Prologue to a farce: communication and democracy in America

Pt. I. Communications and democracy in America

1. challenge of American democracy

2. role of communications in the democratic experiment

Pt. II. brief history of U.S. communications policy

3. break : the telegraph from Jackson to Hayes (1830-1876)

4. telephone and the trusts (1876-1900)

5. From Roosevelt to Roosevelt : wireless and radio (1900-1934)

6. From Truman to Eisenhower : the birth of television (1935-1959)

7. Kennedy, Johnson, and satellites (1960-1968)

8. From Nixon to Reagan : backlash and cable (1968-1991)

9. Internet : communications policy in the Clinton era (1992-2000)

10. end of history

Pt. III. Reclaiming our republic

11. few lessons

12. Reclaiming our republic.