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

Lawyers unhappy as insanity defence saves would-be presidential assassin Hinckley. 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.

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 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.

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 taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

US may need to reconsider policy towards UK following Falklands surrender. 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 Reagan prepares for Europe grand tour aimed at polishing his image abroad. 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 Reagan leaves Haig to talk about US policy over the Falklands. 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.

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 between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

The continuation of the Falklands war, confusion over the BBC's status as a publicly owned corporation, and easing of the censorship on military reporting since the Vietnam War.

Falklands naval casualties leave Reagan's warship plans under scrutiny. 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.

Year since the shootings has been spent assessing John Hinckley Junior for mental competence. 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.

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 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.

Haig admits aiding Britain with intelligence amid shuttle diplomacy between the two warring nations.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 Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands, the escalating nuclear arms race between America and Russia, and the re-emergence of the battleship as a weapon of war.

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 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.

Soviet president Brezhnev startles West by requesting peace talks with China.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.

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 on Northern Ireland.

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 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.

Jane Fonda and Barry Goldwater make unlikely appearance together in bid to silence the 'Moral Majority'.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.

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 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 Truman's morning walks around Washington, a recollection of the World's Fair in Brussels in 1958, and the death of pioneering plastic surgeon Doctor Arthur Barsky.