Quotes from William J. Lederer

McCarthy succeeded because he discovered and made full use of a tradition of American journalism—that most newpapermen report the news 'straight.' This means that if a prominent person says something sensational—even if untrue—the press normally will report the statement exactly as spoken ... The press simply acts as a mirror.

Old men are perhaps the most polished diplomats but youth changes the world.

The cult of government secrecy is growing. ¶ The practice has become so widespread and routine that, according to testimony given before the House government information sub-committee, more than a million Federal employees are empowered to classify information. This means that one out of every 180 Americans is stamping the word 'secret' on papers.

The bureaucrat has become a self-styled sacred person; and the common man is blocked from finding out what the bureaucrats are doing, let alone controlling them.

There are twice as many governmental public-relations men in Washington as there are journalists.