Evening star., 1952-04-04
By Horry Macarthur

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dental candidate?
That is an approximation rather
than a direct quote, but it is nc
1exaggeration. If that radio and
television time is worth the fee
the network charges, Mr.. Agron-
sky wasted a pretty penny.
It's easy, really, to do this thing
much more simply. You might
even ask some direct question
like Senator. if Governor Steven
son were the presidential
candidate would you accept the
vice presidency" This can be
understood by the viewers and
listeners and by the man being
questioned. 1t can be answered
directly.
The bane of any press con-
ference is the debater. The de-
batter is not one who asks search
ing or embarrassing questions or
employs the needing technique,
often used with great success by
Larry Spivak on Meet the Press.
The debater is the interviewer who
sees a press conference as an op-
Iportunity for airing his own views
instead of learning those of some
one else.
Senator Russell was asked at
one point on "Crossfire" what ef-
feet he thought the Government
scandals might have on the COM
ing election. He replied that he
thought. when he was young
politician in 1924, that the Tea
pot Dome scandal marked the end
of the Republican Party that year
and that the people promptly be-
Itrayed him by electing a Repub-
Ilican president. He didn't think
the recent disclosures of corrup-
ton would have any effect, either
Questioner Taylor hurled him
self into the fray. You couldn't
compare Teapot Dome with the
scandals in Government today, he
maintained as he took off in a
fine furry of oratory. Some one
lit sounded like Mr.. Andrews but
lit might have been Moderator
Back-finally asked the most per-
tinent question of the evening.
whats the question, Mr.. Tay-
lor," said a voice softly.
/ The unique point about "Cross-
fire" is that it gives it's victim
the last word. an opportunity tc
answer back every week. When
the time came, Senator Russell
was ready. The state of the world
being what it is, he said. he was
a little surprised that he had not
been Questioned about his views
on foreign policy, the rearmament
program, imitation and the steel
negotiations. That does seem tC
be a lot of uncovered ground.
None of this, however, is to be
interpreted as criticism of Gross
fire" It can be a highly infor-
NATIVE program if the interview
ers stick to questions and make
them clear and concise. Without
that question of Mr.. Agronsky's
and without Mr.. Taylor's short
talk on Government scandals, the
boys might even have found time
for foreign policy.
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TRUCE BID? -. One of the
prizes being offered in a contest
being conducted by Keith's, a
movie theater, is a 17-inch tele-
vision set. You fellows realize, OF
course, that the winner may desert
your theater and just stay home
and look at television?
INEVITABLE-The automotivt
stylists made life little rough fol-
Ken Murray on Tuesday night
according to a departmental dep.
uty viewer. Mr.. Murray, describing
the New York Auto Show for the
CBS-TV network audience, came
upon the new Kaiser at one point
"I think the Nash Vagabond il
one f1ne-looking car" he said
Again his eye fell upon the new
Chrysler and he announced, 81
think the Studebaker Imperial is
"a beauty" Tried to pass it off as
an intentional joke, the deputy
says, but he obviously was an en-
barraSSed man.
Il He shouldn't have been, be-
cause the designers have only
themselves to blame. There wa.
Ia time when you could identify
an automobile by its shape, rather
than by the variations Of it.
chrome-plated decorations. u