DiscoverLetter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Early Years (1940s, 1950s and 1960s)
Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Early Years (1940s, 1950s and 1960s)
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Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The Early Years (1940s, 1950s and 1960s)

Author: BBC Radio 4

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The assassinations of John F Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy through to Vietnam and America’s shame at the My Lai massacre. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

13 Episodes
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An eyewitness account of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy on June 5, 1968 in Los Angeles, and the collective-guilt aftermath for America.
The national mood begins to change over the Vietnam war - how America began to move from early indifference to the recognition of a nightmare.
Christmas 1967

Christmas 1967

1967-12-2413:37

Senator Jacob Javits' parking fine, Mayor Lindsay and the water commissioner, and a President Truman Christmas story.
Democracy demonstrated - how the President of the United States had to make way for Mr Meyer Sugarman's wedding night.
The Watts riots in Los Angeles - were they an uprising by black Americans angry at their treatment or simply criminally motivated looting and violence?
Clay vs Liston Fight

Clay vs Liston Fight

1965-05-3013:46

How the debacle of the Cassius Clay–Sonny Liston boxing prize fight tarnished one of the elements of American culture - sportsmanship
President Lyndon B Johnson's inauguration for his own full first term, and some earlier notable inaugurations, including Washington and Jefferson's.
The assassination of John F Kennedy, the first president of the television age, and the style, grace and fun he brought to the White House.
Big brains

Big brains

1962-01-2113:53

How New York construction was brought to a halt by the Electrician's Union strike, and why the computer or 'the big brain' will soon change how people work.
500th letter

500th letter

1957-09-0815:42

Alistair Cooke remembers Lindsay Wellington, the BBC head who came up with the idea of weekly letters to help people in the UK understand American life in 1946.
A tribute to American Pianist William Kappell, the best pianist of his generation, and what music means to Americans.
How a new daily diet of television in America is changing people's lives, as reported by Alistair Cooke.
A fragment from 1947

A fragment from 1947

1947-01-1204:29

A fragment preserved from Cooke's talk, reflecting on the importance of democratic capitalism and a free economy to Americans.
Comments (1)

David Lau

A great account of being in the building as the Assassination of Robert Kennedy as Alistair Cooke, the host was in the building when the assassination occurred.

Dec 8th
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