St. Paul recorder., 1961-04-28
Hatcher. Kennedy's
Press Mon Has
GTuellinu Job
(Continued from Page ~

on small matters. clear up such
details as queries that don't per-
tain to policy, and go over the
picture schedule for the day. An
other Of my tasks is to give the
President a rundown on what will
happen and who viii meet him
when he leaves the White House
on certain occasions"
Pierre salinger, the White
House Secretary, arrives between
9:2O and $50. We talk over the
days plans, including the picture
schedule, news releases, and state
ments for the press"
Then I attend to my first mail
reading, and start preparing press
releases for Salinger and his daily
press conferences. When he's not
available, I conduct the confer
ence."
For about forty-five minutes,
things move along at a leisurely
pace. Then the pressure starts and
builds up between 1918 and eleven
o'clock. We don't take any phone
calls during this period, while we
doublecheck plans and take care
of last minute details"
I'VE hold press briefings fol
about twenty minutes, from about
11:05 to 11:25."
Next, I go back in my office
return phone calls, and read mai
for the second time. then answer
correspondence, and otherwise dis
pose of fifty to sixty per cent o.
the matters on my desk. The tough
problems are held over"
II take about forty-five minute.
for lunch around 1915, and US
ually have guests from three t.
five times a week. At other times
I eat with various special assist
ants. The lunch-time chats are 1
means of conserving time whil
discussing business"
Mr.. Hatcher has his own techni
que for battling the tensions
stresses and strains of the day. H
said that from 1:15 to las, h
closes his office door, turns ou
the lights, and relaxes. From
to 3:15 he's back to handling vari
GUS office chores, and splces il
appointments with persons VIII
wish to see him. And from 3 t
3:15 another briefing for the 4:3
press.
One easily gets the impression
that being a member of the Presi
: dents staff is not the easiest jo'
one could find. The man who help
troubleshoot for the President, an
boosts the Administration and tn
Democratic party, puts in a Ion
r day. He generally leaves the offic
around seven in the evening.
Even then, he's not off dut,
, in the strict sense of the wore
He's on "a hour call. He has
direct line from the White Hous
to the hotel where he lives. H
says any accredited correspondent
can call him at anytime, but h
can decide whether he wants t
accept the call
The Associate White Hous
Press Secretary makes frequen
public appearances, attending bar
quets and filling seating engage
ments. He says he arrives at bar
quets shortly before he is to speal
and stays just long enough to ge
the feel of the gathering. He neve
eats at banquets.
Mr.. Hatcher has the humilit
and wisdom to realize that a.
though he is in an enviable posi
ton, there always has to be an in
termarriage of luck, despite ability
before one can achieve success!
He wears his position well, an
is determined to serve as an in
spiration to others.
He demonstrates his desire t
inspire and help by his deeds H
says the modest fees of one hun
dred to one hundred-fifty dollar
from his speaking engagement
are turned over to three organiza
tions. They are the New Englan
Student Christian Movement a
Boston, the Lisle Fellowship a
Ann Arbor, Michigan, and tn
Andrew Hatcher Journalism Clut
recently organized at high schoc
in Houston. He plans to provide a
annual scholarship of $500.
The rest of the Hatcher family
including wife, Ruth, will arrive i
Washington in June after school
out in San Francisco. There ar
Drew, age IL; Vickie, IL; twin!
Adlai and James Oliver, eight
Robert, six; Avery, four and Rutl
g. Mrs. Hatcher comes from Mic
dletown, New Jersey. He hail
from Princeton, New Jersey, wher
he attended high school. He late
went to Springfield College /
Springfield, Massachusetts,.
Prior to assuming his post /
Washington, Mr.. Hatcher was Al
sistant State Labor COMMISSIONS
for California. From 1947 to 1856
he was editor of the San Francisc
Sun-Reporter. He was first a
tracted to journalism in hig
school, where he was sports editc
for the school paper. At Sprint
field College, he was managing ed
H. onA m adifnV NJ the anho.