Becoming Citizens in the Age of Television: How Americans Challenged the Media and Seized Political Initiative During the Iran-Contra Debate

by David Thelen

Book Overview

An inspired, original argument about the nature of democracy in American society, Becoming Citizens in the Age of Television explores a political process out of touch with everyday needs and concerns of citizens. Instead of focusing on polls and election results, historian David Thelen listens to Americans through their calls and letters to congressmen in which citizens define for themselves the issues they want to raise and the ways they want...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226794717
• ISBN13: 9780226794716
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

An excellent and rigourous take on public opinion.

This book is an excellent piece of scholarship. There was an ncredible amount of hype on all sides of the Iran-Contra scandal, but, with sound methodology and incredible research of letters sent to congressmembers, he seeks to reclaim the American voice during the period. He skewers Olliemania and Reagan's teflon coating, but only as the facts present it, and gives a wide array of opinion. This book is necessary for any good study of the period.