George W Bush’s first term was defined by the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the US’s resulting “war on terror” and invasion of Iraq. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).
Episodes available:
Indefinitely 
Fri, 20 Feb 04
Duration:
14 mins
In his last letter, Alistair Cooke considers how the war in Iraq is a key element in the run-up to the US Presidential Election.
Fri, 13 Feb 04
Duration:
14 mins
How slimming became fashionable during the food shortages of WWI, recalled by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 6 Feb 04
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke remembers the time he was mistaken for a spy during World War II.
Fri, 30 Jan 04
Duration:
14 mins
The resignation of the US chief weapons inspector, Dr David Kay.
Fri, 23 Jan 04
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke remembers when doctors in the USA used to make house calls.
Fri, 16 Jan 04
Duration:
14 mins
As Arctic weather hits the northern states, Alistair Cooke remembers a winter in Palm Beach.
Fri, 9 Jan 04
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke refuses to exhaust himself describing all the presidential candidates.
Fri, 2 Jan 04
Duration:
14 mins
What makes people favour athletic prowess over academic skill, asks Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 26 Dec 03
Duration:
14 mins
How congressmen secure re-appointments during an election year.
Fri, 19 Dec 03
Duration:
13 mins
Charles Dickens’ Scrooge reminds Alistair Cooke of the uniting force of Christmas.
Fri, 12 Dec 03
Duration:
14 mins
An anniversary gets Alistair Cooke out from a sticky broadcasting situation
Fri, 5 Dec 03
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke examines why it is so difficult to establish democracy in Iraq.
Fri, 28 Nov 03
Duration:
14 mins
In light of new concerns about healthy eating, Alistair Cooke reflects on Thanksgiving.
Fri, 21 Nov 03
Duration:
14 mins
A comparison of Chinese import tax with the great depression Smoot-Hawley Tariff.
Fri, 14 Nov 03
Duration:
14 mins
How casualty numbers influence the public's appetite for war.
Fri, 7 Nov 03
Duration:
14 mins
A celebration of the architectural achievements of Stanford White.
Fri, 31 Oct 03
Duration:
14 mins
Forty years on, Alistair Cooke examines the effect of destroying the Pennsylvania Station.
Fri, 24 Oct 03
Duration:
14 mins
The Pledge of Allegiance and its role in a secular society.
Fri, 17 Oct 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke muses on curious linguistic differences between America and England.
Fri, 10 Oct 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke contemplates Arnold Schwarzenegger's role as governor.
Fri, 3 Oct 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke pays tribute to Robert Lochner and Alexander Butterfield.
Fri, 26 Sep 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke asks why it is costing so much to rebuild Iraq.
Fri, 19 Sep 03
Duration:
14 mins
Whilst waiting for hurricane Isabel, Alistair Cooke tells a few tales.
Fri, 12 Sep 03
Duration:
14 mins
The life of golfing correspondent and commentator Henry Longhurst.
Fri, 5 Sep 03
Duration:
12 mins
Alistair Cooke contrasts the 'crisis' in the tennis world with that in Iraq.
Fri, 29 Aug 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke muses on Wimbledon's ability to reconcile historic tradition and modernity.
Fri, 22 Aug 03
Duration:
14 mins
After recent power cuts, Alistair Cooke reflects on the importance of electricity.
Fri, 15 Aug 03
Duration:
14 mins
Upon receiving a letter containing a Winston Churchill legend, Alistair Cooke remembers some more myths surrounding other famous characters.
Fri, 8 Aug 03
Duration:
13 mins
After a debate on tackling terrorism, Alistair Cooke reassesses his opinion of the UN.
Fri, 1 Aug 03
Duration:
14 mins
Following the death of two centenarians, Alistair Cooke discusses Bob Hope and Lord Shawcross and how their longevity relates to the pensions crisis.
Fri, 25 Jul 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke rejects the thought of retirement but contemplates the pastime of golf in the light of recent scientific studies.
Fri, 18 Jul 03
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke examines the power of the catchphrase 'winds of change'.
Fri, 11 Jul 03
Duration:
14 mins
Why Americans seem to trust Tony Blair.
Fri, 4 Jul 03
Duration:
14 mins
Memories of meeting Ronald Colman and Katherine Hepburn by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 27 Jun 03
Duration:
14 mins
Was the invasion of Iraq based on a false premise, asks Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 20 Jun 03
Duration:
13 mins
Tyrants who commit mass murder, and a comparison of Stalin and Hitler.
Fri, 13 Jun 03
Duration:
14 mins
The consequence of Saddam Hussain's decision to invade Kuwait, analysed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 6 Jun 03
Duration:
14 mins
How we can police the world in a time of modern terrorist conflict since America's founding fathers never legislated for an undeclared war, asks Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 30 May 03
Duration:
14 mins
How much confidence should people have in the military, the President, and in Congress, asks Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 23 May 03
Duration:
14 mins
A tribute to the life and work of 'the Oracle' Mark McCormack.
Fri, 16 May 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke contemplates how to prevent Iraq from descending into anarchy.
Fri, 9 May 03
Duration:
14 mins
How Hungarian refugee, Leo Szilard, helped stop World War II.
Fri, 2 May 03
Duration:
14 mins
How the desert town of Las Vegas became a big tourist trap.
Fri, 25 Apr 03
Duration:
14 mins
Last minute negotiation talks blot out world catastrophes for Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 11 Apr 03
Duration:
13 mins
How people can become desensitised to the horrifying images of war.
Fri, 11 Apr 03
Duration:
14 mins
A tribute to Dr Carlo Urbani, the pioneer of Doctors Without Borders.
Fri, 4 Apr 03
Duration:
14 mins
A tribute to the eccentric former senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Fri, 28 Mar 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects of the casualties of war and losing friendships to time.
Fri, 21 Mar 03
Duration:
14 mins
36 hours into the war with Iraq, Alistair Cooke considers the public and political support for the war and George Bush’s lack of diplomacy.
Fri, 14 Mar 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke considers the ineffectiveness of the UN as an enforcing power.
Fri, 7 Mar 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on Sir Alexander Cadogan, Philip Larkin and Mister Rogers.
Fri, 28 Feb 03
Duration:
14 mins
A look at the discovery of the chemical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid.
Fri, 21 Feb 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke considers how cold winters affect New York's economy.
Fri, 14 Feb 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke muses on the National Security threat level being set to 'imminent attack'.
Fri, 7 Feb 03
Duration:
13 mins
Astronaut John Glenn's eventful earth landing.
Fri, 31 Jan 03
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke is troubled by similarities between the current crisis in Iraq and WWII.
Fri, 24 Jan 03
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke ponders on how to relax once physical exercise is no longer possible
Fri, 17 Jan 03
Duration:
14 mins
Amid California's drought scare, Alistair Cooke wonders how to share resources evenly.
Fri, 10 Jan 03
Duration:
14 mins
Who’s watching you? Alistair Cooke muses on the personal files held by Homeland Security.
Fri, 3 Jan 03
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke considers security in Times Square on New Year's Eve.
Fri, 27 Dec 02
Duration:
13 mins
Three famous ghosts of Christmas past are remembered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 20 Dec 02
Duration:
14 mins
President Lyndon Johnson’s struggle to create Medicare recalled by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 13 Dec 02
Duration:
14 mins
Upon the death of a dear friend, Alistair Cooke reveals a secret about President Kennedy.
Fri, 6 Dec 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on George W Bush's obsession with Saddam Hussein.
Fri, 29 Nov 02
Duration:
14 mins
When Roosevelt named the 24 November as the day of Thanksgiving, recalled by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 22 Nov 02
Duration:
14 mins
After a turbulent few years, Alistair Cooke likens the yearly events to biblical stories.
Fri, 15 Nov 02
Duration:
14 mins
The effectiveness of the UN resolutions on Saddam Hussein considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 8 Nov 02
Duration:
13 mins
The consequences of a polling computer crash revealed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 1 Nov 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke recalls his very odd introduction to American politics.
Fri, 25 Oct 02
Duration:
14 mins
The excellence of the Old Testament as a work of literature, Churchill's use of language and the wording of UN treaties.
Fri, 18 Oct 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke's memories of San Francisco and the historical connection between China and California.
Fri, 11 Oct 02
Duration:
14 mins
On hearing anti-war protests, Alistair Cooke recalls the American Civil War drafting riot.
Fri, 4 Oct 02
Duration:
13 mins
The opinion poll discoveries of George H Gallup.
Fri, 27 Sep 02
Duration:
13 mins
It’s all in the name for Alistair Cooke as he ponders hurricane titles and biblical names.
Fri, 20 Sep 02
Duration:
12 mins
The Cuban missile crisis and Nixon's golf club scandal.
Fri, 13 Sep 02
Duration:
14 mins
On first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Alistair Cooke muses on a new type of warfare.
Fri, 6 Sep 02
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on President Bush's workload during the Iraq crisis.
Fri, 30 Aug 02
Duration:
14 mins
The US Open tennis championships ceremony pays tribute to heroes of 9/11.
Fri, 23 Aug 02
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke explores the weird and wonderful anniversaries of 1902.
Fri, 16 Aug 02
Duration:
13 mins
Floods in Europe remind Alistair Cooke of the damage done to Dresden during WWII.
Fri, 9 Aug 02
Duration:
12 mins
The warship, Monitor is dredged out of the Atlantic Ocean, and Alistair Cooke reflects on Europe’s reliance on the UN for sanctions against Saddam Hussein.
Fri, 2 Aug 02
Duration:
14 mins
After news of a double-dip recession, Alistair Cooke discusses Pope John Paul II’s visit.
Fri, 26 Jul 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on the generosity of Andrew Carnegie.
Fri, 19 Jul 02
Duration:
14 mins
The language used by Alan Greenspan to calm the stock markets considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 12 Jul 02
Duration:
14 mins
What is President Bush doing about fraudulent financial deals?
Fri, 5 Jul 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke considers the argument that sweat shop work is good for the employees.
Fri, 28 Jun 02
Duration:
14 mins
A letter from a student leads Alistair Cooke to consider anti-semitism in New York.
Fri, 21 Jun 02
Duration:
13 mins
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the second Gulf War remembered.
Fri, 14 Jun 02
Duration:
14 mins
The life and death of infamous American Mafia boss John Gotti.
Fri, 7 Jun 02
Duration:
14 mins
The removal of the Twin Towers debris from Ground Zero is considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 31 May 02
Duration:
14 mins
George Bush visits Europe in the midst of a trade war.
Fri, 24 May 02
Duration:
14 mins
The elderly residents of Florida who think they've discovered the state's legendary fountain of youth.
Fri, 17 May 02
Duration:
14 mins
Why China's newfound capitalism is fully sanctioned by Marx.
Fri, 10 May 02
Duration:
14 mins
How the Roman Catholic Church uses canon law to defend its clergy.
Fri, 3 May 02
Duration:
14 mins
The psychological damage of the 9/11 attacks on school children, is considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 26 Apr 02
Duration:
14 mins
The scandals of child sex abuse by clergy in the Roman Catholic Church.
Fri, 19 Apr 02
Duration:
14 mins
The political split over the attitude of Ariel Sharon.
Fri, 12 Apr 02
Duration:
14 mins
The US involvement in the Israel and Palestinian conflict.
Fri, 5 Apr 02
Duration:
14 mins
The use of medical buzz words such as 'virus' and 'Alzheimer’s'.
Fri, 29 Mar 02
Duration:
14 mins
A look at the contrasting ways in which English and American schools teach science.
Fri, 22 Mar 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke praises unseen fighter pilots protecting New York.
Fri, 15 Mar 02
Duration:
14 mins
A tribute to the champion golfer and lawyer Robert Tyre Jones.
Fri, 8 Mar 02
Duration:
14 mins
The day in 1933 when every bank in America shut is recalled by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 1 Mar 02
Duration:
14 mins
The flawed ideology behind the idea of an "axis of evil".
Fri, 22 Feb 02
Duration:
14 mins
America's objections and misconceptions of honours revealed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 15 Feb 02
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke expresses his concern about the US government's desire to invade Iraq.
Fri, 8 Feb 02
Duration:
13 mins
The new found importance of US homeland defence and the pork barrel metaphor.
Fri, 1 Feb 02
Duration:
14 mins
The ever changing nature of war and the Geneva Conventions is examined by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 25 Jan 02
Duration:
14 mins
The very real impact of inaccurate weather forecasts is examined by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 18 Jan 02
Duration:
14 mins
Would you live like a Queen? Alistair Cooke examines the lifestyles of the Royals.
Fri, 11 Jan 02
Duration:
14 mins
Changes to US law making after 9/11 and Milosevic at the Hague are examined by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 4 Jan 02
Duration:
14 mins
George Bush's election and President Putin's visit to New York.
Fri, 28 Dec 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on why the national anthem is more emotive since the 9/11 attack.
Fri, 21 Dec 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke remembers introducing Leonard Bernstein to Handel's Messiah. Plus, Osama Bin Laden and the 'new war'.
Fri, 14 Dec 01
Duration:
15 mins
Rumours of a potential attack on the San Francisco Bridge are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 7 Dec 01
Duration:
14 mins
Racial profiling at airports since 9/11 is an ethical dilemma for Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 30 Nov 01
Duration:
14 mins
Terrorists born in the USA? Alistair Cooke reflects on Al-Qaeda's use of home grown extremists.
Fri, 23 Nov 01
Duration:
14 mins
Whilst the UN debates war with Iraq, Alistair Cooke considers the coincidences of life.
Fri, 16 Nov 01
Duration:
14 mins
Extraterrestrial catastrophes remind Alistair Cooke of The Space Guard Project.
Fri, 9 Nov 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on the outpouring of patriotism and the outburst of flag hanging in response to the September 11th attacks.
Fri, 2 Nov 01
Duration:
15 mins
After the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, Alistair Cooke reflects on how America is coming to terms with the act of aggression occuring on their own soil.
Fri, 26 Oct 01
Duration:
14 mins
Amid scares of anthrax in the post, Alistair Cooke considers the emotional effect of 9/11.
Fri, 19 Oct 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on how the September 11th attack has changed the American psyche.
Fri, 12 Oct 01
Duration:
14 mins
Are the FBI increasing public anxiety of terrorist attacks with their warnings? Plus, Tony Blair's popularity ratings in America.
Fri, 5 Oct 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke compares the UK government’s civil rights abuses with those of the USA.
Fri, 28 Sep 01
Duration:
14 mins
The lifespan of a letter written by Albert Einstein to warn President Roosevelt of the power unleashed by nuclear reactions is explored by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 21 Sep 01
Duration:
14 mins
In the 9/11 aftermath, Alistair Cooke reflects on Mayor Giuliani reaction to the attack.
Fri, 14 Sep 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on how he and the rest of the American population reacted to the World Trade Centre's terrorist attack on September 11th 2001.
Fri, 7 Sep 01
Duration:
14 mins
A UN convention on racism reminds Alistair Cooke of racism in professional tennis.
Fri, 31 Aug 01
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on President Bush's determination to build an all-embracing defence missile shield.
Fri, 24 Aug 01
Duration:
14 mins
The worldwide pandemic of economic decline is considerted by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 17 Aug 01
Duration:
14 mins
A coma patient makes Alistair Cooke consider the complex ethics of medical advancement.
Fri, 10 Aug 01
Duration:
14 mins
A special mixed-couples golf match heightens Alistair Cooke's passion for golf.
Fri, 3 Aug 01
Duration:
14 mins
Europe's ignorance of America's long history with the Far East is explored by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 27 Jul 01
Duration:
14 mins
Whilst poll ratings stagnate, Alistair Cooke considers George Bush's popularity.
Fri, 20 Jul 01
Duration:
14 mins
The political and ethical debate surrounding stem cell research is explored by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 13 Jul 01
Duration:
13 mins
Whilst Bush takes a vacation, Alistair Cooke considers the private life of the president.
Fri, 6 Jul 01
Duration:
14 mins
Whilst fireworks burn brightly in the sky, Alistair Cooke reflects on the celebrations that take place every 4th of July to commemorate US independence, and the women's finals at Wimbledon.
Fri, 29 Jun 01
Duration:
14 mins
The changing social taboos and bigotries over the past 25 years are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 22 Jun 01
Duration:
15 mins
How people alter their politics from a national to a local level.
Fri, 15 Jun 01
Duration:
14 mins
President Bush's European policy blueprints are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 8 Jun 01
Duration:
14 mins
After a break from the news, Alistair Cooke reflects on how knowledge affects the psyche.
Fri, 1 Jun 01
Duration:
14 mins
The political centrism occuring in both the US and the UK are considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 25 May 01
Duration:
14 mins
How power supply issues in San Francisco now eclipse earthquakes.
Fri, 18 May 01
Duration:
15 mins
Alistair Cooke considers arguments surrounding the power failure crisis in California.
Fri, 11 May 01
Duration:
13 mins
Alistair Cooke considers the anti-American sentiments being shouted from around the globe.
Fri, 4 May 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on The Supreme Court and the way in which it makes its decisions.
Fri, 27 Apr 01
Duration:
14 mins
On the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, Alistair Cooke examines the media reporting.
Fri, 20 Apr 01
Duration:
14 mins
With a new trilby at the ready, Alistair Cooke considers the problem of CO2 emissions.
Fri, 13 Apr 01
Duration:
15 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on the crash landing of an American spy plane on a Chinese island.
Fri, 6 Apr 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke considers Senator John McCain's campaign funding reform bill.
Fri, 30 Mar 01
Duration:
14 mins
President Bush's decision not to support the Kyoto Treaty is discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 23 Mar 01
Duration:
14 mins
George W. Bush's first two months in the White House are reflected on by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 16 Mar 01
Duration:
14 mins
The foot and mouth epidemic affecting Britain, and the subsequent ban implemented by America on all living animals imported from Europe are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 9 Mar 01
Duration:
14 mins
The role of vice-presidents through history is considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 2 Mar 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke is shocked by the results of a recent poll to name the greatest presidents.
Fri, 23 Feb 01
Duration:
14 mins
Clinton's White House departure inspires Alistair Cooke to explore past presidents' exits.
Fri, 16 Feb 01
Duration:
14 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on the rise and fall of wealth through three generations.
Fri, 9 Feb 01
Duration:
14 mins
George W Bush's push to decentralise government is considered by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 2 Feb 01
Duration:
14 mins
Working 9 to 5? Alistair Cooke investigates the quirky work habits of past US presidents.
Fri, 26 Jan 01
Duration:
15 mins
The colourful characters of past US presidents are compared by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 19 Jan 01
Duration:
14 mins
After George Bush’s inauguration, Alistair Cooke recalls Andrew Jackson’s rowdy induction.
Fri, 12 Jan 01
Duration:
15 mins
Reports of pollution in the North Sea remind Alistair Cooke of a childhood fishing trip.
Fri, 5 Jan 01
Duration:
14 mins
Is the internet the miracle cure for the US economy?
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