The President and the Press: Struggle for Dominance

Abstract

The relationship between the president of the United States and the American press is very much a function of his personal style. President Lyndon B. Johnson never understood the functioning of the press or its role. For him it was just a public relations outlet for whatever individual or group that was astute enough to manipulate the system. His penchant for trying to outwit the press or to "buy" it created problems for him and led to the credibility gap that dogged him to the end. Yet he was a consum mate politician who won his political victories despite his poor relations with the press.