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'Very Deep Distrust'

Bagdikian goes even
further, saying, "All the
accounts of taking over the
bureaucracy are a show of this
very deep distrust, if not
hatred for it. It also shows a
very deep distrust of the
Eastern seaboard, where the
strength of their opponents has
always been."

The press, he feels, is seen
as part of, "this old system of
radical, liberal, doctrinaire,
anti-conservative, anti-middle
American government."

"Now he has a tremendous
backing in the Presidency from
the country at large which
convinces him that he is right
because people agree with him.
But of course the
Congressional elections don't
reflect that."

"It's unclear yet,"
Bagdikian ventures, "Whether
people really accept the view
of Nixon and his ideas about
what the social values of the
country are and should be."

Regardless of what political
persuasion one has, the current
intrusion against the media
cannot be easily rationalized.
The attack challenges all
factions of the media, not just
one segment.

The battle promises to leave
permanent scars on the First
Amendment, and all those who
are protected under it.
Extensive legal means, such as
those being employed now,
will be difficult to erase or
reverse. Freedom of the press is
one of the fragile rights that
are easily abused but difficult
to defend. Nevertheless it is a
protection that must be
zealously guarded because in
the end, it is the public that
loses, not the networks or the
press.