her fist, let us in! >> photographer douglas mills is with "the new york times." >> what is going on, helen? she goes, "they've locked us out. damn, it they've locked us out." it was a tough time. >> the door stayed locked for months. >> i'm deeply honored -- >> until david gergen joined the clinton administration. >> i went to the clintons and said, can we open the door, please? and they said, yeah, let's open it. and it was seen as a symbol of, we're going to have a new day. and we began inviting reporters for dinner. they needed to spend time with the president and understand they're professionals too. it gradually healed itself. >> so can the relationship between this white house press operation and its press corps be healed? >> i think they're less interested in getting to a better relationship with the press than they are in using the press as a foil. ahead, behind the scenes in the briefing room. >> it's smaller than it looks on tv. and kind of smells like socks.