John Adams and the American Press: Politics and Journalism at the Birth of the Republic

This interesting study of the early American press and President John Adams first discusses the fourth estate's treatment of President George Washington. The newspapers of the day, alien in both form and content to today's publications, are also covered. The confrontational relationship between Adams and editors is examined, focusing on the President's personality, the "honeymoon" at the beginning of his administration, the increasing politicization of editorial scrutiny, and the role of the press in Adams' close electoral defeat by Thomas Jefferson. Using Adams' voluminous correspondence, an analysis of his own views of press coverage concludes the work.