Revolutionary Sparks

Book excerpt: Margaret Blanchard has had experience as a newspaper reporter as well as a teacher of journalism. Her book is a broad-gauged discussion of freedom of expression in America - that is, the right of Americans to speak their minds and to have access to a variety of information necessary for informed self-government. Subjects discussed range from questions of national security to those of public morality, from loyalty during times of national stress to the right to preach on a public street corner. The book also includes controversies involving the press, the national government, the Supreme Court, and civil liberties and civil rights concerns. Many famous incidents and doctrines will be discussed, including Watergate and secrecy in government.