The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1961-02-02

The first presidential press
conference ever televised "live'
has taken place in the last week
with the new President acquit-
ting himself very well.
1t appears that President Ken
nedy will probably use television
more to communicate with the
American people than any other
President.
We were fascinated at the
whole proceedings, enjoyed them
Immensely, impressed that Mr..
Kennedy knew so many of the
aewsmen by name.
It was a far cry from the first
presidential press conference
ever attended = back in the
days of Franklin Delano Roose-
yelt.
The conference was held in
the big oval office of the Presi-
aent IN the White House.
Newsmen gathered in one Sec
ton of the White House spilling
out in the hall. After a few
minutes of milling around some
one said here he comes" and
a door slammed. Everything
grew very quiet for a few Sec
onds and we heard the wheel
chair carrying the President 60
by.
In a matter of moments the
doors to the office were thrown
open and what looked like hun
dreds of newsmen rushed
through as though their lives
depended upon getting there on
the split second.
During the rush I got sepa-
rated from the young reporter
Who was ~escorting me on orders
Of his boss. one of the news
paper bureau chiefs in Washing
ton. ION the orders of my
friend he was also supposed to
contact FDR's presidential secre-
tary and make arrangements for
me to be presented to the Presi-
dent after the conference.)
While my young escort was
off somewhere in the White
House trying to get to the Presi-
dents Press Secretary, the press
conference ended and all of the
reporters flew out of the room
except me and a few stragglers.
President Roosevelt sat at his
desk and behind him, in great
big fat leather chairs, arranged
IN a circle, sat a number of
dignitaries, or important visitors,
none of whom l knew, or par
tlcularly cared to know. How
ever, | did see one familiar face
in a small group standing inside
the velvet rope in front of the
Presidents desk and l asked
someone who he was.
The familiar face turned out
to be Lowell Mellett. whom I
had heard speak at a National
Editorial Association luncheon in
Florida, SO / went over and spoke
to him.
He asked what l was doing in
Washington and told him that
right then / was waiting on q
reporter who was supposed to
De making arrangements for me
20 get to talk to the President.
He replied (since my friend had
obviously disappeared) he
thought it could be arranged.
Then he walked yer and said
something to some man whom
/ had never seen or heard of
end they both walked back to
me. Mr.. Mellett introduced the
man twas it Stephen Early? I've
forgotten) who very kindly
walked me over and introduced
me to the President of the
United States.
Mr.. Early q believe) had told
ne l would have only one min
tie with the President, just
ime to be presented.
But he reckoned without FDR.
Always at his best with the
aides, Mr.. Roosevelt literally
'urned on his charm and we
@hatted for five or six minutes.
with him doing most of the
alking naturally.
/ did get to tell him that
veryone in Mississippi loved
him, but being a truthful soul
: qualified my statement b.
dding. almost everybody"
FDR threw back his head am
lowled.
But | enjoyed the experience
nd from his actions, the Presi-
'ent enjoyed it. too.
The sequel to the incident is
oest of all.
When / got back to the Ma
ional Press Building l found
hat the entire staff that had
anything at all to do with the
Presidents press conference had
'een thrown out of gear and
vas rlInnino around in ~oiro1oc