Both were also assigned to other duties in addition to press relations, but dealing with the press was their main chore. The evolution of what became the White House press office, from George Cortelyou to Mike McCurry, was gradual, but the change was profound. He also needs to keep in mind that he works for the President. The balance between serving the President and serving the press is a problem that faces all presidential spokesmen, whether the President be Grover Cleveland or Bill Clinton. Marlin Fitzwater, of the Reagan and Bush administrations, said the press secretary enters into combat with the press with one hand tied behind his back because he must serve two masters.
Reporters work for only one master.
Their objective is to get the story. But they, too, enter the fray with one hand tied behind their back. The press secretary, they hope, either has it or has access to it. The late Richard L. Strout of the Christian Science Monitor and the New Republic put the case well in an interview in 1976. We're trying to get the news and they are trying to keep it from us or select the news we get.