Beginning in the 1960s, the relationship between the American press and elected officials in Washington, DC changed from informal gatherings to ceremonious, and often contentious, events. The shift was symbolized by President Richard Nixon’s converting the White House swimming pool into a press briefing room in 1969. Television, particularly 24-hour news stations, helped create this new environment. The medium contributed to the rise of political commentators and made news from Washington available continuously and instantaneously. A mistrust between the press and Washington officials—largely the result of the Vietnam War and Watergate—became part of this atmosphere.