Gibbs Steps it Up for Freedom of the Press in India

American and Indian officials had agreed to allow a group of eight American reporters, known as the “pool,” into the beginning of the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

But when the time came for them to enter, Indian officials refused to allow more than five of them. Gibbs loudly protested the change, and at one point threatened to pull Mr. Obama out of the meeting with the prime minister if the security officials did not relent.

“At one point, Gibbs literally had his foot lodged in the closing front door, asking if the Indian security officials pushing hard to shut it were going to break his foot,” reports Scott Wilson of the Washington Post. “More angry words ensued, and after Gibbs convinced them, through high volume and repetition, that he was serious about pulling POTUS, we all made it inside.” More at NYT