The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1963-01-04
The President and His Critics

| In the case OF John Il. Kennedy
as he nears the end of two years i
office, there is strong evidence tina
his critics have on occasion been hi
salvation, often more helpful tina
his friends or blind supporters.
At the end of President Eisenhow
ers' tenure at the White House,
asked at a press conference if he fel
the newsmen had been fair to him
His answer showed great insight
What, after all, can a newspapermal
do to the President of the United
States? he asked.
He was right. A critic cannot per
manently harm a President unles!
there is indisputable evidence of per
sonal culpability, or unless the Presi
dent becomes so rigid he learns moth.
ing from the criticism.
What makes John F. Kennedy such
fascinating President is that he is
continuously demonstrating a capac-
ity for learning from his mistakes.
His stature increases as result. He
may not love his critics, or even ap-
preciate what they are doing for
him. A President is just as human
as the rest of US; he likes to hear
compliments and bristles when his
decisions are called into question.
But so long as the President does
not allow himself to be isolated
from what the critics are saying,
the country is in no grave danger.
The AdIai Stevenson affair is a
case in point.
At his first press conference after
this unfortunate episode, Mr.. Ken
nedy acquitted himself admirably.
He was challenged, and the mere fact
of being challenged seemed to make
him rise to the occasion.
The President knew from the first
question that he was in for hard
time. His voice, at some points,
seemed steady. The queries were
pointed, but not offensive. When the
questions about the Stevenson mat
ter seemed to be ended, you could al
most see the Presidents poise and
ISluIsliIlS.
The tension was finally broken
With the question about all the take
,ffs on JFK, on Mrs. Kennedy, and
IN "the First Family.
'sCan you tell us whether you read
md listen TO these things and whether
hey produce annoyment or enjoy
nent," he was asked.
"Annoyment? the President said,
eyes, / have read them and
isten to them and actually l listened
o Mr.. (Vaughan) Meader's record
ut I thought it sounded more like
eddy than it did me, so he's an
Dyed"
Here was urbane hrlmor.l The Presi-
emit. turned all the jokes back on his
rites, and the laughter that swept
ne State Department auditorium re-
ected admiration as well as amuse-
tent. If JFK had become angry, moth
lg good would have ensued.
Again the President responded to
rites of the way Stevenson had
cen mishandled by two newspaper
ZEN, who were also his personal
'iends. He did not run out on his
'iends. 'sThe reporters who hap
sned to be ;" he started to say
The Presidency is not a very good
ace to make new friends. am try
g to keep my old friends"
cite this episode because it
seems to me that MIR. Kennedy has
been at his best when his critics
iave been sharpest; that he has
,een at his worst and made his most
.rievous errors when he seemed
o be listening only to those on his
personal staff, or the coat tail
iders, the political hangers-on,
md those who kept treating him
S if he were Superman. !
notwithstanding all the self-serv-
g declarations, the President seemed
decisive and faltering on Cuba. But 7
e critics refused to lie down and :
II over when told by high Admins :
alton sources that the Soviet often :,
,e presence was either nonresident :
insignificant. !,
He worried many people when he :,
ew his top during the steel crisis. !
lie President appeared to have been ),
when, in fact, there :
is no firm agreement with the steel !,