Fireside Politics: Radio and Political Culture in the United States, 1920-1940

by Douglas B. Craig

Overview

An “impressively researched and useful study” of the golden age of radio and its role in American democracy (Journal of American History).

In Fireside Politics, Douglas B. Craig provides the first detailed and complete examination of radio’s changing role in American political culture between 1920 and 1940—the medium’s golden age, when it commanded huge national audiences without competition from television.

Craig follows the evolution of radio into a commercialized, networked, and regulated industry, and ultimately into an essential tool for winning political campaigns and shaping American identity in the interwar period. Finally, he draws thoughtful comparisons of the American experience of radio broadcasting and political culture with those of Australia, Britain, and Canada.

“The best general study yet published on the development of radio broadcasting during this crucial period when key institutional and social patterns were established.” ?Technology and Culture

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801875120
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	02/03/2022
Series:	Reconfiguring American Political History
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	396
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Douglas B. Craig is a reader in history at the Australian National University. He is the author of After Wilson: The Struggle for the Democratic Party, 1920–1934.

Table of Contents

List of Maps, Illustrations, Figures, and Tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Abbreviations
Part I: Making the Medium, 1895-1940
1. The Radio Age: The Growth of Radio Broadcasting, 1895–1940
2. Radio Advertising and Networks
3. Regulatory Models and the Radio Act of 1927
4. The Federal Radio Commission, 1927–1934
5. A New Deal for Radio? The Communications Act of 1934
6. The Federal Communications Commission and Radio, 1934–1940
Part II: Radio and the Business of Politics, 1920-1940
7. The Sellers: Stations, Networks, and Political Broadcasting
8. The Buyers: National Parties, Candidates, and Radio
9. The Product: Radio Politics and Campaigning
10. The Consumer: Radio, Audiences, and Voters
Part III: Radio and Citizenship, 1920–1940
11. Radio and the Problem of Citizenship
12. Radio at the Margins: Broadcasting and the Limits of Citizenship
13. Radio and the Politics of Good Taste
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Craig (history, Australian National U.) explores radio's influence on how Americans conducted public business and conceived of their community during the golden age of radio. Using diverse sources, he traces the evolution of radio into a commercialized, networked, and regulated industry; describes how the two major parties used the new medium in national contests; explores interwar notions of citizenship and good taste and their effect on radio broadcasting; and compares the American experience with that of Australia, Britain, and Canada. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

An impressively researched and useful study . . . Craig subtly winds his interpretive, critical thread of the unfulfilled promise of radio as an engine of a more expansive democracy into a larger narrative about the institutional and ideological sway of commercial radio interests.
—Brett Gary, Journal of American History

Douglas Craig's main goal was to write a political history of radio broadcasting in the United States before World War II; however, he has also succeeded in producing the best general study yet published on the development of radio broadcasting during this crucial period when key institutional and social patterns were established.
—Hugh R. Slotten, Technology and Culture

Fireside Politics is the most complete study so far of the interactions between broadcasting and the U.S. political system during the 'golden age' of radio . . . Likely to become a leading reference in continuing discussions over communication history, technology, and democracy.
—Stephen Ponder, H-Pol, H-Net Reviews

A fascinating study making good use of archival material as well as prior research.
—CBQ

From the Publisher

An impressively researched and useful study . . . Craig subtly winds his interpretive, critical thread of the unfulfilled promise of radio as an engine of a more expansive democracy into a larger narrative about the institutional and ideological sway of commercial radio interests.

Journal of American History - Brett Gary

Fireside Politics is the most complete study so far of the interactions between broadcasting and the U.S. political system during the 'golden age' of radio . . . Likely to become a leading reference in continuing discussions over communication history, technology, and democracy.

H-Pol, H-Net Reviews - Stephen Ponder

A fascinating study making good use of archival material as well as prior research.

CBQ

Douglas Craig's main goal was to write a political history of radio broadcasting in the United States before World War II; however, he has also succeeded in producing the best general study yet published on the development of radio broadcasting during this crucial period when key institutional and social patterns were established.

Technology and Culture - Hugh R. Slotten

Douglas Craig's main goal was to write a political history of radio broadcasting in the United States before World War II; however, he has also succeeded in producing the best general study yet published on the development of radio broadcasting during this crucial period when key institutional and social patterns were established.

— Hugh R. Slotten

Technology and Culture

An impressively researched and useful study... Craig subtly winds his interpretive, critical thread of the unfulfilled promise of radio as an engine of a more expansive democracy into a larger narrative about the institutional and ideological sway of commercial radio interests.

— Brett Gary

Journal of American History