CLASH: Presidents and the Press in Times of Crisis
CLASH: Presidents and the Press in Times of Crisis by Jon Marshall (no, not the Supreme Court Justice) is one of the most accessible and readable books I have read this year. Marshall does a spectacular job of weaving together contemporary issues, historical sources, and narrative history to create a work that is both engaging and detailed. Marshall takes the reader on a journey through some of the most important United States Presidents and analyzes how each of them dealt with the press. But then, furthermore, he addresses how the press influenced the Presidency. For example, while Abraham Lincoln might be known today as the “Great Emancipator” he did not begin his presidency with that in mind. Rather, it was the persistent influence of the abolitionist press that slowly, over time, pushed Lincoln to change his opinion. This is only one example of the kind of engaging argument you find in Marshall’s book.
Many of the books I review are for your history purists - people who, like me, digest tens or hundreds of works of history per year. While certainly, the history buff will love this book, it is also accessible to anyone without a background in history and who is looking for something more contemporary.
I simply could not recommend this book enough.
Score: 5/5