While Viewing To organize notes while viewing the press conference, use the Presidential Press Conference Worksheet.
Students should look for:
1. The opening statement and other factors that set the tone.
2. The kinds of questions that are asked and the responses given.
3. The president's various audiences and his goals with each.
4. The motivations/biases of the members of the media.
4. Any point during the conference when the president was caught off guard, did not give an answer, or gave a surprising answer.
4. Any point during the conference when a member of the media was caught off guard, did not give an answer, or gave a surprising answer.

After Viewing Review any new information the students have gained. Did the president accomplish his goal(s)? Was the press conference effective? Did the members of the media accomplish their goals? Are there any questions students would have asked that the press corp did not?

Follow-up Activity President Bush is not the only president to give a news conference. Watch the historic press conferences of former Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Ford and compare and contrast their abilities to President Bush's. Are they more or less effective? How so? Do they use any of the same strategies? How is the press different (or the same)?