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Years before Twitter, Fox News, or reality TV, Donald Trump became a public figure through his presence in tabloid media. Much of that focused on sex and spectacle, but early tabloid coverage of Trump was also surprisingly political, with speculation about a possible presidential campaign beginning as early as 1987. Although that coverage has been largely overlooked, this study reveals that tabloid media played a central role in building the foundations of Trump's political identity. It tracks the early articulation of the Trump character and its simultaneous politicization within a media space outside the ostensibly legitimate arena of institutional public-affairs journalism. In so doing, it reveals the deeper contours of an imagined political world in which a Trump presidency could be conceivable in the first instance—a political imaginary adjacent to the deep assumptions of liberal Democracy, and therefore long invisible to most serious observers of presidential politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Jimmy Carter's difficulties retaining the support of American Catholics during his campaign for the presidency in 1976. According to the article, Carter's public activity and words about his status as a Southern Baptist layman created suspicion among Catholic voters as did Carter's perceived disrespect and lack of attention to the concerns of Catholics on issues such as abortion and state aid to parochial schools. Carter's public stances and the official Democratic party platform of 1976 are analyzed with regard to Catholic support. The article details how Democratic Party adviser Adam Walinsky identified and attempted to solve the problem and also discusses Carter's relationship with Catholics and evangelicals during his presidency.

The article explores the relationship between mental illness and tobacco addition by considering historic sources which link cigarette smoking to patients in psychiatric hospitals in the U.S. in the 20th century. It considers consumers' letters written to tobacco companies, focusing particularly on those written by people identifying themselves as being mentally ill between circa 1970 and 2000. Other subjects considered include health hazards associated with cigarette smoking, government regulations regarding smoking, and the response of the tobacco industry to letters written by consumers.

The article explores the political aspects of troop withdrawals during the Vietnam War. The author reflects on the policy of Vietnamization followed by U.S. president Richard Nixon. Emphasis is given to the idea of leverage of the U.S. president over the allied governments of South Vietnam and Iraq by balancing U.S. commitment with political changes and incentives. The idea of U.S. influence is analyzed in the context of the pace of withdrawal of forces. Other topics include regime change, the reliability of U.S. influence, and public support for war.

The article discusses the role of U.S. television journalism in the Vietnam War and the military policy of president Richard M. Nixon. The author reflects on accusations from Nixon against journalists that they focused on defeat and did not attribute withdrawal of forces to his policy of Vietnamization. Emphasis is given to Nixon's efforts to use the medium of television to influence public attitudes on the war. Other topics include support for the antiwar movement, public opinion polls, and military leadership.

The article discusses the relationship between photography and the Vietnam War. Particular attention is given to the author's experiences serving in Vietnam, the relationship between U.S. soldiers and the local people, as well as the affect of the photography taken during the war on American culture. A review of the author's personal life and military career is offered. The article discusses the author's decision to return to Vietnam after the war as a means of healing, as well as his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder after the War.

Explores the transition to capitalism in the northeastern U.S. during the late 1970s. Description of the economic condition of the country; Relationship between farmers, merchants and manufacturers; Overview of literary works on family and community behavior; Use of economic theory in historical writing.