The Press: The Pendulum Problem

The Ford Administration was only a few weeks old when Columnist William Shannon, writing in [More], found the White House-press honeymoon distressing; reporters, he said, should be more like a nagging collective mother-in-law than an affectionate spouse. Then Columnist George Will challenged the "English muffin theory of history"—a gibe at the overly generous play given Gerald Ford's staged self-service breakfast. Now the Los Angeles Times, with less humor but far more depth, has examined coverage of Ford and also found it wanting.

The Times analysis, by Reporter David Shaw, was a highly unusual enterprise. The article started at the top of...

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