How the star of “Lost in Space” and “Lassie”, 100 years old, June Lockhart obtained a press pass of the White House for life
June Lockhart, the star of classic television shows like Lost in space And Kidwas 100 years old on Wednesday, but a less known aspect of his career was his time spent during the press conferences of the White House.
For decades, Lockhart wanted to attend the briefings every time she was in Washington, DC, and even holds a press pass for life at the complex, which was given to her by the press secretary of Dwight D. Eisenhower, James Hagety.
Her publicist, Harlan Boll, told Deadline that she thought that the pass is still good, but had not had to use it for some time and has no intention of using it now.
The daughter of actors Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, June Lockhart, had already appeared in many stages, cinema and television in the 1950s when she appeared as a panellist in the game, Who said that? In this program, a host read a quote from current events and the panel of celebrities and journalists had to guess who said it. Among those she met, there were correspondents of the White House, and she was fascinated by their world of politics, news and journalism.
According to the New York Post, Merriman Smith of Upi helped put it in place with the two presidential campaigns in 1956, and she traveled with the press corps. The following year, when she and Hugh Downs replaced Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg in their television program, she interviewed Hagerty, and she also saw, in person, her first presidential press conference.
Addressing the columnist Mel Heimer that year, she qualified as “journalistic buff”, while expressing her interest in organizing an interview program. “I have bizarre respect and admiration for journalists and nothing would make me happier than throwing out my fate with them.” At the time, however, television leaders had mixed feelings at the idea of having a woman in this role, Heimer wrote. “They are half half and half against this,” she told the columnist.
Lockhart continued to play Kid And Lost in spaceTwo television classics, but over the years, continued to visit the White House. “Whatever the administration or who is the press secretary, I had this great to be able to go to briefings,” Lockhart told Bob Edwards from NPR in 2004. It was also the year she attended a briefing for the last time, depending on the position.
“The work makes the rest possible,” said Lockhart at NPR. “It is a way to end to be able to continue my interests.”
