Worked for 3 White House press secretaries -- here's some advice for the next one

The U.S. has seen an unusually brief White House press secretary tenure: five days. With a new spokesperson soon taking over the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, the challenge is both high-profile and structurally complex. Brady’s story—his role lasting about 10 weeks after a bullet meant for President Ronald Reagan—left a legacy in the room’s name. In Reagan’s era, three press secretaries shaped an approach: Larry Speakes taught the need to be ready before the podium; Marlin Fitzwater showed credibility must not be spent on claims. The job’s three masters—president, press, and public—can be aligned only through trust.