My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Press has power. Can it be too much? Or is it needed to offset governmental power? We look at some interesting, powerful, and at times problematic press people. The renegade Grant critic Don Piatt, the FDR basher McCormick, Seward's pain and Lincoln's booster Medill, and the man who ran for President, Horace Greeley.

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TV technology arrives on the scene half press and half novelty. Politicians learn they can bring messages on at times that won't be critiqued. Yet twice, in big historic moments, the TV industry realizes it has to stop simply covering and speak for itself. These moments rare but pack a punch. Also, Kennedy, LBJ and their relationship with television and magazines. Mutual dependence and communications. Favors and frustration.

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The Battle of Chancellorsville. The Union has got the Confederates in their sights. But not for long. All the while, a reporter named Whitelaw Reid is tracking events. He's been kicked out of the coverage pool by the Union Army but that won't stop him. He rents a boat. And his readers love him for it.

He won't hold back his opinions, especially about President Lincoln. Not because he's against the cause, because Reid is very much for it. Reid does not truck this idea of being objective. His readers love him for that, too.

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Eisenhower gets irritated. Lincoln finds a friend. Theodore Roosevelt seeks the truth at lunch. Madison sees talent. Greeley won't miss his dinner, despite the riots.

And a man has a simple plan. He'll make a newspaper that won't dirty your table.

Part One of Our Mediated Republic: a series on media in America and its role in creating political power.

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It went by fast! Show update. We've reached a milestone. And a few things you can do if you are interested.
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