Charles Wheeler died today. A man who did much to shape my view of America, at least before I went there
The BBC also replayed one of Alistair Cooke’s Letters From America this morning, recorded around the time of Bill Clintons first election. How strange to hear the real shock in Cooke's voice at seeing film of Clinton & his friends dressed casually in torn jeans & checked shirts. So different from buttoned down George Bush senior
I remember another broadcast in which he shared his effort to come to terms with a changing world, which must have been broadcast at much the same time – or was it a decade earlier?
New Census results had revealed that Wasps were, or were about to become, just another ethnic minority in New York.
Hearing his voice as he wrestled to come to terms with this astounding revelation was a lesson all by itself
