March 30 (Bloomberg) -- Alistair Cooke, who presented the BBC's ``Letter From America'' for 58 years, has died at 95, the broadcaster said today.

Cooke, who retired earlier this month, was based in New York and had recorded 2,869 editions of the U.S. current affairs and history program, the British Broadcasting Corp. said.

He joined the BBC in 1934 as a film critic. In the 1950s he presented the cultural television show ``Omnibus,'' copies of which were placed in every public library in the U.S. ``America,'' a book of the show, sold 2 million copies, the broadcaster said.

In 1973, Cooke received an honorary knighthood. The following year he addressed the U.S. Congress on its 200th anniversary.

Cooke, born in Salford, northern England in 1908, is survived by his second wife, Jane White.

To contact the reporter on this story: Heather Langan in London at hlangan@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 30, 2004 02:22 EST