Back in college, we developed a drinking game for the State of the Union addresses. Every time there was applause, that was one drink. Standing ovation? Two drinks. After about 10 minutes, we couldn't drink anymore.
And we owe those glory days to one brave American president who broke one of the greatest barriers known to man — appearing on television.
Once considered radical and experimental, TV would quickly become adopted by even the most powerful person in the world. It took courage, valor, and the ability to speak at least somewhat coherently to boldly reach this milestone in American history. Who was the first U.S. president to appear on television?
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Correct Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt
The answer is: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Good old Franky D, president #32, was the first to ever grace the screens of the American People. While only in black and white, he made the first official presidential TV debut on April 30, 1939, as part of the opening ceremony of the World’s Fair. You could say he really showed up for America that day, although only people in Manhattan could catch the broadcast.Source
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