Abstract
When distinguishing among three important aspects of press conferences—importance as a forum, ground rules and practices, and participants—the sessions of the sixteen presidents can be grouped into four time periods. From 1913 to 1933, presidential press conferences were off‐the‐record sessions in which presidents responded to questions the press regarded as important. Between 1933 and 1953, presidents used it as a private forum for explaining their policies and actions to the public via journalists. From 1953 to 1981, presidents and their staffs wrestled with the advantages and disadvantages of using the now on‐the‐record press conferences to reach the public directly. During the last period, 1981 to 2004, presidents used such sessions as one of several forums in which they responded to reporters’ queries.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
