Charles Lindbergh was —for a while — the type of national hero we don't seem to have anymore. Millions of Americans followed the story of his 1927 flight across the Atlantic. He was, of course, the first pilot to succeed in making that journey and the country idolized him for it.
And then tragedy struck. In 1932, Lindbergh's 20 month-old-son was kidnapped from the family home. Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the story did not have a happy ending. Lindbergh's son was killed.
The press coverage of all of this was intense-- and when you hear about it you realize that not much has changed since then. The issue of cameras in the courtroom was contentious then as it is today. There was also debate and controversy then as now about how new media reported on the trial. Back then new media was radio and newsreels. Today new media is podcasts and you tubers
To get a perspective on all of this we spoke with Thomas Doherty, the author of LIttle Lindy is Kidnapped: How the Media Covered the Crime of the Century. It is a terrific book.
Here's a link: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/little-lindy-is-kidnapped/9780231198486
In our conversation, we will cover the crime and the trial — and also how it has reverberated in ways you may not expect. It has even snuck in an appearance on a popular book you may have read as a child.
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