Until his death in 2004, commentator Alistair Cooke was as much a fixture on American television as he was on BBC Radio. Having moved to the U.S. early in 1941 where he began reporting the day to day of American life via the BBC World Service as only seen by the proverbial outsider, Alistair Cooke brought observations with him that were unique as he was able to view the goings-on, not only in Washington but all around the United States and view them with a fresh perspective that was both informative and revelatory.
In 2000, at the end of what was a fractious campaign for President by both vice-President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush, it was Alistair Cooke who gave it one of the freshest and most thoughtful assessments of an election that would prove to be a game changer for the History of the U.S.
Sadly, unless you knew which College Public Radio station was running BBC broadcasts, or had a shortwave radio of your own, it’s most likely you never got to hear these when they first were broadcast. The BBC has been releasing these broadcasts which they have diligently kept and preserved over the years, and there a few thousand so far. I’m not sure this one is part of their website now or will be sometime soon. This edition of Alistair Cooke’s Letter From America came from one of those relays to a College Radio station who gave over their overnight hours to running BBC broadcasts.
Since tomorrow is the election and no one knows for sure how it’s going to turn out, listening to how we were reacting 24 years ago may offer some perspective but it’s also a reminder it’s not over til it’s over – nothing is certain and if you haven’t voted yet, you need to – just remember; “Bad Politicians are elected by good people who do not vote.” (Edward R. Murrow).
