Lewis Lapham began his long, distinguished tenure as editor of Harper's Magazine in 1971, having worked previously for the San Francisco Examiner and New York Herald Tribune. His books include Money and Class in America, Hotel America, and Waiting for the Barbarians; his book, Fortune's Child, prompted the New York Times to liken him to H. L. Mencken, and Tom Wolfe to compare him to Montaigne. In 1995 he received the National Magazine Award for his Harper's column, "Notebook." Gag Rule addresses what Lapham perceives as the consolidation of power by an oligarchy comprised of the current administration, big business, and the mainstream media.