I MERELY GIVE MY VIEW AS AN INTERESTED CITIZEN

JFK'S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy held his first press conference as President of the United States at the State Department Auditorium here in the Nation's Capital.

Breaking with tradition, President Kennedy allowed his meetings with the press to be televised live.  Previously, conferences were held in private, usually in the oval office.  

Sixty-five million Americans in 21.5 million homes tuned in for the first Kennedy press conference and JFK posted an average television audience of 18 million viewers for all conferences.

While JFK's conferences would be known for the President's wit, Walter Shapiro points out that it was a half-hour into that first one before it was unleashed.  JFK expressed the hope that a "small group of men" would not bottle up his proposed legislation in Congress.  He then added...

"I merely give my view as an interested citizen."

The press corps broke into laughter and JFK smiled.  It would not be the last time that happened.

SOURCES

"Kennedy and the Press:  The News Conferences", Edited and Annotated by Harold W. Chase and Allen H. Lerman, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1965.

"The Kennedy Press Conference, Always Good for a Laugh", New England Historical Society, www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/

JFK at Press Conference

State Dept. Auditorium

January 24, 1962

Photo by Cecil W. Stoughton

JFK Library Image

JFK HELD 1ST LIVE TELEVISED PRESS CONFERENCE 52 YEARS AGO TODAY

January 25, 2013

JFK HELD 1ST LIVE TELEVISED PRESIDENTIAL NEWS CONFERENCE 52 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) John F. Kennedy held his 1st news conference as President of the United States 52 years ago today, on January 25, 1961.

                   JFK Press Conference
                     November 20, 1962
                   Photo by Abbie Rowe
                     JFK Library Image

That historic conference, held in the State Department Auditorium, was the 1st presidential press conference to be televised live across the nation.

65 million Americans tuned in for the conference in 21.5 million homes.

JFK was to have an average television audience of 18 million for all his news conferences.

JFK's press secretary, Pierre Salinger, said...

"The ideas & philosophy of (President Kennedy)...were best displayed during those moments of truth when he stood alone before the representatives of the press..."

Mr. Salinger said that JFK was well prepared for each of his news conferences.  

JFK's staff would provide, beforehand, questions they thought might be asked.  

This gave the President the opportunity to form his responses & ask his staff to gather more information on a topic if needed.

When the double doors of the auditorium opened, the President would stride through & all reporters would stand.

After JFK made a brief opening statement, the floor was open for questions.  Reporters who had questions would stand & say "Mr. President!"

JFK would select one & point at that reporter, the others would sit back down & wait for their next opportunity.

We have selected just 2 questions & answers from the 1st news conference 52 years ago.

Question...

Does your administration plan to take any steps to solve the problem at Fayette County, Tennessee where tenant farmers have been evicted from their homes because they voted last November & now must live in tents?

The President...

The Congress...enacted legislation which placed very clear responsibility on the executive branch to protect the right of voting.  I support that legislation.  I am extremely interested in making sure that every American is given the right to cast his vote without prejudice to his rights as a citizen.  And, therefore, I can state that this administration will pursue the problem of providing that protection with all vigor.

Question...

Would you consider reopening diplomatic relations in Cuba?

The President...

We have no plan at the present to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba...because of the factors (Soviet/Communist influence) which are involved on that island.

SOURCE

"Kennedy & the Press:  The News Conferences,"  Edited & Annotated by Harold W. Chase & Allen H. Lerman, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1965.

COOLIDGE HELD THE MOST NEWS CONFERENCES REAGAN, THE LEAST

In the past 90 years, Presidents of the United States have met with the press with a varied degree of regularity.

Calvin Coolidge, who took office in 1923, completed Warren Harding's term & served one of his own, held 407 news conferences, averaging 72.90 a year.

                       President Coolidge with 
                  Press Photographers (1924)
                   Library of Congress Photo 

Ronald Reagan, ironically called "the Great Communicator," held only 46 news conferences in 8 years with an average of 5.75 a year.

That record is even worse than Richard Nixon, who detested the press.  Nixon held 39 conferences from 1969 to 1974, averaging 7.03 a year.

Following is a list of presidents in the order of average news conferences:

Coolidge (407) 72.90
FDR (881) 72.66
Hoover (268) 67.00
Truman (324) 41.73
G. Bush (137) 34.25
GW Bush (210) 26.25
LBJ (135) 26.16
Eisenhower (193) 24.13
Clinton (193) 24.13
JFK (65) 22.89
Obama (80) 20.00
Carter (59) 14.75
Nixon (39) 7.03
Reagan (46) 5.75

SOURCE

www.presidency.ucsb.edu/date/newsconferences.php.