The Origin of Media and Politics

Often Franklin Roosevelt is cited as the first president to effectively use the media as a tool to influence public opinion. But I think that even before Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats, another Roosevelt truly pioneered the use of the media for political capital. It is well established that public support is necessary for the president to effectively execute his will. Abraham Lincoln said, “Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail, without it nothing can succeed.” These precise words ring true today. With public support, a president is able to work effectively, especially with congress.  The respected political scientist George Edwards says,  “A high level of public approval increases the chances of the president receiving support in Congress for his programs” (Edwards).  And when industrialization brought innovation in mass communication, it is obvious that the president would use the new venue to reach a relatively massive number of Americans. Around the turn of the 20^th century, the progressive movement was taking hold of American politics. Theodore Roosevelt had been a champion of progressive reform and it made him a natural choice for the huge population of workers who wanted to see reform. “The growth of newsgathering organizations and newspaper chains made it possible to communicate faster and with more people across the entire nation” and “the advent of yellow journalism, combined with the increased activism of government, generated more interest in the opinions and behavior of public officials, particularly the president.” According to Edwards,  “Theodore Roosevelt, more than any of his predecessors, took advantage of these developments to focus attention on himself, his policies, and his activities. He was the first president to give reporters a room in the White House and the first to hold regular meetings with the press. Using his position as “a bully pulpit,” Roosevelt rallied public support for his positions and proposals.” (Edwards) Roosevelt seized the new tools of mass communication to promote his agenda at an opportune time in history. His charisma and charm combined with his decisiveness and will made him irresistible to the public, who needed a strong leader to fight for their interests. Timing and innovation in mass communication set Roosevelt up to forever change the relationship between the media, the politics, and the people.

Edwards, G., Wayne, S. Presidential Leadership: Politics and Policy Making. 8^th Cengage Wadsworth 2010.