Barry, Dave, others in the media: Do you recall how Iowa and national media and political leaders responded to his attack on the media? Did anyone note or ask how attacks on media is a common tactic in authoritarian or communist countries. Or were people just hoping this strike on the media/press would just disappear, esp. after Agnew's own disappearance from public life. Looking back, wasn't Agnew's speech a warning light, just like Pres. Reagans' attack on govt an early warning sign of lessening all value of govt, which also was poorly responded to... Thanks for the column...
They reacted mostly with shock and defensiveness. Walter Cronkite responded directly, on journalistic grounds, but no one made the connection between Agnew’s speech and what authoritarians routinely do, as I recall.
It was mostly a defense of a free press, although the head of one TV network responded that Agnew’s remarks could be interpreted as antisemitic.
This was all brand new territory at the time. Journalists generally preferred to cover the story, rather than be part of it, so they had to first find their “sea legs” for fighting with a Vice President. Politicians, as I recall, didn’t have much of a response.. I’m guessing they figured they didn’t have a dog in this fight and the press and administration could fight this one out without them.
Barry, did he use the “nattering nabobs” line in his DSM speech, or only later at the convention? I was always of the understanding the line came from his speech at the Hotel Ft. DSM.
No, he did not use that phrase in his Des Moines speech. Agnew was becoming famous at that point for his use of alliteration in insulting people, but I don’t recall that he even had any of that in his speech in Des Moines.
Great post!
Thanks, John!
Barry, Dave, others in the media: Do you recall how Iowa and national media and political leaders responded to his attack on the media? Did anyone note or ask how attacks on media is a common tactic in authoritarian or communist countries. Or were people just hoping this strike on the media/press would just disappear, esp. after Agnew's own disappearance from public life. Looking back, wasn't Agnew's speech a warning light, just like Pres. Reagans' attack on govt an early warning sign of lessening all value of govt, which also was poorly responded to... Thanks for the column...
They reacted mostly with shock and defensiveness. Walter Cronkite responded directly, on journalistic grounds, but no one made the connection between Agnew’s speech and what authoritarians routinely do, as I recall.
It was mostly a defense of a free press, although the head of one TV network responded that Agnew’s remarks could be interpreted as antisemitic.
This was all brand new territory at the time. Journalists generally preferred to cover the story, rather than be part of it, so they had to first find their “sea legs” for fighting with a Vice President. Politicians, as I recall, didn’t have much of a response.. I’m guessing they figured they didn’t have a dog in this fight and the press and administration could fight this one out without them.
Barry, your comments are quite insightful. Reminds me of how the media treated Trump in 2016
Barry, did he use the “nattering nabobs” line in his DSM speech, or only later at the convention? I was always of the understanding the line came from his speech at the Hotel Ft. DSM.
No, he did not use that phrase in his Des Moines speech. Agnew was becoming famous at that point for his use of alliteration in insulting people, but I don’t recall that he even had any of that in his speech in Des Moines.