Taft was notoriously known for not being a huge fan of the media and press corps and some historians say that the bad relationship played a huge role on Taft only serving a single term.
Apparently, Obama is following in Taft's footsteps and limiting the press more than his predecessors did. At this point in the presidency (about half way in) Obama has done only 75 "Q&A" conferences with the press, while Bush had done over 200 at the same time and Clinton over 400.
But Obama's press secretary isn't about to let him become the next Taft and so the president opts out of Q&A sessions, but instead holds longer and more intimate "sit-down sessions" with various reporters.
Good thinking Mr. President.
I wonder if the relationship between the media and the president is more often judged by quantity - amount of press conferences or Q&A sessions or quality - how much the president will let his guard down and reveal the happenings of public policy to the press.
ReplyDeleteI think what President Obama is doing is smart. By having more intimate "sit-down sessions" the reporter does not feel like he/she is fighting with other reporters and can therefore ask more and deeper questions. Whether or not they actually do this is another discussion.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me in a way of FDR's Fireside Chats. Although this is a session with a reporter, and not broadcasted to the entire nation, it is a more personal experience. The reporter's article will therefore be colored in a different light, probably a more positive view of the President, and will in turn affect readers as well.