ran 3.2 miles
On this day in 1947, President Harry Truman was filmed for the first-ever televised address from the White House. His primary topic was food-conservation, requesting Americans to decrease their consumption of grain to help starving Europeans. Europe was still rebuilding from World War II and famine was a constant struggle.
Truman, the thirty-third president, had requested farmers and distillers to slow grain use and implored the public to abstain from eating beef on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays, and to save a slice of bread each day. This food program was brief and served its purpose swiftly helping to revitalize economic growth in Europe.
In 1947, television was a new technology and exclusive to a privileged few, numbering in only thousands of homes. But by the early 1950s, televisions were in millions of households.
Each of Truman’s following White House speeches, including his 1949 inauguration speech, was aired on national television. Truman was the first president to air a paid political advertisement on television, as well, pioneering the avalanche of political ads we are bombarded with today.
1,984.4 miles to go.
On this day in 1947, President Harry Truman was filmed for the first-ever televised address from the White House. His primary topic was food-conservation, requesting Americans to decrease their consumption of grain to help starving Europeans. Europe was still rebuilding from World War II and famine was a constant struggle.
Truman, the thirty-third president, had requested farmers and distillers to slow grain use and implored the public to abstain from eating beef on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays, and to save a slice of bread each day. This food program was brief and served its purpose swiftly helping to revitalize economic growth in Europe.
In 1947, television was a new technology and exclusive to a privileged few, numbering in only thousands of homes. But by the early 1950s, televisions were in millions of households.
Each of Truman’s following White House speeches, including his 1949 inauguration speech, was aired on national television. Truman was the first president to air a paid political advertisement on television, as well, pioneering the avalanche of political ads we are bombarded with today.
1,984.4 miles to go.
Even though generally I do not like Democrats; I was born when Truman was President and have always admired his guts in making the decision to drop the two atom bombs on Japan in WWII. It was a hard decision either way but it did hasten the end of the war and ultimately save lives. His sign, "The Buck Stops Here", is such a leadership statement. Obama blames Bush for everything; Truman "manned up" and took whatever flack followed any of his decisions. I have had two students (both brought up yellow dog Democrats)who truly admired Truman and who had read extensively about him and taught me stuff. Truman is considered one of the top ten presidents; the list will probably be revised one day to include Reagan so someone will have to go; I hope it is not Truman.
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