As Americans head to the polls this week for the Presidential election I take a look back at some of the radio coverage of the 1980 election when Reagan first came to power.
That election took place at a time of
low economic growth and the foreign policy entanglements of the US hostages
held in Iran. Shortly before the election diplomatic moves were underway to
secure the release of the hostages. The first clip is the news headlines from Radio
Luxembourg on 3 November 1980 read by Rob Jones. Clip two is the BBC’s Washington Correspondent at the time was Clive Small, here reporting on the hostage situation and its impact on the election outcome on 4 November 1980.
Election Day itself was 4 November and
the BBC’s coverage started just after midnight on the 5th with Brian Redhead
introducing Countdown to the White House. Than over on Radio 2 broadcasting through
the night from 1 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. was the American
Election Special co-hosted by Sarah Kennedy, taking care of the music, and the
ever-versatile John Dunn, looking after the politics. In this clip John is
joined by Clark Todd.
There's a dip into the international
coverage with William McCrory on Voice of America. The in the early hours of the morning (UK
time) Carter conceded defeat to Reagan. The IRN news bulletin at 3 a.m. is read by Carol Allen.
At 6 a.m. Radio 4 carried an extended edition of Today with John Timpson in New York and Libby Purves in London. In this recording you’ll also hear from BBC correspondents Paul Reynolds, Clive Small and Peter Ruff. Reflecting on the result later that day is Clive Small.
Finally from that evening Radio Moscow’s
World Service seemed to emphasise the low turnout of 53% as against the Soviet
Union’s 100%.
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