Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-08
ROOSEVELT MEETS
PRESS FIRST TIME
Chief Executive Drops All
F0rmaIities and Answers
Oral Questions.

Abandoning fixed custom and dis
regarding advice Of some close to him
President Roosevelt today cast aside
restrictions covering the presidential re-
lation With the press for more than IL
years, in his first conference with news
papermen since he entered the White
House.
For half an hour he answered ques-
lions Of more than 100 reporters
massed about his desk In the executive
ONCE.
Mr.. Roosevelt held the conference at
10 o'clock this morning. Before the
meeting however, the President re-
quested the correspondents to form
line and file past him so he might learn
the name Of each man and shake hands
with him. Many in the line he knew
we'll from associations during his recent
campaign and during the intervening
time between the election and inaugura-
ton, and some of them he recalled from
the days when he was Assistant Secre-
tery of the Navy. The President was
especially cordial In his greetings and
burst Of handclapping broke from the
corps of correspondents at the close OF
the conference.
Saw Mrs. Roosevelt.
The newspaper men had brief
glimpse of Mrs Roosevelt, who came
up to the President just before he be-
gan talking to tell him their son Elliott
was about to leave for Wyoming. where
he plans to become rancher, and
wanted to tell his father good-by. The
youth, q blonde 6-footer, came up to
the Presidents desk from the side door
just as soon as Mrs. Roosevelt had left
the room. He leaned over to his father
and talked for moment or SO, and
then they clasped hands and said good
by. As the young man walked away
/ the President called Good luck to you, y
Before beginning the conference Mr..
Roosevelt outlined his views regarding
press conferences, making 1t plain that
he wished to discuss frankly everything
possible with the newspaper men, and
that in conducting the conferences 1t
was his hope to develop them into what
he described as IAN enlarged edition OF
the family conferences ! have been
holding with the press during my four
years in Albany and since"
Mr.. Roosevelt first made 1t plain that
he would not require the questions to
be written out, but preferred to have
the questions fired at him during the
conference itself, and he would answer
all questions he was capable Of answer
ing and saw no reason for not answer
ing. He added, however, that there
would be questions dealing with subjects
with which he himself was not familiar
not to discuss. With emphasis he
stated that he would not answer 'if''
questions.
No Direct Quotations.
Among conditions he laid down was
that he was not to be quoted directly
without specific permission and then
with written copy Of his remarks to
insure against error.
Laughing. the President expressed the
hope the other conditions he outlined
would be adhered to, saying he did not
want to revive the Ananias Club.
Several times the Presidents remarks
caused a quick burst of laughter. He
himself laughed repeatedly at quips
rom the men packed around him.
WHO oul nlS VIC SOAAACACANS AAC ObAAB
ingly turned his chair toward photo
graphers in one end Of the room for
pictures, a distinct innovation permit
ted by Mr.. Roosevelt personally after
his secretaries had vetoed cameras.
Stephen T. Early, the Presidents
contact secretary. stood close to his ell
bow throughout the conference and
several times was called into the con-
versation by the President himself. Two
stenographers Of the executive ONCE
took down report Of all that was said
Meet Twice Weekly.
Mr.. Roosevelt on this occasion was
attired in q double-breasted blue serge
suit, white shirt with soft collar at
tached, the collar points being held by
a gold pin, and q light blue necktit
without Q scarf pin.
When the conference was over the
President asked the correspondents te
group themselves more to one side Of
the room 30 as to permit the taking
of a group photograph.
1t was announced that the next press
conference will be Friday at pm.
and that until further notice the pres.
ent schedule of 10 am. on Wednesdays
and I pm. on Fridays will continue.