Alistair Cooke - A Daughter Remembers

A few days ago, Geo and I had the opportunity to hear Susan Cooke Kittredge give a presentation about her father Alistair Cooke.

Alistair Cooke was a long time distinguished British journalist and broadcaster for the BBC. He was especially known for recording Letters from America, weekly accounts of life and politics in the United States. He completed 2,869 editions over nearly fifty-eight years. What I recall about him is that he was the host of Masterpiece Theater on PBS television.

Susan recalls that when she was growing up, her father had talked about the time he spent with actors Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard in California. He said he even had a home movie from 1933 of being on a yacht with them near Santa Catalina. Susan said her father never showed them this movie. It was only after he had died in 2004 that this film was found buried under books and papers in his study. Susan showed us this fascinating eleven minute film. We saw a very young and dashing Alistair Cooke, a young and handsome Charlie Chaplin, and a very, very young and vivacious Paulette Goddard. A remarkable home movie.

Alistair Cooke had a keen interest in the United States. In fact, he collected books about each of the states. In his apartment in Manhattan, he had these books arranged like a United States map on his bookshelves. For example, the New England states would be in the upper right corner, California on the far left, etc. Quite a unique system!

Susan also spoke about her experience the hours and days following the President John Kennedy assassination. There were two televisions in their apartment. Her father followed the events on one and she in another room on the other. She reported to her Dad what she was hearing while he watched and listened on the other TV. In this way, he put together reports for Great Britain. As a teenager, this was a time when she felt very important, being able to share in her father's work.

Alistair Cooke was in California when Senator Bobby Kennedy was running for President. He was in the hotel in the room adjacent to the kitchen when the Senator was assassinated. He saw him on the kitchen floor; he saw all the turmoil and commotion that followed this horrific event. As a journalist, Alistair Cooke grabbed a napkin and a pencil and began writing what he was witnessing.

In March of 2004, Susan's father died of lung and bone cancer. A memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey. Because he loved jazz, jazz was included in the tribute. This style of music is not generally performed at Westminster Abbey.

The hour Susan spent with us sharing about her father's life went by very quickly. I have since found so much more about Alistair Cooke on the internet. It was a treat to hear her give her perspective on this famous man.