JFK and Television
John F. Kennedy was the first president to use the new medium of television to speak directly to the American people. No other president had conducted live televised press conferences without delay or editing. By the time of his death in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, JFK had held 64 news conferences, an average of one every 16 days.“The fact of the matter is that . . . when President Kennedy started televised press conferences there were only three or four newspapers in the entire United States that carried a full transcript of a presidential press conference. Therefore, what people read was a distillation…We thought that they should have the opportunity to see it in full.”
—Pierre Salinger (1925-2004), JFK’s press secretary (See JFK Library.)
Alert WORDster Jeff Unger wonders how many press conferences George W. Bush has held during his presidency. Me, too. Don’t have a definitive answer yet, but see below....
LATimes • September 18, 2008
Countdown to Crawford:
Tracking the final days of the Bush administration
It has been two months and three days since President Bush has held a full-scale press conference.
Since then, both major political parties have named their candidates to replace him, his administration has embarked on the sort of corporate bailouts that are anathema to Republican philosophy, stocks have spiraled downward, and hurricanes have lashed the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino notes that Bush has taken a couple of questions from reporters here and there since that July 15 news conference.
“I’m sure he misses you all greatly,” she said Wednesday, offering a sure signal that a press conference was not imminent. (More)
~ ~ ~ ~
The Christian Science Monitor reported in August 2003 that Bush43 had held 9 press conferences during his first term, compared to Clinton’s 33 and Bush41’s 61 over the same period:
“Like most American presidents, Bush has had a testy relationship with the fourth estate. For him, that’s played out in holding few full-corps press conferences (as distinct from quick Q and A’s after photo ops, or joint sessions with foreign leaders). At this point in his presidency, Bill Clinton had held 33 solo press conferences; the first President Bush, 61. Wednesday’s gathering was this president's ninth.” (More)
Anyone with more info, please post.
PS: Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Alert WORDster Jeff Unger wonders how many press conferences George W. Bush has held during his presidency. Me, too. Don’t have a definitive answer yet, but see below....
LATimes • September 18, 2008
Countdown to Crawford:
Tracking the final days of the Bush administration
It has been two months and three days since President Bush has held a full-scale press conference.
Since then, both major political parties have named their candidates to replace him, his administration has embarked on the sort of corporate bailouts that are anathema to Republican philosophy, stocks have spiraled downward, and hurricanes have lashed the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino notes that Bush has taken a couple of questions from reporters here and there since that July 15 news conference.
“I’m sure he misses you all greatly,” she said Wednesday, offering a sure signal that a press conference was not imminent. (More)
~ ~ ~ ~
The Christian Science Monitor reported in August 2003 that Bush43 had held 9 press conferences during his first term, compared to Clinton’s 33 and Bush41’s 61 over the same period:
“Like most American presidents, Bush has had a testy relationship with the fourth estate. For him, that’s played out in holding few full-corps press conferences (as distinct from quick Q and A’s after photo ops, or joint sessions with foreign leaders). At this point in his presidency, Bill Clinton had held 33 solo press conferences; the first President Bush, 61. Wednesday’s gathering was this president's ninth.” (More)
Anyone with more info, please post.
Tony observes:
ReplyDeleteAny bright person with important information to impart would welcome the opportunity to have a press conference. A good president might spend a half-hour every morning or afternoon answering questions…to clarify issues for the country.