Evening star., 1937-01-20

n. 1ILOLOs
deavored to answer . question without being
fully informed. Foreign complications followed
and soon afterward Secretary Of State Hughes
was rushing over to the White House to get
matters Strengthened out. In order to play
questions be put in writing and presented IN
advance. Calvin Coolidge, who had not had
much experience with Washington newspaper
correspondents, but who got along exceedingly
well with them found this policy to his taste
and continued 1t, - did Mr.. Hoover.
TT TAKES keen, alert mind ON the part q
President to permit correspondents 20
fire questions at him without knowing m
advance what to expect. Whatever PTesis
dent says is important not only In this country.
but sometimes all over the world. Therefore. II
is essential that he be careful in wording replies.
On the other hand. complications, misunder-
standing, or neutrality-suspicious. may develop
from the Presidents failure or refusal to an
swer queries. However. Mr.. Roosevelt is q past
master at the art Of answering delicate quee-
tions frequently avoiding direct answers with
q. humorous reply. Mr.. Roosevelt possesses .
fortunate trait in that he has no conceit which
makes him want to appear to know everything
about everything. He has no hesitancy In ad-
mitting ignorance when asked about something
about which he knows little or anything. This
happens generally in matters which have not
study. t.#
For his own protection the President has
several rules governing conferences, the most
important being that when he gives an "o6
the record" answer he insists that his conn.,
dence be kept. Another rule Is that he does
not permit himself to be quoted unless he spe-
cifically gives that permission. Another is that
when he talks for background" the word used
for his discussion Of some subject merely for
the enlightenment Of the writer's and not to b
attributed to the White House, he Is insistent
that the same rule be followed He won't an
swer what he calls III" questions. For instance.
will this country 60 to war one Of oar
citizens Is killed in Spain9" Or. something
like this. Mr.. President. viii you veto the
soldiers bonus bill II Congress passes the bNl?''
In addition to those fixed rules the Presi-
dent follows q policy Of generally avoiding an
swers to questions dealing with legislation In
the making at Capitol Hill. He contends that
1t Is not fair for him to inject his opinions
while legislation is being debated. He frankly
admits, however, that his views are usually
known and have been well advertised ON the
Hill by those Senator's and Representatives
who have discussed the subject with him be-
forehand
TINE President remains seated at his desk
during press conferences. His desk y ,.
long hat-top affair and his chair q
large, comfortable looking piece Of
furniture. Tall windows open out upon the
beautiful rear grounds Of the White House at
the Presidents back. He smokes at least one
cigarette during these conferences, and If they
are Of long duration, he lights up a second
time. Newspaper men do not smoke at these
gatherings Most Of them are inveterate
cigarette smokers like the President, but they
refrain on these occasions because it was dis
covered after his first press conference four
years ago, when both the press and the Presi-
dent smoked. that several burnt places found in
Vdc<SpS 1otnp i..r
butts dropped on the floor.
President Roosevelt follows q rule which in
Itself has proven popular with newspaper m9I,S
especially the score assigned to cover the White
House daily. and that he does not give
exclusive interviews. He gives what news he
IN md orskt tn