Letter From America By Alistair Cooke: The Reagan Years (1981-1988)

Florida's dependence on the service industries sees a change in fortune as tourist figures drop. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

The future of global communication via satellite - and the man who foresaw it all, Arthur C. Clarke. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Puerto Rican terrorist group wanting independence claim New York bombings. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

China admits its 'one child' rule has led to a generation of - mainly male - spoilt brats. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Forget chic or trendy, the founder of the Dull Men's Club says we should be proud of being boring. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which forced foreign automobile manufacturers to build their models for export to America in America, with American parts and labour.

Extra funding for MX missile gets Congress go-ahead despite fears over bases. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Edward Kennedy decides against running as Democrat candidate in the next presidential election. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Transatlantic price-fixing between major airlines put Laker out of business claims law suit. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Women vote against Republicans following loss of Equal Rights Act. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Washington opening of new memorial which speaks volumes about the war America did not win. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Mid-term elections see Reagan lose support in the House - so a more pragmatic approach to bills is likely. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Democrats' delight as Nobel Prize winner writes off the president's economic plans as 'a gimmick'. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

While the president crosses the US to woo voters, unemployment remains the main issue in local elections. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

The complex rules and tactics of American football, and how a pay dispute led to the 1982 strike by the players of the National Football League, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.

Massive increase of immgrants arriving into New York widens the ethnic mix of the city. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

US recognises its impotence in the Middle East as a nuclear deterrent can not impose demands on warring sides; a large standing army would have more power. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

President should take note of huge turnout which demonstrated workers' frustration over tax and jobs. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

President appears on TV to assert his belief that Palestine needs to become autonomous. The sound quality on this recording is variable/poor. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

How the new flexible president won his 'revenue' increases which will help balance the books. This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.