1989 in review

A review of the major news stories of 1989, including revolutions and invasions.

• 15 mins

The capture of General Noriega, 1990

General Manuel Noriega's capture by American military forces in Panama.

• 15 mins

A brand new decade - 1990

What effect did the presidency of Ronald Reagan have on the American welfare system?

• 15 mins

Changes to the American Family

An examination of the changes to the structure of the American family since 1960.

• 15 mins

Foreign aid budget

The causes of the reduction in the American foreign aid budget in 1990.

• 15 mins

McEnroe and Gorbachev

John McEnroe's dismissal from the 1990 Australian Open, and Gorbachev's plans for peace.

• 15 mins

US Foreign policy and defence spending

An upsurge in American public interest in foreign affairs, and the threat of Gorbachev.

• 15 mins

Kansas City

Why Kansas City has lost its unique identity, and become like so much of America.

• 15 mins

Presidential speechwriters

How far can a great speech go in changing the public perception of a politician?

• 15 mins

Nicaraguan election 1990

Democracy at work in Nicaragua, and the role of the US in the elections.

• 15 mins

The final flight of the SR-71 Blackbird

Public spending cuts, and the decommissioning of the SR-71 Blackbird.

• 15 mins

Apocolyptic cults

American religious gurus and prophets from Aimee Semple McPherson to now.

• 15 mins

Pearl Harbour and church attendance

Were the Japanese peace envoys sent to the US during Pearl Harbour being used as decoys?

• 15 mins

President Bush's broccoli

George H W Bush's dislike of broccoli lands him in trouble with food lobbyists.

• 15 mins

Harry Bridges

The life and career of the labour leader and activist Harry Bridges (1901-1990).

• 15 mins

Diverse peoples under one language

President Theodore Roosevelt's attempt to unite America under the English language.

• 15 mins

Earth Day, 1990

Earth Day, acid rain, and the Clean Air Act passed by Congress in 1963.

• 15 mins

The End of the Eighties - Great or Greedy?

Does the end of the Reagan era mean an end to the culture of greed of the 1980s?

• 15 mins

Robert Mapplethorpe in Cincinnati

Robert Mapplethorpe's controversial photography exhibition arrives in Cincinnati.

• 15 mins

Greta Garbo and Jim Henson

The lives and careers of Greta Garbo (1905-1990) and Jim Henson (1936-1990)

• 15 mins

Memorial Day, 1990

Will new legislation in 1990 mean a difficult future for the American tobacco industry?

• 15 mins

Richard Paul Pavlik

A recollection of the assassination attempt by Richard Paul Pavlik on John F Kennedy.

• 15 mins

Diane Feinstein

Senator Diane Feinstein, the Democratic nomination for governorship of California in 1990.

• 15 mins

An Indepedent Quebec

Is the prospect of an independent Quebec a threat to American and Canadian relations?

• 15 mins

Nelson Mandela In America

The impact of Nelson Mandela's 1990 diplomatic visit to the United States.

• 15 mins

Independence Day 1990

What the French think of Independence Day, and does the US conform to British stereotypes?

• 15 mins

The 1990 World Cup

How interested are Americans in soccer and how will the US perform at World Cup '94?

• 15 mins

The Cambodian guerilla coalition

The withdrawal of US recognition of the regime of the Cambodian guerrilla coalition.

• 15 mins

William J Brennan and David Souter

How does the a new judge become appointed to the Supreme Court?

• 15 mins

NYC's new immigrants

New immigrants to New York City in 1990 and the languages they speak.

• 15 mins