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.
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