A Century of Repression: The Espionage Act and Freedom of the Press,

Abstract

the trust on which journalism—and ultimately democracy—rest (p. 6). Clash will interest journalism and political historians, and it is suitable for assignment to advanced undergraduates and graduate students. By focusing on more recent presidents with more conflictual press relations, Marshall arguably underplays the docility of the Washington press corps, whose coverage has historically been more stenographic than investigative. But this narrower focus is far more digestible than Harold Holzer’s recent tome, The Presidents vs. the Press. In all, Clash is a welcome addition to the canon, and a reminder of why democracy requires a free and vigorous press to hold presidents and other public officials to account.