From Wikipedia

America: A Personal History of the United States is a 13-part television series about the United States and its history, commissioned by the BBC, written and presented by Alistair Cooke, and first broadcast in both the United Kingdom and the United States in 1972. The producer was Michael Gill, who had the idea for the series and chose the presenter. It was followed by a book, Alistair Cooke's America, which sold almost two million copies.

The series was a great success in both countries and won a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA. It also resulted in Cooke's invitation to address the joint Houses of the United States Congress as part of the Bicentennial celebrations. Cooke said that, of all his work, America was what he was most proud of; it is the result and expression of his long love for the country. (Once, asked how long it took him to make the series, Cooke replied "I do not want to be coy, but it took 40 years.")

America
Episode One

The First Impact

Is a personal memoir of Cooke's infatuation with the United States—through early contacts as a child and as a visiting fellow after university—and its effect on his life.