Ronald Reagan’s presidency, from Reagonomics and the invasion of Grenada in his first term, to the Iran-contra scandal and reconciliation with Soviet leader Mihail Gorbachev in his second in his second. 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, 2 Dec 88
Duration:
15 mins
Yasser Arafat's speech at the UN, the denial of his visa by US secretary of state George Schultz, and the view that Palestinians are moving towards reconciliation with Israel.
Fri, 11 Nov 88
Duration:
14 mins
An overview of the ballot paper in the 1988 presidential elections, George Bush's "inevitable" victory, and the issues that proved most important for voting Americans.
Fri, 4 Nov 88
Duration:
28 mins
A review of George H W Bush and Michael Dukakis' presidential campaigns, key values and demographics, and predicted performances before the 1988 elections.
Fri, 28 Oct 88
Duration:
15 mins
The 1988 trial of Bess Myerson, the former Miss America and head of consumer affairs to New York City, accused of tax fraud and bribing a judge.
Fri, 21 Oct 88
Duration:
14 mins
With the 1988 presidential race and World Series drawing to a close, Alistair Cooke looks at the baseball metaphors used by George H W Bush and Michael Dukakis in their campaigns.
Fri, 7 Oct 88
Duration:
14 mins
The polished nature of the Bush vs Dukakis debates, the 'American-style' of Margaret Thatcher's public relations in 1979, and Jimmy Carter's negative review of the 1988 campaign.
Fri, 23 Sep 88
Duration:
14 mins
The impact of Hurricane Gilbert on Jamaica and Central America, and the 1938 hurricane that destroyed a large part of the forests of New England, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Fri, 16 Sep 88
Duration:
14 mins
Jimmy Carter's rise to prominence of in 1976, and Michael Dukakis' struggle to establish a new and attractive identity for himself ahead of the 1988 presidential election.
Fri, 2 Sep 88
Duration:
14 mins
Land in the Midwest is damaged by hot weather and forest fires. Sixty major fires still rage across the US while the hot temperatures are causing the greenhouse effect.
Fri, 26 Aug 88
Duration:
28 mins
Alistair Cooke reflects on why George H W Bush may have chosen Dan Quayle as vice-presidential candidate, and the constitutional powers of the vice president's role.
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