"Sexual behavior was also generally considered off limits"
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Roger Mudd evokes the unwritten code that once governed American journalism, especially political reporting. For much of the mid-20th century, reporters drew a sharp line between a public figure’s official actions and private life, and sexual conduct fell firmly on the private side. The norm rested on a mix of deference to institutions, limited competition among news outlets, and a cultural ethic that prized decorum over exposure. It also depended on access: reporters traveled with politicians, shared meals, and operated in a clubby environment where trust and reciprocal restraint shaped coverage.
The small but telling word also suggests sexual behavior was one item in a larger set of off-limits topics that included health problems, family issues, and personal habits. Franklin Roosevelt’s disability and John F. Kennedy’s affairs are often cited examples of matters that the press largely kept from public scrutiny. The prevailing view held that only actions that directly affected governance merited reporting; the rest belonged to a zone of privacy that even powerful figures were thought to deserve.
By the late 1960s and 1970s, that consensus eroded. Vietnam and Watergate hardened a watchdog ethos; new technologies and competitors rewarded aggressiveness; and shifting social mores invited franker discussions of sex and power. The Gary Hart scandal in 1987 marked a pivot, signaling that sexual behavior could be relevant to judgment, honesty, and vulnerability to compromise. The Clinton-Lewinsky saga cemented the idea that private conduct can intersect with public trust.
Mudd’s observation points to trade-offs. The older restraint protected dignity but also shielded hypocrisy and abuse, especially by powerful men, leaving victims unheard and voters less informed. The newer scrutiny can deter misconduct and expose character, but it also risks voyeurism and the conflation of prurience with public interest. What counts as news has always reflected a bargain between press, power, and the public; the line Mudd describes shows how that bargain changes with culture, technology, and trust.
The small but telling word also suggests sexual behavior was one item in a larger set of off-limits topics that included health problems, family issues, and personal habits. Franklin Roosevelt’s disability and John F. Kennedy’s affairs are often cited examples of matters that the press largely kept from public scrutiny. The prevailing view held that only actions that directly affected governance merited reporting; the rest belonged to a zone of privacy that even powerful figures were thought to deserve.
By the late 1960s and 1970s, that consensus eroded. Vietnam and Watergate hardened a watchdog ethos; new technologies and competitors rewarded aggressiveness; and shifting social mores invited franker discussions of sex and power. The Gary Hart scandal in 1987 marked a pivot, signaling that sexual behavior could be relevant to judgment, honesty, and vulnerability to compromise. The Clinton-Lewinsky saga cemented the idea that private conduct can intersect with public trust.
Mudd’s observation points to trade-offs. The older restraint protected dignity but also shielded hypocrisy and abuse, especially by powerful men, leaving victims unheard and voters less informed. The newer scrutiny can deter misconduct and expose character, but it also risks voyeurism and the conflation of prurience with public interest. What counts as news has always reflected a bargain between press, power, and the public; the line Mudd describes shows how that bargain changes with culture, technology, and trust.
Quote Details
| Topic | Respect |
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