THE PRESIDENCY: This Won't Hurt a Bit

Tony Vaccaro, Associated Press correspondent, was looking forward to his trip to Rio next month with President Truman. But he did not want to take a yellow-fever shot, just the same. He had been told that shots were optional. Now, as he was shoved into the White House clinic, he cried, "I don't believe in shots!" A White House physician stared at him coldly. Vaccaro was told that the President had changed the rules; all reporters had to be immunized.

With reluctant resignation, Vaccaro obeyed instructions. He lowered his pants to half mast, climbed dismally up on an operating table,...