HNN Poll: Should Presidents Read Newspapers?

"It's not to say I don't respect the press. I do respect the press. But sometimes it's hard to be an optimistic leader. A leader must project an optimistic view. It's hard to be optimistic if you read a bunch of stuff about yourself." -- President Bush, in an interview with British journalist Martin Newland, Nov. 14, 2003

In a recent interview President Bush revealed that he doesn't read newspapers. Though he occasionally glances at the headlines, he relies on his advisors to provide him with "objective" accounts, "And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world." He said this has been his practice since he became president.

President Bush's reliance on aides for news is at variance with the previous occupants of his office. President Eisenhower, according to his press secretary, read nine newspapers a day. President Kennedy also read multiple newspapers; to digest the news quickly he famously signed up for Evelyn Wood's speed reading course--and insisted that other high officials do as well. Lyndon Johnson was by his own confession a news junkie.

Richard Nixon began his day by reading a special news digest, upwards of sixty pages, prepared by aides (including Patrick Buchanan) that reported on the contents of dozens of papers across the country. Although the digest was often packed to suit Nixon's biases (aides included articles that played to his prejudices against liberals), the news summary offered an extraordinarily broad exposure to events and views. Nixon would jot his reactions to stories in the margins, indicating the action he wanted officials to take in response to developments. Biographer Stephen Ambrose observed that Nixon in effect governed the country through these jottings.

Ronald Reagan was an avid reader of newspapers. His ex-wife Jane Wyman confessed to friends that she was bored by his constant diatribes about news. Both Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clifton read the papers daily.

Our question of the week: Should presidents read the papers?

Bush's Interview (Fox News, September 23, 2003)

HUME: How do you get your news?

BUSH: I get briefed by Andy Card and Condi in the morning. They come in and tell me. In all due respect, you've got a beautiful face and everything.

I glance at the headlines just to kind of a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves. But like Condoleezza, in her case, the national security adviser is getting her news directly from the participants on the world stage.

HUME: Has that been your practice since day one, or is that a practice that you've...

BUSH: Practice since day one.

HUME: Really?

BUSH: Yes. You know, look, I have great respect for the media. I mean, our society is a good, solid democracy because of a good, solid media. But I also understand that a lot of times there's opinions mixed in with news. And I...

HUME: I won't disagree with that, sir.

BUSH: I appreciate people's opinions, but I'm more interested in news. And the best way to get the news is from objective sources. And the most objective sources I have are people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world.