Today marks 70 years since the first-ever televised presidential address was delivered by President Harry Truman, marking a defining moment in the way presidents communicate with the public. The Onion looks back at the most important moments in presidential communication.
February 4, 1789
George Washington makes history by becoming the first president to communicate with the public by opening his mouth and making words come out
January 9, 1790
In an effort to keep the public informed, Washington delivers the first-ever State Of The Union address after realizing that no one had been reading his Union Roundup monthly newsletter
March 4, 1865
Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address is interrupted by repeated shouts from the audience to do Gettysburg
May 10, 1877
The first White House telephone allows Rutherford B. Hayes to communicate seamlessly with anyone standing in Alexander Graham Bell’s living room
June 14, 1922
Warren G. Harding delivers the first presidential radio address, nicknaming himself “Dr. Hardball” and the American people “The Wolf Pack” for the occasion
September 6, 1936
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats grow in popularity when he begins talking about pressing national issues rather than just describing the fire
August 17, 1994
Bill Clinton sends the first-ever presidential email to John Glenn, warning of an imminent threat faced by the nation if he doesn’t send this email to 12 additional people
October 12, 2004
George W. Bush becomes the first president to appear in a three-episode arc of NCIS to promote his No Child Left Behind act
May 18, 2015
In a major social media milestone, Barack Obama establishes the now defunct @POTUS Twitter account
October 3, 2017
Future 48th president Hayley Gutierrez snapchats her best friend being so drunk that she throws up in a mailbox
