Evening star., 1955-01-22
The Political Min
T Press Conferences
Seen Asset to President
But Opposition Moy Ask
For Full Time to Reply
The Political Min
BY Gould Lincoln

President EisenhoWer's press confer
ences promise to become an even
greater asset to the Chief Executive and
to the country. now that they are
teleyised. Under the new program, the
people themselves win see and hear the
President answer the questions put to
him by newspapermen. They win be in
position to put their own estimate and
Interpretation on the Presidents state
ments. Hitherto, the Presidents replies
have been of the recordn-not subject
to direct quotation by the newspapers,
the radio or television. Occasionally.
the President has been asked to permit
direct quotations of his remarks at
press conferences, and occasionally the
request has been granted.
The President. from the very first.
has handled his press conferences-and
himself well. There is always danger
that, speaking OF the cuff in reply to
unrehearsed questions from newspaper
reporters, President win muff the ball
badly. In two years time, however,
President Eisenhower has made no such
error He has facility of ready and
understandable expression. Further. he
can see pitfall. At the same time. the
President does not duck and rarely does
he say mo comment" unless ques-
ton would reveal policies or plans
which if publicized would Be harmful to
the interests of the country. He has
been able, at his press conferences. to-
advance his programs and to gain wide
publicity for those in which he Is
strongly interested. With television as
an added medium. his pronouncements,
which may be called White House
propaganda by the opposition, gain q
much wider circulation.
Network Policy.
The question arises. of course, how
often and how fully will the tele-
vision and radio networks put on
the presidential press conferences. They
are unsponsored, and time consumed
viii pay no dividends, except as pub
lie service. The present plan Is to con-
tinue to make the tapes for teleyision,
radio and the theaterS. These medi-
ums will ask for part or all Of the con-
ference. or none Of 1t. depending on
how newsworthy the conference may be.
In view, however, of the widespread in
terest In the presidential press confer
ences, the public demand will have its
influence, no doubt. Further, the
White House, through the Presidents
press secretary, James c, Hagerty, will
decide what parts, If any, Of press
conference shall be released. About 10
per cent of the premiere televised press
conference was released
The power of censorship must be
exercised judiciously. 1t will do the
President no good to have his own
words eliminated presumably for fear
he might lose by them-and at the
same time have the newspapers carry
paraphrase of his answers to the press.
On the theory that every television
appearance is an asset to political
figure such as the President OF the
United States Democrats may regard
the televised press conferences with
concern. They may even demand that
their spokesman be granted similar
time and facilities to make reply.
Ty and Politics.
Television, in fact, has become
major political device. 1t is making 1t
possible for candidates to conduct
briefer campaigns for election and
still reach more of the voters In rec
ognition of this fact. the chairman
of the Democratic National Committee,
Paul M. Butler, has announced the
party's national convention will meet
August 81, 1956--far later than IN
the past-and the Republicans are
wrestling With the idea Of postponing
their national convention until date
in September. Also, television facili-
ties will have bearing on the selection
Of the sites for the national conven-
tions of the two major parties. Cnair-
man Leonard W. Hall Of the Repunli-
can National Committee is In favor
OF the late date for the @. o, r.
national convention-con that
Mr.. Eisenhower will run for second
term. Mr.. Hall has called meeting
of the National Committee for Febru-
airy II to pick the site and the date
for the convention The television net
works may have potent voices in the
selection of both the cities and the
dates for the national conventions.
When it comes to the actual cam
,paiqning for the presidency and for
the 85th Congress next year, the
campaign managers win allot. 1t is
expected, a very large share of their
budget to the purchase OF television
and radio time The high costs Will
be one of the reasons given by oppos-
ing parties for raising larger and
larger campaign funds--if they can
get them