Final answer:
The White House Press Corp and the Secret Service often face tension due to their contrasting objectives; the press corps seeks open access to information, while the Secret Service focuses on information control for security. Historical precedents show this tension has existed since the Civil War, with various administrations managing press relations in different ways.
Step-by-step explanation:
The White House Press Corp is often at odds with the Secret Service due to the nature of their roles and their distinct responsibilities. The White House Press Corp seeks transparency and access to information to fulfill the public's right to know and hold the government accountable. Conversely, the Secret Service is concerned with maintaining security, which often includes restricting access to information and managing communication for the protection of the President and national interests. This conflict arises from the historical tension between the press's expectation for openness and the government's need to control the flow of information, as evidenced by various administrations using different strategies to manage press relations, from limiting questions to carefully staging military briefings, and even attempting to control journalists.
According to the readings, these tensions are not new and have been a part of the relationship between the government and the press since at least the Civil War. The desire to manage the narrative by the government, whether for security reasons or to maintain a cohesive message, often clashes with the journalistic pursuit of comprehensive and unfettered reporting.
Administration strategies vary widely, as seen in the historical examples of Woodrow Wilson's utilization of the media during WWI, George H.W. Bush's management of Gulf War coverage, and even Barack Obama's reduction of question-and-answer sessions compared to his predecessor.