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.
"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
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.
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
