This work investigates the evolving and often contentious relationship between the American press and the executive branch of the United States government. Howard Everett Smith, drawing upon historical records and journalistic accounts, examines how media scrutiny has shaped presidential administrations and public perception from the colonial era through the late twentieth century. The text argues that the tension between transparency and executive power is a foundational element of American democracy.

Experts recognize this text as a useful historical survey for understanding the origins of modern political reporting. Readers frequently note the accessible prose style, which makes complex historical developments clear for a general audience.