The Evolution Of The White House Spin Machine

Teddy Roosevelt had the first White House Press Secretary. President Obama has the first presidential Twitter account. Historian and Rutgers University professor David Greenberg discusses the evolution of the White House spin machine with Here & Now’s Robin Young.

Greenberg is author of the new book “Republic of Spin: An Inside History Of The American Presidency,” which chronicles how the White House political spin machine began in the era of Teddy Roosevelt, but has grown and changed over the past century. He wonders whether the spinmasters are tearing up their playbooks now that Donald Trump doesn’t seem to follow one.

This conversation was recorded at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Guest

• David Greenberg, author of “Republic of Spin: An Inside History of the American Presidency.” He tweets @republicofspin.

Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.