Portraying the President : the White House and the news media / Michael Baruch Grossman and Martha Joynt Kumar.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Grossman, Michael Baruch.

Contributor:

Kumar, Martha Joynt.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Presidents--United States--Press conferences.

Presidents.

United States.

Press conferences.

Government and the press--United States.

Government and the press.

Press and politics--United States.

Press and politics.

Physical Description:

x, 358 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, [1981]

Summary:

The media have become principal actors on the American political scene. Politicians and their press secretaries release news items with one eye on the event and the other on the millions of voters who depend on the White House press corps to keep them informed about the workings of their government.

Portraying the President explores the inner workings of the relationship between the White House and the press. Rather than emphasize the well-publicized sparring between inquisitive reporters and evasive administrative spokesmen intent on enhancing the President's public image, the authors stress the vast amount of cooperation between journalists and their sources. They point out the similarities of the White House-media relationship in recent administrations and suggest what shape it is likely to take in the future.

The authors also address the key issues of information management and manipulation by both the administration and the press. Grossman and Kumar demonstrate that, whether a lower level staff member leaks a news item to elevate his own status or an official spokesman mentions a new policy proposal in order to gather support, the release of information to the White House press corps involves complicated strategies among a number of administrative personnel. Washington reporters, aware of some of these tactics, compensate by cultivating personal sources and trading information with officials. Nevertheless, the routine nature of White House reporting and the competitiveness of modern news organizations often trap the reporter into what has been called "pack journalism."

Interviews with current and former White House reporters, including Bob Schieffer, Tom Brokaw, James Naughton, James Reston, and John Osborne, give Portraying the President an authentic, first-hand sound and feel. Comments from Ron Nessen, Gerald Rafshoon, Jody Powell, and other presidential spokesmen and advisers, give insight into White House news operations during the Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations.

Portraying the President provides information vital to an appreciation of the modern American political system. Its thought-provoking conclusions will be of interest to political scientists, media specialists, and anyone interested in current affairs.

Contents:

Part I. A Critical Relationship

1 Conflict and Cooperation 3

Part II. Reporters and Officials at the White House

2 A Continuing Relationship 19

3 Milton's Army: The White House Regulars 36

4 The White House Bubble Machine 81

5 The Manager of the Message 130

Part III. Taking Advantage of Position

7 The Nature of the Beat 181

8 Diplomats and Negotiators 206

9 Squeezing More Juice out of the Orange 226

Part IV. Portraying the President

10 Images of the White House in the Media 253

11 Triple Exposures 273

12 The Refracting Lens 299.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0801823757

0801825377

OCLC:

6914695