Presidents and the Press
Classroom Resource Packet
JFK Addressing the Press during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Robert Knudsen, White House/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum/NARAThe story of the White House cannot be told without discussing interactions between presidents and the press. From cordial to confrontational, this relationship is fueled by the public's desire for news about the leader of the nation and the administration's work. Methods of news delivery have greatly changed over the centuries, from printed newspapers to the 24-hour television news cycle. The press even shaped construction at the White House by prompting the building of a dedicated briefing room in the West Wing. Explore the ever-changing history of the presidents, press, and the White House.
