Photo -- See Caption Below


Press Tag (left)
1953-1961
Presidential press tag issued to "Paul L. Roy of The Gettysburg Times."
Paper, string. Dia 7.6 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 9955
.


Press Tag
1954
Press tag for the Pennsylvania Republican Rally at President Dwight David Eisenhower’s farm, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 23rd, 1954 at 12:45 pm, handwritten for "Paul Roy / Gettysburg Times."
Paper, string. Dia 7.1 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 9828
.

The Press
As President, Eisenhower met with the Press on a regular basis. He scheduled weekly press conferences. In his eight years in office, he met with the Press more than any other president. Beginning in 1955, his presidential press conferences became the first to be regularly televised.

Eisenhower established a very positive relationship with the Press when he was Supreme Commander during WWII. He disarmed the Press with his willingness to be open and forthcoming. They appreciated how he took them into his confidence, treating them as role players in the Allied war effort. Ike continued to cultivate the Press during his Presidency, sometimes frying them up fresh caught trout or inviting them to play golf. The Press could be tough on him though, criticizing him for his jumbled syntax, confusing replies, and confessions of ignorance about certain issues.