The Supreme Court

Alistair Cooke reflects on the wide-ranging functions of the US Supreme Court.

• 15 mins

Row over abortion ruling

Public divided on ruling over whether abortion should be state-funded.

• 14 mins

Reagan wins Republican nomination

Republican convention gives overwhelming backing to Reagan.

• 14 mins

Bush to be Reagan's running mate

Drama at convention over choice of running mate for Reagan.

• 14 mins

Carter ratings lowest ever

Democrats despair over slump in Carter's popularity rating.

• 14 mins

Covering the 1980 presidential campaign

Is there too much news coverage of the 1980 Democratic nomination campaigns?

• 15 mins

Jimmy Carter is nominated for re-election

Edward Kennedy makes the best speech of his career at the Democratic Party conference.

• 15 mins

America's Electoral College

How the Electoral College has the last say over US votes.

• 14 mins

Energy assistance bill

Republicans swing voting over energy assistance bill.

• 14 mins

American know-how

How the rest of the world caught up with American know-how.

• 14 mins

Candidates consider TV debate

Presidential candidates consider possible three-way TV debate.

• 14 mins

Small car sales boom

New car plant to make only smaller cars as sales of gas-guzzlers slump.

• 14 mins

Candidates claim victory in TV debate

Reagan and Anderson both claim victory in TV debate.

• 14 mins

Independents switch to Reagan

Voters switch their support from independent candidate Anderson to Reagan.

• 14 mins

The book-selling business

How publishing became the book-selling business.

• 14 mins

The World Series gets the vote, 1980

Voters tune in to the World Series while the candidates slug it out.

• 14 mins

Ronald Reagan’s victory, 1980

Ronald Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election.

• 15 mins

Why the pollsters got it wrong

How a 'close contest' turned into a landslide.

• 14 mins

Reagan's political honeymoon

President-elect Reagan enjoys his honeymoon period.

• 14 mins

Reagan's charm offensive

Washington dazed by Reagan's charm offensive.

• 14 mins

The waiting game

Pundits speculate on Reagan's true intentions while the Carter regime plays on.

• 14 mins

John Lennon’s assassination

Will the death of John Lennon have an effect on the gun rights lobby in America?

• 15 mins

Haig joins Cabinet

President-elect announces General Haig as his choice for Secretary of State.

• 14 mins

Chrysler financial crisis deepens

Auto workers lobby Reagan as Chrysler's financial crisis worsens.

• 14 mins

Winter in Vermont

Everyday life in the deep snow of a Vermont winter.

• 14 mins

Reagan chooses cabinet, 1981

Reagan's cabinet choices mean a slow start.

• 14 mins

Haig questioned by Senate committee

Haig's fitness as Secretary of State questioned by Senate committee.

• 14 mins

President Reagan’s inauguration, 1981

As President Reagan's inauguration takes place, 52 US hostages are released in Iran.

• 15 mins

Press overkill on hostages return

Saturation coverage by TV networks as the hostages return from Iran.

• 14 mins

The new First Lady

Nancy Reagan is copied - and cartooned.

• 14 mins