WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 8

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN.

• AN OCCUPATION GONE. MR. HOOVER'S NEW RULE. [FROM OUR OWN CORTvESPONPFVT. ] NEW YORK. March 10. The "\yhite House Spokesman'' has been banished by President Hoover, who has announced that he will do his own talking, as far as the press is concerned. The "Spokesman" got his position under President Taffc, under the title of "White House official." President Wilson issued a direction that- he was not to bo quoted directly. Duringgthe period of America's participation in the Great War, the "Spokesman" stood down temporarily. He emerged into the spotlight of publicity under President Harding, who made him a daily channel for the dissemination of Presidential thought on passing events. Mr. Harding was the first President during the "Spokesman's" career to inline ' the press to commit to writing any questions they wished to ask him. Tins proved to b.e a boomerang, as the Opposition press made capital of the fact that the President, declined to answer this question or that. Mr. Harding then directed that his silence was not to be commented on. Mr. Coolidge maintained -he "Spokesman" as a live factor in the transmission of his ideas to the nation. He was always frank in his meetings with the representatives of the press, and answered all questions put to him. The disguise was getting thin. The press was taking liberties with the Spokesman." Evidently, President Hoo\*er is of opinion that if he has any-» thing to say, he'll "tell the world through President Hoover himself. announcement has been greeted wit praise from the press.