Books, Arts & Manners: Never Apologize

Reagan press conferences are getting hard to bear. The President appears poorly briefed much of the time, and he is often at a loss for a crisp answer. He finds it impossible to say directly that the reason we have armed forces along the coasts of Central America is to prevent that part of our own continent from going Communist. He seems apologetic.

The press conference has also become a degrading ritual. Callow reporters seem eager to show their stuff by putting the Big Man on the spot. Instead of trying to elicit information, they try to pose philosophical questions. Candy Crowley, of AP Network News, made her debut at the most recent conference by asking Reagan if, assuming he deplores the use of force, our naval maneuvers off Central America are an appropriate “signal” to send. It was up to the President of the United States to justify himself to Candy. His answer rambled embarrassingly.

JS

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Joseph Sobran

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Reagan press conferences are getting hard to bear. The President appears poorly briefed much of the time, and he is often at a loss for a crisp answer. He finds it impossible to say directly that the reason we have armed forces along the coasts of Central America is to prevent that part of our own continent from going Communist. He seems apologetic.

The press conference has also become a degrading ritual. Callow reporters seem eager to show their stuff by putting the Big Man on the spot. Instead of trying to elicit information, they try to pose philosophical questions. Candy Crowley, of AP Network News, made her debut at the most recent conference by asking Reagan if, assuming he deplores the use of force, our naval maneuvers off Central America are an appropriate “signal” to send. It was up to the President of the United States to justify himself to Candy. His answer rambled embarrassingly.