| THE PRODUCER AND THE PRESIDENT TV Guide October 20, 1954 |
| Robert Montgomery reveals the facts about the White House telecasts |
To a sizable repertory of public roles--actor, director, news commentator, TV
producer--Robert Montgomery during the past year has added another.
Its official title is "White House staff consultant," and it has plunged the producer of the
weekly Robert Montgomery Presents into the national political scene up to his favorite white
collar and plaid tie.
It is common knowledge that Montgomery is associated with President Eisenhower's TV,
radio and newsreel appearances. The exact nature of his duties, however, has inspired
numerous published interpretations--primarily, Montgomery feels, misinterpretations.
He welcomed, therefore, TV GUIDE's invitation to set the record straight.
He is not, Montgomery stresses, the President's "coach." "Coaching" the President of the
United States would be, he feels, the height of presumptuousness. No attempt has been made
to "overhaul" or glamorize the President; to alter his appearance, his gestures, his personal
mannerisms.
"Mr. Eisenhower," says Montgomery, "is a public figure, not an actor. He has a right--and an
obligation--to appear to the public as he is; not as someone else wants him to appear."
With this as the No. 1 consideration, Montgomery volunteers suggestions designed to "help
project Mr. Eisenhower's own personality and thoughts in as natural a manner as possible."
A basic preliminary, he reports, was careful scrutiny for some three months of the
President's habitual behavior away from cameras.
"If you watch how a man does things himself--at the office, at home, in public--you gain
enough knowledge of him to be able to say, 'All right, these are the methods he, as an
indiviual, ordinarily uses to convey what he wants to say.' Extending these methods into
television requires no magic, no gazing into glass bowls.
"People had told Mr. Eisenhower with tremendous authority, 'Don't do this,' 'Always do that,'
'Sit this way,' 'Never stand that way.'"
Montgomery's advice was, "Ignore the advice."
Thus, in Denver recently, when the President hesitated about reaching down and
consulting a set of figures because he had been admonished against openly reading on TV,
Montgomery urged him to do whatever seemed easy and appropriate.
On an earlier occasion, when Mr. Eisenhower indicated he was concerned about
inconveniencing cameramen, Montgomery advised, "Whatever you want to do, Mr. President,
do. It's the technicians' obligation to make you comfortable."
When he first addressed Congress, Mr. Eisenhower bent over a waist-high lectern. This
had several disadvantages--it gave some members of the audience little opportunity to see his
face; it highlighted a Presidential bald spot; it caused discomfort.
Montgomery borrowed a White House music stand and kept adjusting its height until the
President could use it standing upright. A less unorthodox lectern of similar height was
prepared afterward.
When chatting in his office, the President often paces back and forth behind his desk;
occasionally he walks in front of the desk and perches himself on its edge. At Montgomery's
suggestion, all these movements have been incorporated into informal television talks.
Even in the case of more formal speeches, everything possible is done to assure the
President a maximum degree of comfort.
Montgomery has been responsible for other changes, too.
One was Mr. Eisenhower's switch from heavy, horn-rimmed glasses to more flattering
glasses with lighter rims. The earlier type was reportedly recommended by no less a fashion
arbiter than British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. When apprised of this report,
Montgomery grinned and observed, "There's nothing I'd argue with Mr. Churchill
about--except his technical knowledge of how best to present the President of the United
States."
The location and intensity of telecast lights have been regulated to eliminate Presidential
squinting. ("Sometimes, literally, he couldn't see.") For the same reason, a layer of felt has
been spread over the President's highly polished desk top.
Occasionally Montgomery makes a sartorial suggestion. When Mr. Eisenhower recently was
scheduled to speak in Hollywood Bowl, where a dark suit against the Bowl's dark background
would have eclipsed all but the President's head, Montgomery's wardrobe recommendation
was a contrasting light gray suit.
Montgomery has recommended the President's use of a mechanical cuing device which, in
player-piano style, unreels the entire text of a speech--but only on certain occasions.
"Ideally," he says, "the President usues a cue sheet and notes. For what we call his 'State
of the Program' speech, he spoke for 30 minutes, yet had only 40 words in his notes."
Montgomery first met Mr. Eisenhower, then president of Columbia University, as one of
some 400 guests at a Columbia dinner in 1951. A more personal, two-hour meeting occurred
at SHAPE headquarters, near Paris, shortly before Mr. Eisenhower's nomination for the
Presidency.
James Hagerty, the President's press secretary and Montgomery's direct superior, is an old
friend. He and Montgomery collaborated on various ballot-luring projects during the first
Dewey campaign in 1944.
Hagerty telephoned Montgomery early last December, inviting him to an 8 A.M. White
House breakfast two Saturdays before Christmas Eve. Topic A at the breakfast, attended by
the President and six other G.O.P. dignitaries, was: communications, in terms of TV. The
discussion continued in the President's office. At its close, the White House post was offered
and accepted.
Montgomery returned to Washington three days before the annual White House Christmas
tree-lighting ceremony. Since the Presidential telecast on that occasion, Montgomery has
contributed ideas toward every Presidential speech at the White House, in Congress and at
grass-root rallies.
As a staff consultant, Montgomery occupies one of several executive offices in the White
House, directly above the President's, and has the services of a secretary. He puts in one or
two days a week at the job.
His specific duties include the checking of camera and light locations, the physical setup of
the studio and its acoustical qualities, and the presence of stand-by cameras and audio
facilities.
Montgomery receives neither pay nor expenses, feels they would be completely out of order
in connection with this, his most exciting assignment and the high point of his career.
"Mr. Eisenhower's wisdom, ability, integrity and genuine modesty become immediately
apparent if you spend 15 minutes with him," he says. "It's important that these qualities be
projected to the people who have elected him.
"If you believe so thoroughly in a man and his program, how much better can you do in
point of service?"
producer--Robert Montgomery during the past year has added another.
Its official title is "White House staff consultant," and it has plunged the producer of the
weekly Robert Montgomery Presents into the national political scene up to his favorite white
collar and plaid tie.
It is common knowledge that Montgomery is associated with President Eisenhower's TV,
radio and newsreel appearances. The exact nature of his duties, however, has inspired
numerous published interpretations--primarily, Montgomery feels, misinterpretations.
He welcomed, therefore, TV GUIDE's invitation to set the record straight.
He is not, Montgomery stresses, the President's "coach." "Coaching" the President of the
United States would be, he feels, the height of presumptuousness. No attempt has been made
to "overhaul" or glamorize the President; to alter his appearance, his gestures, his personal
mannerisms.
"Mr. Eisenhower," says Montgomery, "is a public figure, not an actor. He has a right--and an
obligation--to appear to the public as he is; not as someone else wants him to appear."
With this as the No. 1 consideration, Montgomery volunteers suggestions designed to "help
project Mr. Eisenhower's own personality and thoughts in as natural a manner as possible."
A basic preliminary, he reports, was careful scrutiny for some three months of the
President's habitual behavior away from cameras.
"If you watch how a man does things himself--at the office, at home, in public--you gain
enough knowledge of him to be able to say, 'All right, these are the methods he, as an
indiviual, ordinarily uses to convey what he wants to say.' Extending these methods into
television requires no magic, no gazing into glass bowls.
"People had told Mr. Eisenhower with tremendous authority, 'Don't do this,' 'Always do that,'
'Sit this way,' 'Never stand that way.'"
Montgomery's advice was, "Ignore the advice."
Thus, in Denver recently, when the President hesitated about reaching down and
consulting a set of figures because he had been admonished against openly reading on TV,
Montgomery urged him to do whatever seemed easy and appropriate.
On an earlier occasion, when Mr. Eisenhower indicated he was concerned about
inconveniencing cameramen, Montgomery advised, "Whatever you want to do, Mr. President,
do. It's the technicians' obligation to make you comfortable."
When he first addressed Congress, Mr. Eisenhower bent over a waist-high lectern. This
had several disadvantages--it gave some members of the audience little opportunity to see his
face; it highlighted a Presidential bald spot; it caused discomfort.
Montgomery borrowed a White House music stand and kept adjusting its height until the
President could use it standing upright. A less unorthodox lectern of similar height was
prepared afterward.
When chatting in his office, the President often paces back and forth behind his desk;
occasionally he walks in front of the desk and perches himself on its edge. At Montgomery's
suggestion, all these movements have been incorporated into informal television talks.
Even in the case of more formal speeches, everything possible is done to assure the
President a maximum degree of comfort.
Montgomery has been responsible for other changes, too.
One was Mr. Eisenhower's switch from heavy, horn-rimmed glasses to more flattering
glasses with lighter rims. The earlier type was reportedly recommended by no less a fashion
arbiter than British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. When apprised of this report,
Montgomery grinned and observed, "There's nothing I'd argue with Mr. Churchill
about--except his technical knowledge of how best to present the President of the United
States."
The location and intensity of telecast lights have been regulated to eliminate Presidential
squinting. ("Sometimes, literally, he couldn't see.") For the same reason, a layer of felt has
been spread over the President's highly polished desk top.
Occasionally Montgomery makes a sartorial suggestion. When Mr. Eisenhower recently was
scheduled to speak in Hollywood Bowl, where a dark suit against the Bowl's dark background
would have eclipsed all but the President's head, Montgomery's wardrobe recommendation
was a contrasting light gray suit.
Montgomery has recommended the President's use of a mechanical cuing device which, in
player-piano style, unreels the entire text of a speech--but only on certain occasions.
"Ideally," he says, "the President usues a cue sheet and notes. For what we call his 'State
of the Program' speech, he spoke for 30 minutes, yet had only 40 words in his notes."
Montgomery first met Mr. Eisenhower, then president of Columbia University, as one of
some 400 guests at a Columbia dinner in 1951. A more personal, two-hour meeting occurred
at SHAPE headquarters, near Paris, shortly before Mr. Eisenhower's nomination for the
Presidency.
James Hagerty, the President's press secretary and Montgomery's direct superior, is an old
friend. He and Montgomery collaborated on various ballot-luring projects during the first
Dewey campaign in 1944.
Hagerty telephoned Montgomery early last December, inviting him to an 8 A.M. White
House breakfast two Saturdays before Christmas Eve. Topic A at the breakfast, attended by
the President and six other G.O.P. dignitaries, was: communications, in terms of TV. The
discussion continued in the President's office. At its close, the White House post was offered
and accepted.
Montgomery returned to Washington three days before the annual White House Christmas
tree-lighting ceremony. Since the Presidential telecast on that occasion, Montgomery has
contributed ideas toward every Presidential speech at the White House, in Congress and at
grass-root rallies.
As a staff consultant, Montgomery occupies one of several executive offices in the White
House, directly above the President's, and has the services of a secretary. He puts in one or
two days a week at the job.
His specific duties include the checking of camera and light locations, the physical setup of
the studio and its acoustical qualities, and the presence of stand-by cameras and audio
facilities.
Montgomery receives neither pay nor expenses, feels they would be completely out of order
in connection with this, his most exciting assignment and the high point of his career.
"Mr. Eisenhower's wisdom, ability, integrity and genuine modesty become immediately
apparent if you spend 15 minutes with him," he says. "It's important that these qualities be
projected to the people who have elected him.
"If you believe so thoroughly in a man and his program, how much better can you do in
point of service?"
| TV and newsreel cameras cover address by the President to his fellow citizens. |
| Robert Montgomery runs gamut of facial expressions and gestures as he discusses part he plays in Presidential telecasts. |
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BIOGRAPHY
RM Bio
FILMOGRAPHY
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PHOTOS
Portraits, Candids,
Stills, Family, Covers
ROBERT
MONTGOMERY
PRESENTS
TV Series
BOB'S BEWITCHING
DAUGHTER:
Elizabeth Montgomery
THE SON ALSO RISES:
Robert Montgomery, Jr.
ALL IN THE FAMILY:
Elizabeth Allen &
Martha-Bryan Allen
PRINT THE LEGEND
Vintage Articles
RADIO DAYS
Radio Appearances
BRIGHT LIGHTS
OF BROADWAY
Broadway Appearances
BOB AT HOME
Pictorial of Homes
LEADING LADIES
Co-stars
THE ONES THAT
GOT AWAY
Unrealized Projects
STORE
Purchase
Videos/DVDs, Etc.
WANTED PAGE
Stuff I'm looking for
LINKS
Best of the web
GUESTBOOK
Leave your message
SITE MAP
Guide to exploring the
site
CONTACT THE
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