J400 and the Press

1. Background
   

   A. 1770s-1860: Press part of govt.

   B. 1860s-1900: Transition period

   C. 1900s-Presidents and news management
   
   

2. Teddy Roosevelt
   

   A. First successful news manager

   B. How TR managed the news
   

   1. made himself available to the press
   2. created press room
   3. recognized rhythms of papers
   4. quotable
   5. charismatic personality
   6. newsworthy family
   7. trial balloons and leaks
   8. blanketing the news
   9. Established official PR function
   10. White House as "Bully Pulpit"
   
   
3. FDR: High point of press/govt. relations
   

   A. Maintained excellent relations with press

   1. reporters liked Roosevelt
   2. reformed press conferences
   3. Met informally with reporters'
   4. Understood needs of reporters
      • Press secretary Steven Early
   5. Monitored the press
   
   

   B. Had poor relations with publishers
   

   • Era of Press Lords
   
   

   C. First successful radio president

   • Fireside Chats
   
   
4. Truman and Eisenhower
   
   1. Truman had same problems with publishers
   2. Generally good relations with working press
   3. Eisenhower and U-2 spy incident
   
   
5. Kennedy and the press
   

   A. First successful TV president

   1. Kennedy/Nixon debates
   2. Televised press conferences

   B. Credibility gap under Kennedy

   1. Cuban Missile Crisis and Bay of Pigs
   
   
6. Nixon and the press
   

   A. Low point of press-govt relations

   1. press is the enemy

   B. Nixon attacks the press

   1. Spiro Agnew's Des Moines speech--1969
   2. Reporters harassed
   3. Strict controls on sources
   4. broadcast license challenged
   5. fewer press conferences

   C. Pentagon Papers case

   D. Watergate