Nate Assignment 7

On October 5, 1947, the first presidential speech was televised. President Harry Truman called for Americans to cut down on their use of grain in order to aid starving Europeans. The speech contributed to ongoing relief for European refugees of World War II. But this was not where it had its greatest impact. This speech would revolutionize the relationship between the President and the American people. While the revolution may have started in 1947, its effects wouldn't be seen on a large scale until much later. Most people of the time couldn't afford such advanced technology. Today, we couldn't imagine a relationship with the White House that doesn't run through our TV screens. While there were some negative effects like the presence now of annoying political ads, I generally believe this was a positive event because it broadened the communication between the top of our government and the rest of us.