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Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

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Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke - Letter from America

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: The 1970s

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Factual: History

The 1970s

30/03/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, The 1970s

1970s USA rediscovered through lost recordings of Alistair Cooke's Letter From America.

Made for 4 Extra. 1970s USA rediscovered through lost recordings of Alistair Cooke's Letter From America. Paddy O'Connell is joined by Dominic Sandbrook, Alvin Hall and more.

1970s America rediscovered through lost recordings of Letter from America, on the 10th anniversary of legendary journalist Alistair Cooke's death. Paddy O'Connell and guests including historian Dominic Sandbrook, Alvin Hall, Ann Treneman and Naomi Shragai will reflect on the personalities and stories of 70s America - from Nixon's resignation, Muhammad Ali to Vietnam and women's lib. 

The Letter from America programmes featured were taped by two listeners and stored in a cellar, an attic and a fertiliser spreader for nearly 40 years. They were recorded by a dairy farmer from the Cotswolds, and a man from Cornwall, who between them have provided the BBC with over 650 lost Letter from America programmes from the 1970s and 1980s. 

Music chosen:

Alvin Hall - Stevie Wonder, Sir Duke 
Ann Treneman - Bob Dylan, Forever Young 
David Henderson - Don Mclean, Colour TV Blues 
Naomi Shragai - Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run. 

Presenter: Paddy O'Connell 
Producer: Zillah Watson.

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