Letter from America: 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.

White House lunch celebrates Roosevelt's centenary - as Reaganomics removes his legacy. 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.

The 100th anniversary of the birth of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the origin of the New Deal, and FDR's political turnaround on the size of the welfare state.

President Reagan scores lowest ever popularity rating as he prepares for his first State of the Union address. 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.

Trying to tell fact from fiction in reports coming from Poland under General Jaruzelski. 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's Middle Eastern concerns, the view of Poland as a Russian satellite nation, and an assessment of what news is vital to everyone but not important to some.

President Reagan faces unpleasant forecast of further deficits over his plans for the economy. 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 administration warns Soviets over martial law in Poland - but accepts its own impotence to intervene. 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.

West Coast view of China leads to double standard over question of dissidents in Communist states. 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.

Japanese firm Atari sweeps US with new game craze - and a whole new industry. 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.

Emergency bill allows government workers to be paid after President Reagan vetoes budget. 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.

Protests prompt President Reagan to suggest US and Soviet re-think on deploying land-based missiles. 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.

Attorney General's anti-abortion suggestion could alter constitutional powers. 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.

Film studios copyright claim against video taping criminalises recorder users. 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 Sadat of Egypt is killed in a year in which assassination attempts have been made on political figures including Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II.

Bias questions over US report on Soviet military strength. 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.

Presidents of US and Mexico to discuss growing problem of illegal immigrants. 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 appointment Sandra Day O'Connor confirmed as first woman judge to Supreme Court panel. 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.

New York power outage highlights nationwide problem of creeping decay of urban infrastructure. 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.

California's billion-dollar fruit crops threatened by a tiny fly. 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 flexes his international muscles over US-Libyan air intercepts. 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 calls in advisers to discuss epidemic of protests worldwide against neutron devices. 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.

Reagan sacks striking air controllers despite pre-election promises of improvements to service. 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.

The 1981 Major League Baseball strike comes to an end, while a strike by air traffic controllers threatens to continue.

Americans appreciate the spectacle of the royal wedding celebrations as Reagan brings glamour back to the White House. 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.

Middle East unrest dominates news from Ottawa summit. 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.

Warning for Reagan as observers blame Thatcher's economic policies for outbreak of riots. 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.

Reagan outsmarts Democrats and wins vote on massive budget cuts. 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.

US-China arms deal announced as first plans to start disarmament talks with Soviets are unveiled. 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.

Soaring cost of insuring against malpractice claims sees US surgeons leaving the profession. 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.

Reagan's election promises fade away as reality of government begins to dawn over new administration. 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.