Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
The White House and the Press.


Relations between the White House
and the press are important to the en-
tire country. Obviously the country is
vitality interested in the policies Of tbs
administration in control of the Gov
eminent. Its medium, of information
is the newspaper. Unless the newspaper
has the facts and records them COR
rectly. the country Is either uniformed
or risinformed. 1t is to the interest
both Of the country and of the White
House that the facts be presented and
presented correctly II individual news
papers, having the facts, distort the
truth they are guilty Of seeking to de-
ceive the people. If newspapers, having
no facts, undertake to publish suspicious
or suggestions as facts in their news
columns, they go beyond the proper
sphere Of the press, which is to re-
port accurately facts and conditions.
The White House is sometimes mis-
represented in its attitude toward public
policies by newspapers and their COR
respondents That has been true over
a long period of years, On the other
hand, there have been occasions when
greater frankness ON the part Of the
White House would have been the wiser
as we'll as the fairer course
A President of the United States who
hits a published lie promptly and de-
cisively will have the approval Of the
country. Roosevelt had his "Ananias
Club" The former Governor of New
York. Alfred E. Smith. while chief ex-
ecutive of the Empire State, did not
hesitate to brand as falsehoods state
ments published about himself and his
policies and plans when occasion arose
A new White House Ananias Club might
not be amiss today.
There is one thing however, that the
American press has right always to
expect from the White House-frank-
ness. On occasion premature publica-
ton of plans Of the administration may
do harm. The White House may be ex-
pected to guard against such publica-
ton. But that does not do away with
the need Of entire frankness at all
times. The truth, in the end, never
injured the American people, no matter
what its effect on an administration
may have been. The newspapers are en-
titled TO the truth to pass on to the peo-
pie. If they pass along something else,
then those newspapers become culpable
and should be promptly shown to be in
the wrong.
A sycophantic press, ready to publish
only praise of an administration, mt
not and cannot be expected by the
White House. The desire for praise and
appreciation is human, and so are the
occupants Of the Executive Mansion.
The President Of the United States who
cannot accept criticism when criticism
may be warranted is unfortunate. A
President invariably faces criticism. He
cannot please all the people all the
time. There is always the political OPP
position. seeking to discredit him and
his administration. His greatest de-
tense lies in the truth, unless he be at
fault. In the end the most potent
weapon of defense and offense on the
part Of the President is frankness in
dealing with the press. Any attempted
censorship Of the news would be foolish
and unwarranted and ineffective. On
the other hand, there is every reason
why the publication Of an untruth
should be branded promptly as lie.
The country today is facing an
emergency, due to business depression
and consequent unemployment. The
administration is seeking in every way
to alleviate the situation. Its every
move is watched by the press. Poll
ticians are no less on the lookout,
seeking to make capital out Of the at
titude Of the administration toward
proposals advanced by individuals and
groups of the people. The emergency.
however, does not warrant shutting
down of information, but rather calls
for the greatest frankness on the part
of the heads Of the Government in
dealing with the people through the
medium of the press.
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