In response to the July 5 editorial cartoon, regarding Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Donald Trump, and the press, I suggest the editors read “Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism” by Eric Burns.
“Infamous scribblers” is what George Washington called the press of his time. They were savaging him, making up stories, deliberately misrepresenting him, slanting their coverage. Remember, this is George Washington, the father of this country. When he complained, Jefferson said, “Nothing can now be believed which is seen in the newspaper.” On another occasion he said, “Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle.”
Yet, as vice president he’d leave reports on his desk, and his partner in crime, Philip Freneau, would sneak into the office, using a key Jefferson gave him, copy the reports, and publish such of them as would portray Washington in a bad light. It was “scorched earth journalism.”
Washington never publicly struck back at these scribblers; that was just him. Other presidents have acted differently. Among them is Trump — when he gets hit, he hits back, and that’s just him. None of his hitting back has anything to do with censoring a free press. If you’re going to dish it out, you better be ready to take it.
I say, “Go Trump.”
