Word: formatively
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...press. When he went before newsmen last week, he was more confident and commanding than in any other recent appearance. He still grew noticeably tense and uncomfortable when asked questions about Watergate or his personal finances, but it was clear that he has correctly sized up the press-conference format as one in which he holds the advantage (see THE PRESS...
Together, the two bristling encounters demonstrated how easily a President can control such meetings. They also underscored once again the flaws of the format. Like many skilled public men, Nixon can turn a hostile question into an opportunity to score points. For instance, when he was asked last week why White House statements conflicted concerning expenditures on his homes in San Clemente and Key Biscayne, Nixon avoided a direct answer. Instead he turned the question around, arguing that Government expenditures on San Clemente really reduced the property's value because certain Secret Service facilities infringed on the view...
Despite Nixon's antipress thrusts and the imperfections of the format, the press conference is still of great value. Aside from the election campaign and the State of the Union message, nothing in the American system requires the President to report to the public directly. A press conference gives the electorate a chance to see how the Chief Executive responds to - or dodges - at least some of the moment's major issues. The fact that the President can and usually does exercise a great deal of control over these exchanges is hardly new. Calvin Coolidge, who insisted...
While claiming that "there is no way she can beat me," he also delights in ticking off King's ostensible advantages: "A better serve, more quickness, better overhead, backhand and forehand volley, more stamina." He enjoys appearing to be the underdog who cannot lose. Because the format was changed from two sets out of three to three of five-a seeming advantage for the younger player-he claims that the betting odds should drop from 8 to 5 on him to even money. (In Las Vegas, Jimmy the Greek gives Riggs the edge...
Bishop James S. Rausch, general secretary of the United States Catholic Conference, led off by charging that the CBS decision to rebroadcast the two shows was "irresponsible and gratuitous." The principal Catholic objection: "Advocacy of abortion is unacceptable in a situation-comedy format aired ... when children are a large part of the audience...