Media Bias: 1932-1952

When did the media drift so far in one direction to the point of practically coordinating with the Obama campaign? There has always been a bias. However, it was not always right-left. Prior to the rise of the neo-left, it was establishment vs. anti-establishment. Then, came Johnson and Nixon. At that point, things changed.

First off, let’s separate the print media from the electronic media. The newspapers were pretty even and maybe even leaned Republican for a long time. When FDR ran for re-election in 1936, the newspapers overwhelmingly endorsed his opponent, Alf Landon. However, the electronic media was in love with FDR and his wife.

FDR posed a stark contrast to President Hoover. Hoover was an engineer, bureaucrat, and hero from World War I. His dour personality and seeming ineffectiveness made him an easy target. FDR promised a New Deal and had an outgoing, friendly personality. Most importantly for the press, Roosevelt was East Coast establishment while Hoover came from Iowa and went to Stanford. Roosevelt's pedigree and charm made the press believers. Then came some high school graduate and failed businessman from Missouri.

Once Truman assumed the presidency, it was open season. Truman was not an east coast elite. He was an interloper from Missouri. The press attacked him and campaigned for New York governor Thomas Dewey (whom they opposed in 1944). Truman beat Dewey and the press continued to hound Truman. The Republicans picked up on the anti-administration themes for the 1952 campaign.