Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a master at manipulating the press, which in turn served to deceive the American people about his abominable New Deal and the truth behind the attack on Pearl Harbor. Beyond his famous fireside chats, FDR held nearly one thousand press conferences during his time in the White House. None of FDR's successors matched that mind-boggling total, but they employed the press conference to varying degrees of success. After World War II, the number of reporters anxious to hang on the president's every word increased dramatically from the 100 or so that would congregate around FDR's desk. … Continue reading A Bush Press Conference? Must Be Dreaming . . .