Presidents and the Media

For Monday, read Edwards ch. 8.

For writeups, apply what you have learned in the past 2 weeks to war news.  How is the administration trying to gain support for the action in Iran?

Questions on the assignment?

Theodore Roosevelt wore this ring featuring strands of Abraham Lincoln’s hair while being sworn in at his inauguration of tomorrow 1905. T.R. used to say that he would ask himself, “What would Lincoln do? pic.twitter.com/lr3BQikpvK

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) March 3, 2026

Photographs good and bad (Edwards 169-171) 

• Why Trump hates the wind.
• Mrs. Carter's unfortunate photo

The in-party national committee and outside spending groups.

The presidency online

• White House website
• Social media
• Disappearing data

Presidents and the Press

• Contentious from the start (Edwards 189)
• Did TV tip the scales to the president?

Staff

• Press Secretary
• Office of Communications
• Office of Public Liaison (3-cushion billiards)

Direct transmission: Full coverage of speeches and press conferences

Press Conferences from the first term (195-196) did not always work to the advantage of POTUS

In private, however, Trump was different:

WH COVID coordinator Dr. Birx reacts to the bleach comments

Mediated transmission

• Leaks
• Intentional leaks (trial balloons)
• Internal sniping
• Accidents: Full text
• Backgrounders
• Working the refs

Things that can go wrong.

• Biden  at the signing of the Affordable Care Act in 2010:  the origin of the acronym BFD
• A good example of what a president should not joke about.
• Other presidential hot mic moments
• Even when a mic is nowhere near....

Talking to the media:

• "On the Record," "Off the Record," "Background"
• Do not assume that the other person uses these terms the same way.
• In an internship or entry-level job, NEVER talk to the media without specific authorization from your boss.

Reflections on pre-Trump press relations.

19:00, 40:00, 50:00