Campaign sees Carter's support slipping as independent voters switch to Reagan.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Polls will chart Carter's performance in TV debate while the other two candidates both claim victory.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

US car makers to concentrate on making smaller cars as sale of thrifty foreign imports boom.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Three-way TV debate for presidential candidates could leave Carter at a disadvantage.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

America's lead in the technological revolution has been lost during the past thirty years as Europe and the Far East steam ahead.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Surprise swing of Republican voting in favour of the cold north over energy assistance bill.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Why size matters when it comes to vote-counting by the US Electoral College.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Edward Kennedy makes the best speech of his career at the Democratic Party conference, after losing his challenge for the party's nomination to incumbent President Jimmy Carter.

Cooke looks back at his own coverage of previous Democratic nomination campaigns including Truman and Dewey in 1948; and the current battle between Jimmy Carter and Edward Kennedy.

Democrat convention faces disarray over lowest-ever popularity ratings by sitting President Carter.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.