CONFESSIONS OF A POLITICAL FLACK

What I learned in my few months as Eugene McCarthy’s press secretary

Senator Eugene McCarthy campaigning for president in Seattle, August 15, 1968. / Stumanusa/CC

Last weekend the New York Times published a report that President Biden has been missing in action in recent months when it comes to serious question-and-answer sessions with the Washington press corps. The obvious reason for the lack of press conferences is “to protect” the president from unscripted exchanges that often result in missteps and confusion.