Press Conferences
Critical Analysis
According to the chart above, which president held the least number of press conferences per year?
Identify one trend (change over time) in the data from the chart above.
Why do you think this trend is happening?
What is one consequence of this trend?
As of March 20, 2022, Joe Biden had held 11 total press conferences (you can see the list of Biden press conferences right here), which is currently at a pace of 9.33 conferences per year. How does Biden’s number of press conferences compare to his recent predecessors?
Why do presidents have press conferences anyway?
Some people say that press conferences are a waste of time. Explain the connection between press conferences and democracy.
On February 08, 1977 Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States gave a press conference. Read the transcript to this press conference and try to feel good about the fact that you weren’t there. Then read the transcript of Donald J. Trump's News Conference With President Sauli Niinistö of Finland from Aug 28, 2017. Why do we have press conferences anyway?
When president Jimmy “Jazzy-J” Carter was asked about the power of the veto (Latin for I forbid) he replied that he prefers the bully pulpit (the ability to reach and persuade the American people) to the veto (something he did 31 times). Wow. Carter held 59 press conferences during his presidency. Make a claim about whether Carter was right that the bully pulpit is more powerful than the veto.
Learning Extension
The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara is DYNAMITE! Check out all their crazy POTUS data and check out their section on POTUS press conferences (yest, there is a whole section devoted to that!) These guys are insane!
Action Extension
Contact the White House and tell them what you think about the infrequency of President Biden’s press conferences.
Visual Extension
Watch the instant replay of the first Biden press conference in super slow-mo.
Sign up for our November 11 GoPo Refresher Workshop on Zoom
Prepare for the 2024 AP® US Government Exam with High Five! Our Exam Review guide is completely redesigned and updated with over 140 pages of great AP Exam review material. Tons of completed graphic organizers are full of information to get you exam-ready in a flash.
This 2024 exam guide is an instant download and contains all the following resources.
Overview of the U.S. Government and Politics exam.
Completed graphic organizers for all required documents + Supreme Court cases.
Guide to the skills and content for all 5 course units.
Essential vocabulary with link to online glossary.
Tons of Graphic Organizers with answers from each course unit.
GoPo Pro Tips.
Exam review Guides.
Full Length AP multiple choice + Free Response Exam with Key.
AP ® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this site or product.
GoPoPro does not offer credit or grades for our classes or products.
