In the last of his essays reflecting on America's search for meaning, James Naughtie recalls a meeting a year ago with General Michael Hayden - the former head of the CIA - who, without fanfare, expressed concern for the future of US Democracy.

'I don’t know that we’ll come through this,’ he said. ‘Right now I think it’s about 50-50.’

James reflects on past presidents, such as Jimmy Carter, and his dedication to the promotion and protection of democracy around the world, and compares it to the present, as we enter the final days of the 2024 campaign.

What might a tight result might mean in the coming months? 'The system will be on trial,' he writes, recalling the legal battles over the 'hanging chads' of 2000 in which the fate of the nation was decided on just 537 votes.

Producer: Sheila Cook Sound: Peter Bosher Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith