Letter from America: The Clinton Years (1997-2000)

To commemorate the last wireless telegraph, Alistair Cooke reflects on the creation of Morse code and its most famous uses.

Alistair Cooke reflects on the ethical dilemmas that arise when the Pope visits the United States of America.

Alistair Cooke reflects on Clinton's State of the Union address and asks why the only national holiday named after a human being is Rev. Martin Luther King Day.

Alistair Cooke reports on the US Senate trial of President Bill Clinton, and reflects on some of the most interesting trials that he covered as a reporter.

In the light of the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Alistair Cooke remembers the only other presidential impeachment that occurred 130 years ago.

Alistair Cooke reflects on some of the more memorable moments of 1998.

American personal saving rates drop below zero and Alistair Cooke considers the economists who see this as good news, those who see it as bad and a culture that encourages credit.

The Operation Desert Fox bombing campaign begins in Iraq after the UN is refused access to weapons sites and Congress ponders whether Clinton should face an impeachment trial.

The House Judiciary Committee meets to decide on adoption of impeachment proceedings against Clinton Alistair Cooke considers this tortuous process and its likely outcome.

From New York to Sarajevo, Alistair Cooke considers the history and traditions of Thanksgiving celebrations, recent opposition and Churchill's first meeting with a turkey dinner.

How can America deal with Saddam Hussein's suspected nuclear and biological weapons in Iraq and does a resurgence in US financial markets conceal an unstable future?

Aaron Burgett's Alcatraz escape, a stolen premature baby and the decline of the summer bachelor; Alistair Cooke recalls his most popular and memorable talks of the last 52 years.

The aid effort begins after hurricane Mitch wreaks devastation in Honduras and Nicaragua and Alistair Cooke considers how relatively trivial news can distract from great disasters.

Clinton's Democrats gain seats in the 1998 midterm election, a first for a US ruling party since Roosevelt and 1934, California goes Democrat and Clinton regains his confidence.

The Republican use of the Lewinsky scandal against Clinton during Congressional elections seems to backfire. Considering the parallel of Grover Cleveland's illegitimate child.

As John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth prepares to return to space at the age of 77, Cooke remembers the extraordinary TV broadcast and Glenn's instant fame.

Remembering New York writer Jerome Weidman, Pulitzer prize winner and America's first 'street-smart novelist', Alistair Cooke considers the peculiarities of American English.

Misconceptions over the frequency of Presidential infidelities, recalling a time when the press never discussed a statesman's private life, and the impeachment process explained.

The Asian economic crisis expands into Brazil and Alistair Cooke considers that though there's little a President can do about economic problems, they will always get the blame.

Composer George Gershwin's life and music is remembered for the centenary of his birth and a consideration of the history and post-Soviet boom in Russian immigration to New York.

The life of George Wallace, reformed racial segregationist and Governor of Alabama is remembered and Alistair Cooke considers his anger and the humble truth of his repentance.

The Lewinsky report is published, the House of Representatives begins to consider evidence and impeachment and President Clinton asks for forgiveness.

The financial crash of August 1998, its causes and effects are compared with Alistair Cooke's memories of the first Black Monday in 1987 and the Black Thursday of 1929.

A subdued Clinton family holiday turns to political action as America launches cruise missile attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan and Clinton makes a revitalised public appearance.

President Clinton makes a televised confession of his affair with Monica Lewinsky: Alistair Cooke considers its inadequacy and the betrayal of those who trusted and supported him.