This study compares the press relations of two presidents, Martin Van Buren and Calvin Coolidge. These two lesser studied presidents were selected because of the differences in the historical periods of their lives, presidencies and press coverage. Two newspapers were selected for each president, representing opposing political viewpoints on the incumbent — New York Evening Post and Boston Evening Transcript for Van Buren; Boston Globe and The New York Times for Coolidge. News stories and editorials surrounding specific significant events in both administrations were studied — the election of 1836, the Panic of 1837, and the election of 1840 for Van Buren; Coolidge’s succession after Harding’s death and the election of 1924 for Coolidge. Findings revealed Van Buren’s failure to cultivate favorable press coverage, even with the partisan press that supported him, while Coolidge carefully cultivated a strong working relationship with the Washington press corps, resulting in positive coverage.
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