouts surrounding the Israel and Palestinian peace talks and reflects on their joint history and turbulent relationship.
Now Read On...
Alistair Cooke remembers George Gallup, the man whose scientific polling method changed the study of government and public opinion forever.
Where Have all the Answers Gone?
Alistair Cooke bends his alphabet into a metaphysical helix in order to gain an understanding of the human genome.
Pursuing a Will-o-the-wisp
On the 50th anniversary of the United Nation's Korean War Alistair Cooke remembers the conflict that was often called the "forgotten war", including how the veto clause was written into the UN charter.
This Great Festival of Consumerism
Alistair Cooke ponders on how long the ordinary American family has been paying attention to Father's Day and is worried by the great festival of consumerism.
A Wonderful Work or a Rat Trap?
In light of a new vedict surrounding the visiting rights of grandparents, Alistair Cooke reflects on the pace at which the Supreme Court makes its decisions.
