(CLO) The way the US Presidential inauguration is presented to the public has changed significantly throughout history.
Millions of people across the United States are expected to watch President-elect Donald Trump's second inauguration. Television networks, online newspapers and social media are preparing to 'live stream' the big event.
But in the past, inaugural speeches weren't always broadcast live immediately. In 1789, when then-President George Washington took the oath of office, his speech wasn't released until several days later.
Thomas Jefferson was the first president to have his inaugural address published in the newspaper on the day he was sworn in in 1801. By the time of President James Polk, inaugural addresses were telegraphed, and were illustrated for the first time in newspapers.
Sketch of James Polk being sworn in as president. This was the first inauguration to be published as a newspaper illustration. Photo: Library of Congress
Inaugural sketches continued to be used for the next 12 years, until photography became more frequently used.
Photography and video were gradually used in these ceremonies, starting with President James Buchanan in 1857. He was the first president to have his photograph taken while taking the oath of office.
James Buchanan was the first president to have his photograph taken at his inauguration. Photo: US Library of Congress
Forty years later, video was used to record inaugurations for the public. In 1901, President William McKinley appeared on camera at his inauguration, even though only silent films were available at the time.
When television had sound, in 1921, Warren Harding became the first president to use a megaphone to address a crowd. Then in 2025, President Calvin Coolidge broadcast his inauguration on the radio, reaching over 23 million listeners.
When television became popular after World War II, President Harry Truman's inauguration in 1949 was the first event to be broadcast live.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy was the first to broadcast an inauguration in color. Kennedy said in his speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan brought the solemn atmosphere of the inauguration to cities across the United States via satellite. Then, President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1997 was the first time the event was broadcast live on the Internet in the context of the strong development of this technology.
Barack Obama, the first president to join Twitter, generated more than a million tweets from his 2013 inaugural address. By 2017, when Trump was sworn in, smartphone ownership had increased by 77 percent, and mobile carriers were installing antennas to support the sharing of photos and videos on social media.
In 2021, President Joe Biden's inauguration took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of the action moving online. "The world is watching all of us today," Biden said. "So here's my message to those beyond our borders: America has been tested, and we've come out stronger for it."
Hoai Phuong (according to Fox, ABC)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lich-su-dua-tin-le-nham-chuc-tong-thong-my-tu-phac-hoa-phat-thanh-den-livestream-post331202.html
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