Letter from America: The Reagan Years (1981-1988)
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Hinckley insanity defence
20 Aug 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Lawyers unhappy as insanity defence saves would-be presidential assassin Hinckley. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive e...
White-collar unemployment
23 Jul 1982
Contributed by Lukas
White-collar workers make up 'new unemployed' in recession-hit US. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of Letter...
Fourth of July
02 Jul 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Changing ways of celebrating the Fourth of July.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them tap...
Falklands surrender
18 Jun 1982
Contributed by Lukas
US may need to reconsider policy towards UK following Falklands surrender. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition o...
Reagan's Europe tour
04 Jun 1982
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan prepares for Europe grand tour aimed at polishing his image abroad. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive...
Reagan silent over Falklands
28 May 1982
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan leaves Haig to talk about US policy over the Falklands. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of ...
Nuclear reduction talks suggested
21 May 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Brezhnev cool over Reagan's suggestion of arms limitation talks.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who ...
The Falklands, the BBC and censorship, 1982
14 May 1982
Contributed by Lukas
The continuation of the Falklands war, confusion over the BBC's status as a publicly owned corporation, and easing of the censorship on military repor...
Falklands casualties
07 May 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Falklands naval casualties leave Reagan's warship plans under scrutiny. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of L...
Hinckley trial opens
30 Apr 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Year since the shootings has been spent assessing John Hinckley Junior for mental competence. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.Thi...
Argentina invokes security pact
23 Apr 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Latest move leaves US in tricky situation, having to decide between two so-called allies. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This ar...
Haig's shuttle diplomacy over Falklands
16 Apr 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Haig admits aiding Britain with intelligence amid shuttle diplomacy between the two warring nations.This archive edition of Letter from America was re...
The invasion of the Falkland Islands
09 Apr 1982
Contributed by Lukas
The Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands, the escalating nuclear arms race between America and Russia, and the re-emergence of the battleship ...
El Salvador elections
02 Apr 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Big turnout for El Salvador elections which vote in extreme right-wingers.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two liste...
Soviet-China peace request
26 Mar 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Soviet president Brezhnev startles West by requesting peace talks with China.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two li...
St. Patrick's Day 1982
19 Mar 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Saint Patrick's Day 1982, Mayor Ed Koch's ability to appeal to the various facets of New York society, and Ronald Reagan's clarification of his views ...
The real Florida
12 Mar 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Forget the marketing hype, the real Florida is not all it's painted out to be. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive editi...
The Moral Majority
26 Feb 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Fonda and Barry Goldwater make unlikely appearance together in bid to silence the 'Moral Majority'.This archive edition of Letter from America wa...
Winter deepens recession
19 Feb 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan's proposed budget likely to be slashed by the House as economic crisis deepens.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one ...
President Truman and Dr Arthur Barsky
12 Feb 1982
Contributed by Lukas
President Truman's morning walks around Washington, a recollection of the World's Fair in Brussels in 1958, and the death of pioneering plastic surgeo...
Roosevelt 100th anniversary, 1982
05 Feb 1982
Contributed by Lukas
White House lunch celebrates Roosevelt's centenary - as Reaganomics removes his legacy. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This arch...
Franklin D Roosevelt and the New Deal
29 Jan 1982
Contributed by Lukas
The 100th anniversary of the birth of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the origin of the New Deal, and FDR's political turnaround on the size of the welfare...
Reagan faces reality
22 Jan 1982
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan scores lowest ever popularity rating as he prepares for his first State of the Union address. The sound quality on this recording is ...
Polish propaganda
08 Jan 1982
Contributed by Lukas
Trying to tell fact from fiction in reports coming from Poland under General Jaruzelski.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by on...
President Reagan and the Middle East
01 Jan 1982
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan's Middle Eastern concerns, the view of Poland as a Russian satellite nation, and an assessment of what news is vital to everyone but ...
US budget deficit
25 Dec 1981
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan faces unpleasant forecast of further deficits over his plans for the economy.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded...
Martial law in Poland
18 Dec 1981
Contributed by Lukas
US administration warns Soviets over martial law in Poland - but accepts its own impotence to intervene.This archive edition of Letter from America wa...
US-China relations
11 Dec 1981
Contributed by Lukas
West Coast view of China leads to double standard over question of dissidents in Communist states. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poo...
Video games craze
04 Dec 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese firm Atari sweeps US with new game craze - and a whole new industry. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive editio...
Reagan vetoes budget
27 Nov 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Emergency bill allows government workers to be paid after President Reagan vetoes budget. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This ar...
Reagan backtracks on missiles
20 Nov 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Protests prompt President Reagan to suggest US and Soviet re-think on deploying land-based missiles.This archive edition of Letter from America was re...
Abortion an issue again
06 Nov 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Attorney General's anti-abortion suggestion could alter constitutional powers.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two l...
Video tape copyright claim
30 Oct 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Film studios copyright claim against video taping criminalises recorder users.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two l...
Death of Anwar Sadat (1918-1981)
09 Oct 1981
Contributed by Lukas
President Sadat of Egypt is killed in a year in which assassination attempts have been made on political figures including Ronald Reagan, Pope John Pa...
US reviews Soviet military strength
02 Oct 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Bias questions over US report on Soviet military strength.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who betwee...
Illegal immigration, 1981
25 Sep 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Presidents of US and Mexico to discuss growing problem of illegal immigrants.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two li...
First woman Supreme Court judge
18 Sep 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan appointment Sandra Day O'Connor confirmed as first woman judge to Supreme Court panel.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded ...
Inner city decay
11 Sep 1981
Contributed by Lukas
New York power outage highlights nationwide problem of creeping decay of urban infrastructure.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded...
Fruit fly battle
04 Sep 1981
Contributed by Lukas
California's billion-dollar fruit crops threatened by a tiny fly. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of Letter ...
Libyans challenge US aircraft
28 Aug 1981
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan flexes his international muscles over US-Libyan air intercepts.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two...
Neutron bomb backlash
21 Aug 1981
Contributed by Lukas
President calls in advisers to discuss epidemic of protests worldwide against neutron devices. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.Th...
Reagan breaks air strike
14 Aug 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan sacks striking air controllers despite pre-election promises of improvements to service. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.T...
Baseball strike, 1981
07 Aug 1981
Contributed by Lukas
The 1981 Major League Baseball strike comes to an end, while a strike by air traffic controllers threatens to continue.
Royal wedding spectacle
31 Jul 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Americans appreciate the spectacle of the royal wedding celebrations as Reagan brings glamour back to the White House. The sound quality on this recor...
Ottawa economic summit
24 Jul 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Middle East unrest dominates news from Ottawa summit.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between the...
British city riots
17 Jul 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Warning for Reagan as observers blame Thatcher's economic policies for outbreak of riots. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This ar...
Reagan wins budget cuts
03 Jul 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan outsmarts Democrats and wins vote on massive budget cuts. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of Letter f...
US-China relations warm
26 Jun 1981
Contributed by Lukas
US-China arms deal announced as first plans to start disarmament talks with Soviets are unveiled.This archive edition of Letter from America was recor...
Surgeons' insurance costs soar
12 Jun 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Soaring cost of insuring against malpractice claims sees US surgeons leaving the profession. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This...
Reagan's policies stalled
05 Jun 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan's election promises fade away as reality of government begins to dawn over new administration.This archive edition of Letter from America was r...
Reagan at West Point
29 May 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Former actor President Reagan gives graduation address at US military academy West Point. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This ar...
New York bomb threats
22 May 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Police clear buildings as more than 260 bomb threats disrupt NY life.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners,...
Grain embargo stalls
08 May 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Trans-shipments sink grain embargo against Soviets. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archive edition of Letter from America w...
Remembering Jack Thum, 1981
01 May 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Mickey Rooney plays part of professional clown Jack Thum in a TV special about the man who spent a lifetime helping poor children. The sound quality o...
Reagan budget-cutting campaign, 1981
24 Apr 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Research programmes face cuts as President Reagan's money-saving campaign bites.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two...
Columbia space shuttle, 1981
17 Apr 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Boost for US as Columbia space shuttle makes first landing back on earth.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listen...
Protecting the president
10 Apr 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Gun control and increased protection levels called for following Reagan assassination attempt. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.Th...
Assassination attempt on Reagan
03 Apr 1981
Contributed by Lukas
President Reagan survives an assassination attempt by John Hinckley on 30th March 1981, leading to a debate on the stricter control of handguns.
US looks to Far East
27 Mar 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Moves for better US-China and Japan relations, despite calls to curb imports.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two li...
Meet the neighbours
06 Mar 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan in talks with Trudeau while southerly foreign policy - regarding El Salvador - is softened.This archive edition of Letter from America was reco...
Inflation dips slightly
27 Feb 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation rate growth under zero - but the new figure misses out on oil price increases.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by on...
A meeting of minds, 1981
20 Feb 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Two leaders who share a common belief in their economic plans - but Mrs Thatcher's hopes are already moderating.This archive edition of Letter from Am...
The new First Lady
06 Feb 1981
Contributed by Lukas
All eyes on the president's wife as her style becomes much-loved, but also lampooned. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archiv...
Press overkill on hostages return
30 Jan 1981
Contributed by Lukas
After the saturation coverage of the Iran hostages' return, will diplomacy be resumed? The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor.This archi...
President Reagan’s inauguration, 1981
22 Jan 1981
Contributed by Lukas
As the new President Reagan's inauguration takes place, the Iran hostage crisis comes to an end with the release of 52 US hostages in Iran, after 444 ...
Haig questioned by Senate committee
16 Jan 1981
Contributed by Lukas
General Haig faces five-day appearance before Senate committee.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who b...
Reagan chooses cabinet, 1981
09 Jan 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Reagan's choice of a wealthy cabinet means a slow start for the new administration.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of ...
Winter in Vermont
02 Jan 1981
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to live with winter temperatures way below zero in Vermont.This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, ...