Reagan and the Iran-Contra scandal

The effect of the Iranian arms for hostages deal on President Reagan's popularity.

• 15 mins

Presidential press conferences

The insatiable demand for us all to know everything, now.

• 14 mins

Farewell to stereotypes

Cultural exchanges usher in a new era of Soviet-American relations.

• 14 mins

Surveillance and espionage in the Cold War

Security concerns at the US embassy in Moscow and at the founding of the UN in 1945.

• 15 mins

US-Canada relations sour

Continuing problem of acid rain from US industry hitting Canada's natural resources.

• 14 mins

Playing nuclear chess

Chess strategy and the nuclear arms limitation talks.

• 14 mins

Ethics in government

Personal gain - the reason why so many politicians fall foul of corruption.

• 14 mins

Garbage disposal

Time to call a halt to the practice of using landfill to dispose of our rubbish.

• 14 mins

In the money

Will the sky really prove the limit when it comes to ever-expanding amounts of money?

• 14 mins

The return of Richard Nixon, 1987

The re-emergence of Richard Nixon into public life after the Watergate scandal.

• 15 mins

Election envy

US looks in envy at the ease - and cheapness - of a British General Election.

• 14 mins

Alan Greenspan

The next chairman of the Federal Reserve - Alan Greenspan.

• 14 mins

2000th Edition

Testing immigrants for disease, the spread of AIDS, and the rise of skin cancer.

• 15 mins

Fred Astaire, 1987

Remembering the man who 'could dance a little'.

• 14 mins

A surfeit of scandal

American public is suffering from an overdose of deceit and financial fiddles.

• 14 mins

Oliver North’s role in Iran-Contra, 1987

Colonel Oliver North gives evidence about his involvement in the Iran-Contra scandal.

• 15 mins

An overnight hero

Fan mail by the sack for Colonel Oliver North.

• 14 mins

UN unanimous on Iran-Iraq

Rare agreement of UN security council ends swiftly.

• 14 mins

Forget the smoking gun

Presidential accountability should be the aim of the Iran-Contra hearings.

• 14 mins

Inflation rising again

Inflation figures show rise as US becomes entangled in Persian Gulf naval moves.

• 14 mins

What's in a catchphrase?

How catchphrases become part of the American language.

• 14 mins

Anniversary mania

When there's little news about, look for an anniversary.

• 14 mins

Pat Schroeder pitches in

New entry for the Democratic presidential nomination is the only woman so far.

• 14 mins

The meaning of Labor Day

The origins of the Labor Day holiday and the role of trade unions in the US.

• 15 mins

Papal visit, September 1987

The Pope visits a nation where one in four is a Catholic - America.

• 14 mins

Robert Bork’s Supreme Court nomination

President Reagan's controversial nomination of Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.

• 15 mins

Oliver North’s diminished popularity

Colonel Oliver North's brief moment as a popular hero to a minority in the US.

• 15 mins

Off the hook?

The one question which might prove the Iran-Contra deal broke no law.

• 14 mins

Peace prize for Sanchez

Costa Rican president wins Nobel prize for his Central American peace plan.

• 14 mins

Black Monday 1987, Black Tuesday 1929

How does the stock market crash of October 1987 compare to the 1929 Wall Street Crash?

• 15 mins