In a video conversation with Harry Kreisler, the journalist Tom Wicker, former columnist for The New York Times, discusses the Presidency and the media at the height of the Cold War.

Recognizing the nerd in all of us, Guernica brings you Conversations with History, a video series of interviews with distinguished intellectuals conducted by creator and executive producer Harry Kreisler and produced by the Institute of International Studies at the University of California at Berkeley.

In this week’s episode, Kreisler welcomes Tom Wicker, former “In the Nation” columnist for The New York Times and one of America’s most distinguished journalists, for a discussion of the Presidency and the media at the height of the Cold War. Foreshadowing current criticism of American foreign policy, Wicker highlights its failures through international arrogance, reliance on excessive militarism, and American exceptionalism. He discusses Jimmy Carter’s lack of confidence as a leader and the then-current adventures in Reaganomics and Cold War rhetoric. He concludes with an analysis of the politicized environment and how the press handles the pressure to provide unbiased coverage.

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Harry Kreisler is also the Executive Director of the Institute of International Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. In that role, he shapes, administers, and implements interdisciplinary academic and public affairs programs that analyze global issues.

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Death Doctrine: Reagan’s support of despots and violent insurgencies guaranteed a future of errant, and deadly, U.S. foreign policy. More		The Frugal Superpower: The challenge of the U.S.’s activist foreign policy, including an expensive war on terror, in an age of economic retraction and pending entitlements. More
Robert Reich: The New Tax Deal and Reaganomics Redux: Why the new tax deal is a copy of Reagan’s notorious, and failed, “starve the beast” campaign. More		Obama’s War: How there is only one path for the United States in Afghanistan: withdrawal. More

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