University of Virginia Library

Johnson Raps Nixon

Federal Communications
Commissioner Nicholas Johnson
Sunday accused President Nixon of
exercising "government by
television."

"President Nixon has
demonstrated perhaps the most
extreme case of government by
television we have seen since the
little screen exploded in our midst
as a political phenomenon," Mr.
Johnson said.

"The administration has made it
clear that, at least for certain
purposes. It considers private
television programming as an arm
of the government's public
information efforts."

"What might not have been
expected...is the full breadth and
intensity of this administrations'
efforts to turn television to its
advantage."