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No, but the president's staff does prepare him extensively, rehearsing stock answers to likely questions. The president also undergoes a mock press conference immediately before the real one takes place. While press conferences rarely feature news-worthy pronouncements or policy shifts, they often reveal a president's leadership style. For a great discussion of presidential press conferences, we refer you to an archived radio piece from WBUR's "The Connection." Ever since Woodrow Wilson gave the first press conference in 1913, every administration has interpreted the format differently. President George W. Bush is not a huge fan of press
conferences. He has held only a dozen over the course of his administration. His predecessors, including his father, were much more amenable to them. The White House, however, is constantly communicating with the press. Their web site offers transcripts of daily press briefings with Press Secretary Scott McClellan, which are often quite fascinating.
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