50th Anniversary Re-record of the First Ever Letter in 1946

**** This programme was suggested by Fiona Mcphail, Robert Stallard, Jill Smith and Nick Stewart as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend ****

Alistair Cooke re-presents his first broadcast - describing his return from an austere Britain to a bountiful New York.

Recorded to mark the programme's 50th anniversary in 1946, with reflections on its context.

Alistair weekly 15-minute talks on American life, history and politics ran on BBC radio until his retirement aged 95.

He died a just few weeks later on 30th March 2004.

Producer: Tony Grant

First re-broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 1996.

**** To nominate a programme from the archives that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk ****