Anonymously? Not so.
In 1791, Jefferson and Madison needed an anti-administration newspaper for a nationwide audience. They sought out Philip Freneau, an old college friend of Madison's. The Virginians arranged financial backing, found ready subscribers and arranged a federal subsidy to help underwrite Freneau's attacks on the government via the National Gazette.
Freneau did not launch any attacks immediately. Instead, showing good business and political sense, he spent three months building a reputation for his paper as a fair and thorough purveyor of the news. Madison wrote a series of unsigned opinion pieces treating a variety of subjects in a dispassionate way.
His reputation established, Freneau published more of Madison. With each issue, the paper grew more extreme, repeating and building upon the theme that Hamilton aspired to establish monarchy, aristocracy, plutocracy and corruption.
But professor, you knew all of this right?
Actually, I didn’t. (I’m starting to think of Fox News.) Did Freneau’s readers know that Madison was writing this material?
That sounds just like the business plan for Politico.
-PJ
FR’s finest. Where do these educators/historians/patriots come from? The attention to the details of the republic’s founding is mind-boggling.
May your families and friends have a blessed Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year. The education has been greatly appreciated. Thanks Jacquerie. Thanks Publius. Thanks to every contributor to their fantastic threads.
Thanks for providing the REST of the story!
There is nothing new under the sun. Whatever media you cite, it is always biased for someone or something.