Letter from America: The Bush Sr Years (1989-1992)
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
An economic summit
24 Dec 1992
Contributed by Lukas
President-Elect Bill Clinton, calls for a gathering of experts to help guide his economic policy, and what he may do to reduce the national deficit.
The English language and immigration
18 Dec 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The realities of unlimited immigration, andthe movement that proposes to make English the official language of the United States.
Casablanca 50th anniversary, 1992
11 Dec 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Casablanca's impact and the effect the film had on cinema audiences of 1942 are remembered by Alistair Cooke on its 50th anniversary.
Clinton's economy
04 Dec 1992
Contributed by Lukas
A month on from the presidential election, Alistair Cooke anticipates the effect that a new president, and a boost in public confidence, will have on ...
Millicent Fenwick
27 Nov 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Following the death of Millicent Fenwick in September, Alistair Cooke profiles the late Congresswoman and details the female additions to the Senate i...
The executive branch
20 Nov 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Why a change of president does not necessarily mean a shift in power, and why it takes so long to move in, and out, of the White House.
Predicting elections
13 Nov 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Complex methods for predicting presidential election results, and the effect Ross Perot had on the outcome, are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Bill Clinton's clothes
06 Nov 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The tendency of journalists flock to Washington to hear the result of an election and the rejection of the blue blazer for jeans by President-elect, B...
Election predictions and certainties
30 Oct 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The 1992 Presidential election, the dangers of predicting the outcome of the vote and a look to history for examples of election certainty.
The business of sport
23 Oct 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The business of sport, and an embarrassing incident involving the Canadian flag are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Columbus: hero or villain?
16 Oct 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The legacy of Christopher Columbus is examined by Alistair Cooke. Should he be regarded as a hero or an enslaving villain?
Electoral debates past and present
09 Oct 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The history of electoral debates from Lincoln to Clinton and the power of public perception in the run up to the 1992 US presidential election.
Touring authors
02 Oct 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The modern author as touring book salesman, the autobiography of Gulf War General H Norman Schwarzkopf and a potential scandal for President Bush.
Historical events of the 20th Century
25 Sep 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Some notable entries from a dictionary of 20th Century history leave Alistair Cooke wondering if the upcoming election will feature in a future editio...
Black Wednesday 1992
18 Sep 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The UK withdraws from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Black Wednesday, and the way in which the US allocates powers and responsibilities to...
Burma and Quentin Burdick
11 Sep 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The political situation in Burma, a proclamation by Reverend Pat Robertson, and Senator Quentin Burdick of North Dakota.
Moving to Mexico
04 Sep 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The closure of the Smith-Corona factory in Syracuse, New York, the financial troubles of US manufacturers and strategies for survival in an age of fre...
Hurricanes 1992
28 Aug 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Remembering his time aboard a ship travelling in extreme weather conditions from England to New York, Alistair Cooke anticipates the beginning of the ...
Conventions and opinion polls
14 Aug 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The effect that party conventions have on opinion polls, and the contenders for the Republican nomination are reviewed by Alistair Cooke.
Clark Clifford
31 Jul 1992
Contributed by Lukas
A look at the political career of the presidential advisor and former US Defense Secretary, Clark Clifford, following Clark's recent indictment in con...
Ross Perot withraws
24 Jul 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Ross Perot withdraws from the 1992 presidential race, the mystery surrounding his exit, and one tiny, fatal slip during Perot's speech to the NAACP.
A history of party conventions
17 Jul 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Three dramatic party conventions from the past, and how the system of choosing a presidential candidate has evolved.
Canada and other democracies
10 Jul 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The role of Canada within the UN peacekeeping force, the need to compare foreign democracies, and the insular nature of the US debate on abortion.
Olympic sportsmanship
03 Jul 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of sportsmanship and the battle against the steroids which can help fulfil athletic ambitions in the approach to the Barcelona Olympic Games...
Extradition and freedom of speech
26 Jun 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The law surrounding extradition and the relationship between freedom of speech and racism, following two prominent Supreme Court rulings.
United Nations' first reporters
19 Jun 1992
Contributed by Lukas
A recollection of the first gathering of the UN, the celebrity journalists who covered the meeting; Joan Stitt McMenamin, the outgoing headmistress of...
Military downsizing and Rio
12 Jun 1992
Contributed by Lukas
How the military downsizing will impact on employment, and the opposition to President Bush's proposals at the recent Earth Summit in Rio 1992.
The problems with the two party system, 1992
05 Jun 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The rise of Ross Perot, the American dissatisfaction with the two party system and how President Bush planned to win back the White House.
Ross Perot runs for American presidency
29 May 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Businessman Ross Perot runs for American presidency. Alistair Cooke analyses the man who founded Electronic Data Systems and owned General Motors.
The end of the LA riots
22 May 1992
Contributed by Lukas
With the riots in Los Angeles over, Alistair Cooke describes the conclusions drawn by Vice-President Quayle following the violence, and questions the ...
Space shuttle Endeavour
15 May 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The latest mission of the space shuttle Endeavour, and what President Bush will have to do to improve his approval rating following the Gulf War, are ...
Cities and social problems
08 May 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, Jack Kemp's work, and the social problems faced by the large cities of the United States.
Riots in Los Angeles, 1992
01 May 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Following the conclusion of trial of the police officers accused of beating Rodney King, Cooke details the violent disturbances in Los Angeles happeni...
Columbus and Asimov
24 Apr 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The mixed emotions felt by the Americans and Spanish towards Christopher Columbus, and the work of science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
Tax fraud
17 Apr 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Following the income tax declaration deadline of April 15th, Alistair Cooke examines the case of Leona Helmsley, a wealthy New York hotelier accused o...
Perils of the welfare state
10 Apr 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The potential perils of a large welfare state and how one presidential candidate, Ross Perot, is proposing to reduce government spending, discussed by...
The Army of North Virginia
03 Apr 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Why Senator Warren Rudman quit, the importance of 9th July to the Army of Northern Virginia, and the story of Sir Lionel Sackville-West, Ambassador t...
The French and immigration
27 Mar 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The differing attitudes of French and American politicians towards immigration and the expectations of a brand new US citizen, examined by Alistair Co...
The bank of the House of Representatives
20 Mar 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The US Presidential campaign, and the ethics of the closure of the bank of the House of Representatives.
What Richard Nixon did next
13 Mar 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The presidential tenure of Richard Nixon and his diplomatic activities after leaving office.
Pat Buchanan
06 Mar 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Following the New Hampshire primary, Alistair Cooke profiles Republican candidate Pat Buchanan, and asks whether a vote for Buchanan is really a vote ...
Judge Clarence Thomas
28 Feb 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The allegations made against Judge Clarence Thomas, and the fate of the journalists who brought the story to the public consciousness.
Japanese Americans 1942
21 Feb 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Executive Order 9066, Franklin D Roosevelt's presidential order that authorised the removal of all Japanese living in California in February 1942, rem...
New Hampshire primaries 1992
14 Feb 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Alistair Cooke assesses the candidates for the upcoming New Hampshire primary elections, including Democrats Clinton and Tsongas, and Republicans Bush...
Events of 1991
07 Feb 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Following a recent opinion poll on the significance of the major events of 1991, Alistair Cooke looks back on the previous year and examines the top A...
US defence spending
31 Jan 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The proposed cuts to the United States defence budget, and the wide spectrum of reactions from both Republicans and Democrats, discussed by Alistair C...
Governor Bill Clinton
24 Jan 1992
Contributed by Lukas
Governor Bill Clinton, the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, and the scrutinizing of his personal undertakings.
Operation Desert Storm
17 Jan 1992
Contributed by Lukas
The successes and failures of Operation Desert Storm a year on , along with the story of political activist Angela Davis.
Japanese trade
10 Jan 1992
Contributed by Lukas
American and Japanese relations over the years, a history of Japanese trade, and how General MacArthur shaped modern Japan.
American public schools
03 Jan 1992
Contributed by Lukas
American public schools and their limitations, and how one educator from Alabama, Kevin Welch, is at war with developmental psychologists, discussed b...
Shared concerns in Britain and America
27 Dec 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Considering extended awareness of American issues in Britain, how similar the economic and social concerns of the two countries have become and though...
America’s recession and Russian nuclear security
20 Dec 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Greenspan confirms a US recession despite the Bush administration's refusal to recognise it, attention turns to domestic policy and fear of nucl...
Robert Maxwell and libel law
13 Dec 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Would US libel law have prevented Robert Maxwell from blocking examination of his business dealings? Alistair Cooke compares the differences between U...
Biden and Kinnock
06 Dec 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Senator Joe Biden's echoing of a speech by Neil Kinnock, the effect on his presidential campaign in 1987, and the danger of a politician speaking out ...
George H W's popularity in 1991
29 Nov 1991
Contributed by Lukas
A fall in the confidence of President Bush's handling of the economy, the suspension of Congress in 1991, and the diaries of James Agate.
David Duke
22 Nov 1991
Contributed by Lukas
A profile of David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan running for the governorship of Louisiana as a Republican in 1991...
The lucky George Bush
15 Nov 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The unfailing luck of George H W Bush, and the failure of the Democrats to capitalise on the president's poor performance on the economy and hesitance...
Robert Maxwell and Fred MacMurray
08 Nov 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Memories of British publisher Robert Maxwell (1923-1991) and Double Indemnity actor Fred MacMurray (1908-1991).
Tobacco brands at the 1991 World Baseball Series
01 Nov 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Why the Federal Trade Commission decided to ban the sight of tobacco brand names on TV after the 1991 World Baseball Series between the Minnesota Twin...
1991 Cambodian peace treaty
25 Oct 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The 1991 Cambodian peace treaty is signed in Paris. Alistair Cooke compares the rehabilitation of dictator Pol Pot to Cuba's Fidel Castro and Iraq's S...
Sexual harassment and Judge Clarence Thomas
11 Oct 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Examining Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against President Bush's new choice for the Supreme Court, Judge Clarence Thomas, and defining se...
America’s children, families and education
04 Oct 1991
Contributed by Lukas
President Bush's attempts to reform US education, the impossibility of defining an average American family, and sexuality among schoolchildren.
Relations between Israel and the US
30 Sep 1991
Contributed by Lukas
A look at the strained relations between Israel and the US, the plight of refugees in the Middle East, and the global misconception about the state of...
Colonel Oliver North's trial
20 Sep 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The trial of former Marine Colonel, Oliver North, over the sale of arms to Iran which resulted in the 1986 Iran-Contra scandal, shows how key witness ...
Congressional hearings
13 Sep 1991
Contributed by Lukas
An orgy of tv trials awaiting the American public and the surrogate trials that go under the name of Congressional Committee hearings are discussed.
President Bush and Winston Churchill
06 Sep 1991
Contributed by Lukas
President George H W Bush's ratings for re-election are boosted by the Gorbachev coup. Cooke compares his invulnerability with that of Winston Churchi...
Gorbachev's nuclear arsenal
30 Aug 1991
Contributed by Lukas
After the Soviet coup to overpower Gorbachev, America is now wondering who is in charge of the nuclear arsenal.
The August Coup, 1991
23 Aug 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Gennady Yanayev and the Gang of Eight grab for power in the 1991 August coup against Gorbachev. Cooke explores how the popularity of Boris Yeltsin ine...
UN economic sanctions
16 Aug 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Could the United Nations' economic sanctions have crippled Saddam Hussein? Plus, how personal boycotts enable consumers to become socially responsible...
Mayor David Dinkins asks NYC public
09 Aug 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Mayor of New York City, David Dinkins, opens his doors to the public to hear their solutions to social problems such as drugs, homelessness and crime.
President George W H Bush’s re-election
02 Aug 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Is President George H W Bush unbeatable in the next election? Alistair Cooke considers his Desert Storm glory verses chronic social problems at home.
Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal
26 Jul 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The Bank of Credit and Commerce International scandal is heightened when Mr Major dares Mr Kinnock to use the word "liar" in the House of Commons.
Gorbachev and the G7 summit
19 Jul 1991
Contributed by Lukas
How commentators around the world now view Mr Gorbachev, and his attendence of the 17th G7 summit held in London.
Stress related illness
12 Jul 1991
Contributed by Lukas
American 'know how' and the rise of stress related illnesses in both America and Britain are discussed by Alistair Cooke.
Gavrilo Princip kills Duke Franz Ferdinand
05 Jul 1991
Contributed by Lukas
How Serbian Gavrilo Princip, the murderer of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary, destroyed the empire and instigated the First World War in o...
Nude dancing in Indiana
28 Jun 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Nude dancing in the state of Indiana causes the American Supreme Court to question the violation of the 1st Amendment, and the obscenity of publicly e...
Boris Yeltsin's White House visit
21 Jun 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Yeltsin's visit contrasts to one he made in '89 when the US favoured Gorbachev. A bizarre encounter with Senator William Cohen of Maine, and an end to...
Michael Weiss the zip code wizard
14 Jun 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Weiss' research into zip codes can determine the books you read, the car you drive and how you like your eggs in the morning. Alistair Cooke f...
Freedom of Information
07 Jun 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The American Department of Defence's publication of Iraqi casualties from the Gulf War leads Alistair Cooke to explore the uses and abuses of the Free...
Tompkins Square Park Riot (1988)
31 May 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The social injustice which sparked riots in Tompkins Square Park in 1988, and how the social acceptibilty of homelessness has changed over the years.
Passive smoking and cholesterol control
17 May 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Public smoking restrictions get Alistair Cooke investigating how the Food and Drug Administration are protecting the public health and he turns his ey...
President Bush’s heart surgery
10 May 1991
Contributed by Lukas
President Bush's heart surgery causes a wave of media panic and scrutiny to fall on Vice-President Dan Quayle.
May Day protest in Moscow
03 May 1991
Contributed by Lukas
A May Day parade in Moscow gives Alistair Cooke a curious topic to discuss with UN Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko before considering cummunists in ...
Nancy Reagan's biography
26 Apr 1991
Contributed by Lukas
An unauthorised biography of ex-pesident's wife, Mrs Reagan makes Alistair Cooke question how gossip becomes news, whilst President Bush struggles to ...
Gorbachev’s Japanese investment trip
19 Apr 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Gorbachev's visit to Japan to encourage investment is stalled by Soviet ownership of the Kuril Islands. Plus, a 1958 meeting between Soviet leader Mr....
President Bush defends Gulf War
12 Apr 1991
Contributed by Lukas
President George H W Bush has to defend his Gulf War actions against Saddam Hussein as the American public debate whether troops should have been sent...
CNN post-war malaise
05 Apr 1991
Contributed by Lukas
How CNN's constant Gulf War coverage has led to a post war malaise amongst some of the viewing public.
Gorbachev's Yeltsin rally ban
29 Mar 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Gorbachev's banning of a Yeltsin rally in Moscow worries Alistair Cooke before he reflects on a rift between President Bush and General Schwarzkopf.
Ambassador Glaspie's interventions
22 Mar 1991
Contributed by Lukas
April Glaspie, American Ambassador to Iraq, is called to explain her pre-war conversations with Saddam Hussein. Could her words have aided the start o...
John Maynard Keynes
15 Mar 1991
Contributed by Lukas
J M Keynes' economic cure for President Roosevelt was to borrow and spend, but with pressing social problems and limited funds, how will Congress spli...
End of the Gulf War
08 Mar 1991
Contributed by Lukas
The Gulf War (1990-91) is over and President Bush Snr basks in its glory, but Cooke reflects on the fickle nature of opinion polls and whether public ...
Kuwait on the map
01 Mar 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Kuwait, Riyadh and Baghdad are now known all over America. Alistair Cooke reflects on how war has added new locations to the public conscience.
Drought and domestic partnerships
22 Feb 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Water conservation in Los Angeles, the first couples register their domestic partnerships in San Francisco, and Churchill's refusal of the term "impai...
Indecent behaviour during war
15 Feb 1991
Contributed by Lukas
In times of war how much care-free behaviour should we indulge in? Alistair Cooke ponders on what classifies as indecent behaviour.
Airport terrorist attack fears
08 Feb 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Fears of terrorist attacks have reduced the number of people flying. Alistair Cooke considers if the Gulf War has exacerbated the situation and whethe...
Gulf War censorship
01 Feb 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Should news from the Gulf War be censored? Alistair Cooke explores how public support for the war changes with each news report.
Saddam Hussein or the Bogie Man
25 Jan 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Whilst Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles attack Israel, Alistair Cooke considers how the 24/7 spontaneous news coverage is being viewed by both the allie...
The Gulf War begins, January 1991
18 Jan 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Aerial bombs dropping on Kuwait signal the start of the Gulf war. Reports of Operation Desert Storm reveal how the age of the instant satellite commun...
Pan Am declares bankruptcy
11 Jan 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Examining the iconic airline Pan Am's rise and fall, whilst considering how the US constitution has enforced tax payment and may protect a woman's rig...
Legal guns vs murder rates
04 Jan 1991
Contributed by Lukas
Does legal firearm ownership increase the number of murders in America? Alistair Cooke reflects on what is causing the high volume of murders in New Y...