history of vitriol in politics in US

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/01/10/history-lesson-political-rhetoric/

and more

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703667904576071913818696964.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

and more

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703667904576072840602094576.html

when did the political stuff hit the fan

The sheriff mentioned at the link seems to think political vitriol started recently. I think not. I remember the 1960s esp. the 1964 presidential campaign. I also remember the 1950s and the black list.

I just spreads faster due to the proliferation of channels of communication.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/09/pima-county-sheriff-sets-debate-price-free-speech/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Internal+-+Politics+-+Text%29