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NO, there should be no requirement about holding press conferences, as that would be an open violation of our right to free speech and our Constitution. Let's look at what is an actuality:

Every candidate, and in particular Presidential candidates will SEEK all of the publicity he or she can get...there is no need to prod them into appearing before the public, for the public is going to decide their future.

As a matter of fact, many candidates for President have avoided public press conferences and have solicited very much moderated conferences in which they arrange to present themselve in the best possible light, having given the interviewer a list of what he, the candidate, is willing to talk about.

So, what does that mean?

It means that the news media must always be on the qui vive for tricks by candidates.

News media and especially famous ones who carry some swat, should begin their interview of Presidential candidates with the words(and mean them!)," Mr.___,we have made no arrangements with you for withholding any portion of this broadcast, and you agree to answer fully our questions."

Something like that might make a good preview statement before any interrogation of a candidate.

When we look back over history, we find many different approaches of candidates who seek approval: JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY used his charm to de-fang reporters and was able to do so without losing his cool...his brother Bobby didn't do so well in that category, being impatient with reporters,

Franklin Delano Roosevelt also used charm, but he had 100% cooperation with reporters who helped him hide his paralysis deficiency to the extent that very few people knew of it.

FDR was also adept at placing his ideas in the public through his wife Eleanor.

CALVIN COOLIDGE was the pits! He refused to have ANY kind of interviews with any reporters! Once at a news conference when the governor of Vermont handed him a shovel to dig a new construction in front of thousands and a microphone,the governor said,"By this oak handle here, I recognize the solidity of your Presidential term!" Calvin, looking at the shovel handle, immediately replied,"T'aint oak, it's ash!"

In other rwords, there can be no law or arrangement to force anyone, even a Presidential candidate, to attend a press conference and say pre-arranged things monitored by the reporter.

What might be done to get the same effect for the American public, is to appoint a bi-party committee to check the physical and mental health of each Presidential

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