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The Press at the White House: 1952-1963

Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Press Secretary James C. Hagerty permitted radio, television and newspaper equipment to record coverage of news conferences on January 19, 1955. The conferences were held about every two weeks and before the film was released to the public, Hagerty edited what were considered the most newsworthy portions. On January 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy, long comfortable with print and electronic me

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White House Welcome

Teacher's TextAs America's head of state, the president of the United States welcomes guests from across the country and around the world to the "people's house." For many foreign leaders, the White House is their introduction to the United States, and the experience these visitors have at the President's House may be critical to establishing relations between governments. This was

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The Press at the White House: 1941-1952

In 1945, Harry S. Truman proposed a major West Wing expansion that would add a studio and auditorium for press briefings. The plans lacked Congressional support and were not executed. Truman moved the meeting place for press conferences from the Oval Office to the Indian Treaty Room in the State Department (today’s Eisenhower Executive Office Building). Truman’s press conferences were