President Truman's News Conference, April 17, 1952

President Harry S. Truman's 300th news conference, held in the auditorium of the National Museum of Natural History (U.S.), Washington, D.C., at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 17, 1952. The news conference was held for the American Society of Newspaper Editors as well as the regular White House newspaper correspondents. Motion pictures and still photographs were taken at the conference. Topics discussed include: introduction and statement by the President's Secretary, Joseph H. Short, on press protocol; statement of appreciation to the President by Alexander F. Jones, of the Syracuse Herald-Journal, President of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. President Truman states his appreciation of the refurbished White House and that he is an avid student of presidential history, and his views on the role of the presidency; the firing of Newbold Morris, Assistant Attorney General; President Truman's role in drawing up the Democratic platform of 1952; President Truman's view of the role of ex-Presidents; the flood near Council Bluffs, Iowa, and funding for programs for flood control; Truman is asked what his greatest contribution has been on domestic policy; what is the most important issue of the 1952 election?; would Truman consider taking the Presidency of the University of Missouri; could the President seize newspapers and radio stations, as well as steel mills?; two term limit for the presidency; peace in Korea; the Wage Board settlement on the steel companies; and the President is asked to state for the record what his complaints are about the Press. Those mentioned in the news conference include: Dwight D. Eisenhower, W. Averell Harriman, Adlai Stevenson, Tom Connally, Estes Kefauver, Forrest Smith, and James Byrnes. Audio in two parts.