Bridging the Chesapeake: A ‘Fool Idea’ That Unified Maryland
About this ebook
The construction of the bridge took political courage, creative engineering, people working together, and a determination to overcome pettiness. In this detailed history, journalism professor David W. Guth traces the bridges history from its planning to its post-construction effects on the region.
From his boyhood memories of the bridge to the details of its construction, the book also tells the story of the people of Marylandoften referred to as a confederacy of two shores.
The recurring themes during the debate over building the first, the second, and now possibly a third bridge highlight issues confronting all Americans, including social and political equality, the price of unrestrained growth, the role government should play in our lives, and the importance of enlightened and courageous leadership.
While there were unintended consequences that went along with building a bridge to cross the Chesapeake, it began the process of removing social, political, racial, cultural, and economic barriers.
About the author
David W. Guth is an associate professor at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Kansas. Born in Baltimore and raised on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Maryland and a master of arts from the University of North Carolina. His research interests are crisis communication and political communication. Prior to teaching, Guth was a broadcast journalist and a public relations practitioner. His reporting honors include the prestigious Peabody Award. He is the co-author of three public relations textbooks and the award-winning Media Guide for Attorneys.
