Public Lies in Cold War Washington

At a time when American trust in national journalists is lower than ever, it may be tempting to look back to the 1940s and ‘50s, a time remembered for the objectivity and truthfulness of the nation’s press corps. As it turns out, though, World War II and Cold War-era journalists had plenty of doubts about the goals and methods of their president. They also had very good reasons to allow distortions and lies into their reporting.