President Obama Bypasses White House Press Corps for Other Q&A Opportunities
EmailPresident Obama talks to the White House press corps far fewer than his predecessors, but he gives more interviews to a variety of folks, ranging from news anchors to late-night comedians to members of the public via social media.
This is the conclusion of a study of such interactions by political science professor Martha Kumar of Towson University. Kumar studies how White Houses interact with the media; her numbers were first reported by The Hill earlier this week.
Kumar says that President Obama has held 17 solo White House news conferences at the White House so far, more than President George W. Bush (11) at this point in his presidency, but fewer than President Bill Clinton (31), President George H.W. Bush (56), and President Reagan (21).
The total of solo press conferences he’s had anywhere — such as on foreign soil after a summit – is 29. George W. Bush’s total is 11 — he didn’t hold any solo press conferences outside the White House up to this point. Bill Clinton held 40 solo press conferences in his first three years; George H.W. Bush held 72; Reagan held 21.
President Obama has been far more reluctant to engage in impromptu back and forth with reporters, at photo sprays and the like. President Obama has taken questions at 94 such events.
For Bush Jr. that number was 307; for Bill Clinton, 493; for Bush Sr., 263; for Reagan 120.
Mr. Obama has given more interviews: 408. His predecessor at this point had given 136 interviews, while Bill Clinton had given 166. Reagan gave 164. (Numbers for George H.W. Bush are still being researched.)
As Brian Stelter of the New York Times points out Mr. Obama’s interviews have been with myriad inquisitors, from ABC News World News anchor Diane Sawyer last week to users of Google+ this week. Mr. Obama was the first sitting president to come on “The Tonight Show,” for instance.
In terms of the total number of remarks he has made to citizens — not including any exchanges with reporters, but including remarks to folks in line at a burger joint to formal addresses to the nation and the State of the Union address — President Obama has made 1,436.
For Bush Jr., that number at this point in his presidency is 1,475; Clinton – 1,513; Bush Sr. – 1,180; Reagan – 953.
-Jake Tapper
*This post has been updated with the very latest scholarship from Professor Kumar who came into our booth to give the latest numbers! Thanks, professor!
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“President Obama has taken questions at 94 such events.”
How many of his answers went down a bunny hole?
Posted by: foggy | February 2, 2012, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
“President Obama has been far more reluctant to engage in impromptu back and forth with reporters, at photo sprays and the like. President Obama has taken questions at 94 such events. For Bush Jr. that number was 307; for Bill Clinton, 493.”
He can’t say, “Cut. I didn’t like the way I said that. Let’s tape it again” when he takes impromptu questions. He NEEDS to control what is being aired. And the so called “journalists” keep letting him do it.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | February 2, 2012, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Like all dictators, Obama only goes where he is presented in a positive light. He silences his critics, in much the same manner as any other dictator.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 2, 2012, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
and i thought bush jr was a chicken and avoiding the press. this really is news because he has avoided the media and they let him. i am sure the media will thow him softballs during the debate as well.
Posted by: catman | February 2, 2012, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
“Bush Jr. that number was 307; for Bill Clinton, 493.”———————-Didn’t both of them have 8 years ( i.e. 2 terms ) in order to rack up those numbers ? I think they did…
Posted by: davem | February 2, 2012, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
That’s because it’s easier to script questions when dealing with an individual. No big surprise here.
Posted by: newcountryman | February 2, 2012, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Why do you think Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos have an open invitation? Sheesh! It’s a no brainer. He begins to get out of his element otherwise. When is the last time this president had an open press conference?
Posted by: newcountryman | February 2, 2012, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
“Didn’t both of them have 8 years ( i.e. 2 terms ) in order to rack up those numbers ?”
It would be so nice if you would spend a little less time defending Barry and a little more time reading the post you are commenting on.
Posted by: foggy | February 2, 2012, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
I think President Obama gives more interviews to a variety of folks – No surprise here…
Posted by: Debt Relief | February 2, 2012, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
When you can control your fluff questions from the liberal media, why take questions from hard hitting investigative reporters? But what’s his problem, hard hitting investigative reporters only slap down conservatives…the President has it made!
Posted by: CajunW | February 2, 2012, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
President Obama knows he has to take his message to the American people who have more common sense and understanding of his programs and policies than do the pundits and other taking heads in the press. He’s smart and articulate and can talk directly to the people as well as Bill Clinton does
Posted by: tmferretti | February 2, 2012, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Well Jake then it is obvious he is in complete calpaign mode and only wants questions he has rehearsed with the softball questions by the network news faux journalists. I hope if you get an opportunity that you and the rest of the corps journalists act like real ones and ask him the tough questions.
Posted by: MIKE | February 2, 2012, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
t would be so nice if you would spend a little less time defending Barry —————Just where exactly did I “defend Barry ” ? I just pointed out a double standard . When Mr. Obama has had 8 years to do press conferences , then that statistic will be relevant and cogent , but not before. How many such Q&A press conferences had Mr. Bush done after 3 years would be more correct , fair and honest questioning . But obviously the original poster wasn’t really trying to be fair or honest , attempting to disingenuously paint Mr. Obama as a secretive president who is either afraid to , or just cannot / will not answer questions from the press ,which in truth could not be farther from the truth .
Posted by: davem | February 2, 2012, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
President Obama has held 17 solo White House news conferences at the White House more than President George W. Bush (11) at this point in his presidency.
Posted by: Clearly | February 2, 2012, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
CLEARLY makes a good point. 6 more press conferences than Bush within the same time frame. I know the right would love everyone to just forget the Bush presidency every happened but the problem is that facts keep getting in the way. Interesting how the right wingers posting here are taking the side of the press on this one. I guess if it’s an attack on the President, its ok.
Posted by: dan | February 2, 2012, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
davem…obama is secretive and cant talk coherently without a telepromter. bill clinton was one of the best and obama cant hold a candle to him. bills off the cuff stuff was excellent, obamas off the cuff stuff left us with 57 states and rural people clinging to guns and religion.
we already know more about romney than obama. god help we dont re elect him because he is twisting scripture to support his warped logic.
Posted by: catman | February 2, 2012, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
“I just pointed out a double standard .”
The only person on the planet that thinks they are comparing 3 years of Barry to 8 years of the other presidents is you.
Posted by: foggy | February 2, 2012, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
President Obama is as good as Bill Clinton was in explaining his positions to average working Americans. He is not afraid of the press and I’ve never seen him lose it when they ask him personal questions. He seems to enjoy the give and take, as JFK did in his press conferences.
Posted by: tmferretti | February 2, 2012, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Why should Mr Obama deal at all with this Press Corps? Even a blind man can see that they have become biased against the President,asking unfair questions and spouting half-truths. I suspect it is an effort to correct the myths about the favorable press that Mr Obama never seems to get.Last month’s question about Mr Obama’s transcripts takes the cake.Mr. Obama doesn’t have to put himself through their nonsense; he can make his case directly to the people without the filter of a press that does not treat him fairly.
Posted by: gobama | February 2, 2012, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
“Bush Jr. that number was 307; for Bill Clinton, 493.”———————-Didn’t both of them have 8 years ( i.e. 2 terms ) in order to rack up those numbers ? I think they did…POSTED BY: DAVEM | FEBRUARY 2, 2012, 1:01 PM 1:01 PM
Can you read, it clearly states “at this point” not after 8 years.
GOBAMA, the liberal press which is Pres.Obamas cheer leading section, having excuses after excuses for everything he does and says, and you call them biased, against whom, not the President.
Posted by: Lizzie | February 2, 2012, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
The total of solo press conferences he’s (Obama) had anywhere — such as on foreign soil after a summit – is 29. George W. Bush’s total is 11.
Posted by: Gray | February 2, 2012, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
NewsCorp (parent company of Fox News) donated to the RNC in 2010.
Obama is wise not to trust the companies who are funding his political enemies.
Posted by: LizFL | February 4, 2012, 7:39 am 7:39 am