QUESTIONS:
1. Since the job evolved in the 1930s, most White House press secretaries have come from backgrounds in print journalism. Who was the first presidential press secretary to have been a television newscaster?
2. Ron Ziegler, Richard Nixon's press secretary, died recently at age 63. How many former White House press secretaries are now living?
3. Who was the only presidential press secretary to later run for office?
4. Who was the youngest White House press secretary?
5. How many presidential press secretaries died on the job?
ANSWERS:
1. Ron Nessen, who was President Ford's press secretary from 1974-76, had been a correspondent for NBC.
2. Eleven: Pierre Salinger (John Kennedy's press secretary, 1961-63), Jerry terHorst (Gerald Ford, 1974), Nessen, (Jody Powell (Carter, 1976-80), James Brady (Reagan, 1981), Larry Speakes (Reagan, 1981-87), Marlin Fitzwater (Reagan and Bush, 1987-92), DeeDee Myers (Clinton, 1993), George Stephanopolous (Clinton, 1993-96), Michael McCurry (Clinton, 1996-99), and Joe Lockhart (Clinton, 1999-2000).
3. Salinger, who was appointed Democratic U.S. senator from California in 1964 but was defeated for a full term that fall.
4. Ziegler, who was 29.
5. Two: Charles Ross, President Truman's press secretary from 1945 until his death in 1950, and Joseph Short, who succeeded Ross in 1950 and died in 1952.
