The Radio Right

Investigations of the fairness doctrine tend to focus on two periods: (1) 1943–1949, from the Mayflower decision of the Federal Communications Commission (Fcc) banning broadcast editorials to the promulgation of the fairness doctrine setting out rules for editorializing; and (2) 1983–1987, from Senator Robert Packwood's formation of the Freedom of Expression Foundation, of which I was president, to the suspension of the fairness doctrine. Paul Matzko's well-written revisionist The Radio Right fills the gap in between. Matzko rewards us with new findings that reveal the chilling effect of the doctrine. He begins with Attorney General Robert Kennedy's weaponizing of the doctrine based on a memo by Victor Reuther (United Auto Workers Walter Reuther's brother) that laid out ways the Internal Revenue Service and the Fcc could suppress conservative programming and broadcasters. The Democratic National Committee (Dnc) used front organizations and individuals to file complaints against conservative

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