--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The presidential news conference is…" description: "\"The presidential news conference is indispensable because it is the only forum in our society where you can be questioned on a regular basis and held a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/helen-thomas-7044_bases_the-presidential-news-conference-is-indi_1164842.jpg" --- # The presidential news conference is indispensable because… ![“The presidential news conference is indispensable because it is the only forum in our society where you can be questioned on a regular basis and held accountable.” quote by Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/helen-thomas-7044_bases_the-presidential-news-conference-is-indi_1164842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/helen-thomas-7044_bases_the-presidential-news-conference-is-indi_1164842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f0/helen-thomas-7044_bases_the-presidential-news-conference-is-indi_1164842.jpg) > “The presidential news conference is indispensable because it is the only forum in our society where you can be questioned on a regular basis and held accountable.” [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. News conferences let the public question leaders regularly, ensuring accountability. **In simple terms:** Public questioning keeps leaders accountable. Key Takeaway Demand transparency. Themes politics media accountability Mood critical inquisitive Type journalistic political When to use this quote - election cycles - policy debates - government hearings Key Concepts public scrutiny democratic process journalism Questions to Reflect On - What questions would you ask a leader today? - How can media maintain objectivity? A Different Perspective May become hostile or superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Conference Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conference-indispensable-3351389/) [Conferences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conferences/) [Forums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forums/) [Held Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-accountable/) [Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable/) [Indispensable Forum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable-forum-3351390/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [News Conference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news-conference-567913/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Presidential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential/) [Presidential News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidential-news-3351391/) ## Related quotes > [News conference in Chicago, where he apologized for the above statement, which was accepted by the Vatican. (11 August 1966)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/news-conference-in-chicago-where-he-apologized-for-the-above/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [A news conference is a device by which the establishment keeps large numbers of reporters from covering the news every place else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/a-news-conference-is-a-device-by-which-the-establishment-keeps-large/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I always know when my agents have good news for me because they conference call me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-morgan/i-always-know-when-my-agents-have-good-news-for-me-because-they/) [Vanessa Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-morgan/) > [Politicians can and should be held accountable for their choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/politicians-can-and-should-be-held-accountable-for-their-choices/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [“It wouldn’t be right to have a responsibility and be held accountable for a job without having the authority to do it. Imagine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-wendorf/it-wouldn-t-be-right-to-have-a-responsibility-and-be-held-accountable/) [Bob Wendorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-wendorf/) > [“Setting task-oriented objectives provides a mental framework where we are held accountable for what we have control over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-manning/setting-task-oriented-objectives-provides-a-mental-framework-where-we/) [Craig Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-manning/) > [The thing about this sport is you will be held accountable for your words come a certain date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-browne/the-thing-about-this-sport-is-you-will-be-held-accountable-for-your/) [Travis Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-browne/) > [“You cannot run a scociety or cope with it’s problems if people are not held accountable for what they do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/you-cannot-run-a-scociety-or-cope-with-it-s-problems-if-people-are/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [If we don't prosecute war criminals, what's the next horrible thing they can do? 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Somebody pays, people are held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-welch/i-love-the-way-business-works-when-there-s-a-crisis-or-a-scandal/) [Suzy Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-welch/) > [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) ## More by Helen Thomas > [I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-think-when-you-re-dead-you-re/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm of Arab background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-of-arab-background/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today-has-got-to-know-his-life-or/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/there-are-better-ways-we-can-transform-this-virulent-hatred-by-living/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I think I'll work all my life. When you're having fun, why stop having fun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-think-i-ll-work-all-my-life-when-you-re-having-fun-why-stop-having/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Today, because of the immediacy of the live TV appearance with the direct quote, the presidency seems hamstrung with governing by polls and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/today-because-of-the-immediacy-of-the-live-tv-appearance-with-the/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Maybe the Jefferson case will give members of Congress second thoughts the next time they get ready to legislate away the rights of ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/maybe-the-jefferson-case-will-give-members-of-congress-second/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm a liberal, I was born a liberal, I'll be one 'til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-a-liberal-i-was-born-a-liberal-i-ll-be-one-til-i-die-what-else/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/we-are-the-only-institution-in-our-society-that-can-question-a/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I had a lot of fun bantering back and forth with Kennedy. But for ease and comfort, it would be Gerald Ford. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-had-a-lot-of-fun-bantering-back-and-forth-with-kennedy-but-for-ease/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Anybody in public life is well aware of how important the judgments of the press are. I'm firmly convinced that if the good Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-in-public-life-is-well-aware-of-how-important-the-judgments/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [All presidents rail against the press. 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