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Americanisms

Translating American words across the Atlantic, how English language changes over time.

• 15 mins

John Glenn and the presidency

Senator John Glenn tries for the Democrat nomination in the presidential race.

• 14 mins

Smiley Ratliff's escape bid, 1984

American millionaire Smiley Ratliff tries to buy Pacific island to get away from it all.

• 14 mins

'Where's the beef?'

Ad campaign slogan becomes a political statement.

• 14 mins

No school prayers

School prayers amendment fails to win Senate approval.

• 14 mins

Holiday in San Francisco

Cooke visits San Francisco, his honeymoon destination during the Alcatraz mutiny of 1946.

• 15 mins

Argentina bailed out

Emergency package helps Argentine avoid default on loans.

• 14 mins

CIA mines Nicaragua ports

Reagan snubs claims that CIA mined Nicaraguan ports.

• 14 mins

Ed Meese investigation

Reagan's chosen attorney general, Ed Meese, to be investigated by special prosecutor.

• 14 mins

Tougher smoking warnings

Tougher health warnings to be used on cigarette packaging.

• 14 mins

Beware stereotypes, 1984

Relying on our ideas about stereotypes can cause misunderstandings.

• 14 mins

Democrat prospects dim

Democrat in-fighting has weakened the party's chances.

• 14 mins

D-Day anniversary

American view of the D-Day 40th anniversary.

• 14 mins

Misleading headlines

Newspapers mislead readers over support for Reagan's policies.

• 14 mins

Jesse Jackson in Cuba

Jesse Jackson meets Fidel Castro in Cuba and negotiates the release of 22 US prisoners.

• 15 mins

Rise in drinking age

President backs raising drinking age to 21 in all states.

• 14 mins

Convention histories

When political conventions used to be full of surprises.

• 14 mins

Reporting party conventions

The dramatic 1940 Republican Convention where outsider Wendell Wilkie beat the favourite.

• 15 mins

Ferrero nominated

Geraldine Ferraro is Democrats' choice for vice-president nomination.

• 14 mins

Fishing for votes

Candidates' fishing skills can win votes.

• 14 mins

James Mason remembered, 1984

The actor I wouldn't give a part to - James Mason remembered.

• 14 mins

Republicans head for Texas

Dallas prepares for the Republican convention.

• 14 mins

Alfred Knopf (1892-1984)

The life of Alfred Knopf, "simply the best publisher of the twentieth century".

• 15 mins

Car workers to strike

Workers who took pay cuts to help ailing car industry to strike as profits rise.

• 14 mins

Mondale gets mad

Presidential hopeful Mondale gets fighting mad in the campaign.

• 14 mins

Oklahoma ends liquor ban

Last state to end prohibition will now allow liquor to be openly sold.

• 14 mins

Reagan meets Gromyko

First face-to-face meeting between President Reagan and top Soviet leader Gromyko.

• 14 mins

Gangsters in Chicago

Mafia involvement in alcohol during prohibition and in the heroin trade today.

• 15 mins

Old Man Reagan, 1984

How President Reagan's advanced age of 73 has affected the 1984 election debate.

• 15 mins

Political TV commercials

Selling politics in a 30-second TV advertising slot.

• 14 mins