News Conferences

In representative governments, press conferences have become an important means for elected or appointed officials to speak to the public and respond to press queries. While elected authorities regularly give speeches, voters want to hear officials answer questions about topics they may not have otherwise addressed. News or press conferences provide one means of responding to that need. Reporters serve as surrogates for the public asking questions and their queries often probe problems, scandal, and weak points that might otherwise not come to light.

The news conferences watched most closely are those given by the President. Since Woodrow Wilson took office in March 1913, news conferences have been a regular feature of the American presidency. Presidents met with reporters from time to time for interviews and to give them information. But Theodore Roosevelt was the first President to regularly meet with reporters. These sessions were off-the-record ones with only a select group of reporters allowed in. President Wilson decided to meet reporters less frequently and to do [Page 964]it in a setting where all reporters were allowed to attend. Over the years, however, there has been much variation in the ground rules observed by reporters as well as the in the form of the sessions. Naturally, Presidents want to use such conferences on their terms, setting rules as to how often they take place, how directly questions are answered, and which reporters are called on.

Few chief executives have talked about why they submit to news conferences. Most simply allude to the reasons, but Calvin Coolidge explained his reasons for doing so: “These conferences are held for the purpose of giving newspaper men just in a brief way some idea of what the President has in mind in order that they may write intelligently concerning the transaction of the business of the Government, and it is the rule that the President is not to be quoted” (press conference, June 17, 1927). On another occasion he argued that “it is important that the Presidential office should be correctly represented to the country and the attitude of the Presidential office should be accurately interpreted…. I regard it as rather necessary to the carrying on of our republican institution that the people should have a fairly accurate report of what the President is trying to do, and it is for that purpose of course that those intimate conferences are held” (press conference, September 14, 1926).

Initial rules governing news conferences were established in the Wilson era, including those regarding access and questioning. News conferences are open to reporters with White House credentials whether full- or part-time. Reporters decide what the questions are, not the President or his staff, although the latter can usually anticipate topics reporters will pose. Transcripts are retained of what is said. From Wilson through Harry Truman, the sessions were held on an off-the-record basis, but transcripts are available save for the sessions of President Warren Harding, whose transcripts have not surfaced though they likely were made. President Dwight Eisenhower put the sessions on-the-record where they remain today, with verbatim transcripts now found on a variety of websites. News conferences include more than one format. While most feature the President standing alone answering questions, sometimes the chief executive is accompanied by others who respond to questions with him, including foreign leaders and, less frequently, members of his cabinet. News conferences include those sessions designated by the National Archives as such in its compilations of presidential remarks.

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