Santa Claus or Father Christmas? The origin of the Patron saint of Christmas is explored. Plus, the surprising popularity of a Tickle Me Elmo toy has caused prices to skyrocket.

UN Leader Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Dec 20th, 1996 13m 34s

A tribute to Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former leader of the UN General Assembly, whose peacekeeping skills were put to the test during the Rwandan Genocide.

Gulf War Syndrome

1 Dec 13th, 1996 13m 36s

Madeleine Albright becomes the first Secretary of State in America, and investigations reveal a possible chemical cause of Gulf War Syndrome.

Permissive California

1 Dec 6th, 1996 13m 24s

Cults of California, tolerance in San Francisco, and the permissive parenting backlash are discussed by Alistair Cooke in this week's Letter From America.

Thanksgiving in California

1 Nov 29th, 1996 13m 17s

From California, Alistair Cooke examines the un-politicised institution of Thanksgiving and the changing face of US politics.

Sexual harassment in the armed forces

1 Nov 22nd, 1996 13m 39s

After public revelations of cases of sexual violence in the US Army and Navy Alistair Cooke examines the scandal of the sexual harassment of women in America's armed forces.

US intervention in Rwanda

1 Nov 15th, 1996 13m 59s

US intervention in the Rwandan refugee crisis and the history of President Clinton's press conferences.

The 1996 presidential election

1 Nov 8th, 1996 14m 9s

The results of the presidential elections and how technology is turning busy television studios into silent cathedrals, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.

Halloween, 1996

1 Nov 1st, 1996 13m 43s

The history Halloween, the origin of the vampire myth and the roaring business performed by pumpkin farmers during the month of October.

Forest fires, tornadoes and earthquakes

1 Oct 25th, 1996 13m 52s

A season of disaster, forest fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and leads to a recollection of a vast storm in 1938 which descended on the Northern Atlantic coast.

The science of electoral predictions

1 Oct 18th, 1996 13m 40s

The science of electoral prediction and the possible pitfalls of keeping one ear to the ground following the Dole and Clinton debates.

Vice-presidential responsibilites

Oct 11th, 1996 14m 6s

Vice-presidential responsibilities, the careers of Bob Dole, Dan Quayle and Jack Kemp, and the false predictions of Lord Kelvin, Albert Einstein and Arthur C Clarke.

The 1996 presidential debates

1 Oct 4th, 1996 13m 57s

The first presidential debate between President Clinton and Mr Dole, and the unique election advantage gifted to incumbent presidents, the presidential halo.

Boris Yeltin's heart surgery

Sep 27th, 1996 14m 11s

Boris Yeltsin's heart-bypass surgery and the cultures of secrecy that have surrounded the heath and governance of gravely ill leaders.

OJ Simpson's civil trial

1 Sep 20th, 1996 14m 4s

As O J Simpson's civil trial begins Alistair Cooke considers what can be gained from a civil suit and examines the differences in the way the new trial is being run.

The Defense Of Marriage Act 1996

1 Sep 13th, 1996 13m 57s

The Defense of Marriage Act and the implications it has to same sex marriage, and news from Bob Dole's floundering presidential campaign.

Cruise missile strike in Iraq

Sep 6th, 1996 13m 30s

The US cruise missile strike in Iraq, the claims that the first Gulf War was left unfinished and the complexities of the first conflict, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.

Chicago and the Democratic convention

1 Aug 30th, 1996 13m 56s

The Democratic Party convention returning to Chicago, the history of the city and the 'circus within a plague' of the last, disastrous conference of 1968.

The return of Ross Perot and US social concerns

1 Aug 23rd, 1996 13m 47s

The return of Ross Perot as a presidential candidate, the prohibition of third-trimester abortions, the proliferation of guns and the education of children about global warming.

The 1996 Republican convention

1 Aug 16th, 1996 13m 46s

The history of the party nomination conventions, the switch to the primary election as the method of choosing a presidential candidate, and Bill Clinton's lead in the polls.

Atlanta Olympics 1996

1 Aug 9th, 1996 14m 21s

The commercialisation and crass television coverage of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the effect that an influx of money has on sport.

The welfare and healthcare reform debate

1 Aug 2nd, 1996 13m 33s

The presidential race, US welfare and healthcare reform and the prurience and pressure surrounding the TWA flight 800 crash investigation.

The TWA Flight 800 crash

Jul 26th, 1996 13m 40s

The TWA Flight 800 crash and the media coverage of the accident, the casino life of the financial markets and Bob Dole's reluctance to embrace the 1990s.

The Helms-Burton Bill

Jul 19th, 1996 13m 50s

The Helms-Burton bill, which penalises foreign companies doing business with Cuba, Senator Jessie Helms and tobacco , and the importance of Southern states to President Clinton.