The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-09
ACCORDS
+. PRESIDENT
FREEDOM
BY EARL GOODWIN

1uSdl W give W IA4O AAONSS "a ~"~P
resentatives the stenographic notes
of a recent press conference is a
reason which, when explained,
may throw light on the unusual
relations between the President
and the corps of newspaper CORE
spondents in Washington who still
look on the Wednesday and Fri
day "inside" talks with the Chief
Executive as the high point of the
New Deals relations with the gen
eral public.
The House adopted resolution
Of Representative Martin, Of Colo
RADIO, suggesting that the Presi'
dent give Congress the text of the
Friday conference, because at that
time the President spoke his mind
plainly on the subject OF the
Chamber of Commerce Of the
United States and whether or not
such organizations are genuine re-
Elections of public sent l ment
among business men.
Refuse to Accede
The President was confident
that spokesman for big business
do not represent ordinary every
day business men who stay at
home and do not attend conven-
lions. Representative Martin, de-
Tending the President against at
tackS, believed that the country
would be edited by transcript
of the questions and answers at
the press conference which re-
suited in the Administrations at
tack on big business lobbies, etc.
The President did not accede
to the Martin suggestion because
he feels that the press confer
ences give him an opportunity to
speak his mind plainly, to "get
things off his chest" in his sort
Of he-man talk, knowing that
the Washington newspaper fra
ternity will not violate the rules
Of these conferences which were
stated by the President at his
first talk to the reporters.
Has His Approval
The rules permit the President
to make himself clear without
being quoted unless by permls"
sion. The conferences can thus
be held, as he has explained,
without his spending too much
time in preparation and without
rehearsing his part.
There is an extraordinarily
happy interplay between the
President and his newspaper
friends which is lacking in all
other presidential business ap-
pointments during the week, ex"
cept with his own crowd.
Newspaper reports arising from
the conferences are quite accu.
rate. The President himself
bore witness to the fact that the
Friday conference in question
produced news reports which
were so full and accurate as to
leave nothing to be gained from
the stenographic notes.
If there should be precedent
set by which the-e confidential
chats could be called for and
published in detail, it would un'
doubtedly cramp the famous
Rooseveltian style of talk.
The President feels that If he
can close the doors to his office
and have what he has to say
considered as strictly within the
lodge" he can take off his coat
and vest. figuratively, and let the
subject have "both barrels"
Best Show in Town
If he was going to be published
verbatim, it would undoubtedly
result in prim and polished
speech lacking the intimate toucA
that makes the Roosevelt press
conferences the best show in
Washington.
The President has no idea how
many are going to attend a con-
ference or what he is going to be
asked. He occasionally has an an
nouncement to make. and if so he
starts off the proceedings with it.
Otherwise. he waits for news
paper people to start inquiry.
While he is waiting for the gang
to file in he generally fiddles about
with papers on his desk, lights a
cigarette and jokes with the fell
lows in the front rank. Many of
them he calls by their nicknames.
Questions fired at him range
from small local subjects to mat
tiers of international diplomacy.
II the President doesn't know the
answer he says so if he isn't quite
sure, he says so.
Graphic Picture
When he is asked a question
concerning some subject like his
work-relief project, newspaper men
have been amazed at the clear pic
ture of organization that he has
presented. Stenographic notes of
his conference in which the set up
Of the work-re1ief program have
been disclosed would reveal a
grasp of detail down to the last
word.
At one of these recent confer
ences he sat at his desk and with
out reference to notes, he dictated
a graphic chart showing the wide
spread organization of the four
billion dollar work set up which
involved over so branches of gov.
eminent.
JeWelry. Clothing