From Telegraphs to Tweets: A History of US Presidents Using Technology

The history of US presidents using technology is a fascinating one, reflecting the changing nature of American society and its relationship with innovation. From the telegraph to Twitter, each president has utilized the latest technologies of their time to connect with the American people and shape public opinion. Let's take a closer look at some of the most notable moments in this history.

In the early days of the presidency, technology was limited to telegraphs and printed materials. However, as the country developed, so did the ways in which presidents communicated with the public. One of the first presidents to embrace technology was Abraham Lincoln, who made innovative use of the telegraph during the Civil War. Lincoln recognized the potential of the telegraph for military communications, and he even used it to receive real-time updates from the battlefield. Lincoln saw his first telegraph key only three years before he ran for president, in a hotel lobby while riding circuit in Pekin, Ill. Always fascinated with technology, he peppered the operator with questions. Yet to most people in the mid-1800s, electricity was a mystery, and the telegraph was magic. A vague scientific concept to most, electricity wouldn’t become obvious until Thomas A. Edison invented the light bulb in 1879. Sending messages by electric sparks was a doubling down on that mystery.

President Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to use the telephone regularly, and he used the technology to communicate with other world leaders and to stay in touch with his staff. President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to make use of the radio, and he used the technology to deliver speeches and to communicate with the American people.

In the early 20th century, radio emerged as a new form of communication, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt was quick to recognize its potential. Roosevelt used radio to deliver his famous fireside chats, which were weekly radio broadcasts in which he discussed important issues of the day with the American people. The fireside chats helped to create a sense of connection between the president and the public, and they were enormously popular. FDR was a strong proponent of new communications technologies, recognizing their potential to connect people across the country and around the world. He oversaw the development of the first television broadcasts, and his administration made significant investments in the expansion of radio and telephone networks. These investments in communications technology helped to create a more connected and informed society and enabled FDR to connect with the public on a scale that was previously unthinkable.

With the advent of television in the 1950s, presidents began to use this new medium to reach a wider audience. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to use television regularly, and he used it to deliver his annual State of the Union address. John F. Kennedy was perhaps the most famous television-era president, as he made skillful use of the medium during his 1960 presidential campaign debates against Richard Nixon. Kennedy was also a proponent of new telecommunications technologies, recognizing their potential for global communication and economic growth. In 1962, Kennedy signed the Communications Satellite Act, which authorized the creation of a commercial communications satellite system. This act paved the way for the development of modern telecommunications systems, including satellite television and the internet.

In the 1990s, the internet began to revolutionize the way people communicated, and it wasn't long before presidents began to recognize its potential. Bill Clinton was the first president to have an official White House website, and he used it to disseminate information and connect with the public. Bill Clinton sent his first email on November 7, 1998, during his second term in office. The email was sent from a laptop in the White House, and it was addressed to John Glenn, a former astronaut and senator from Ohio. The subject of Clinton's first email was "Remarks on the World Wide Web Launch of the White House," and it was a message of congratulations to Glenn for his participation in the launch of the White House website earlier that year. Clinton's first email was a notable moment in the history of presidential communications, as it marked the beginning of a new era in which email would become an increasingly important tool for presidents to communicate with the public and conduct official business. While Clinton was not the first president to use email, his use of the technology was an important milestone in the evolution of presidential communication and the use of technology in government.

Of course, the current era is dominated by social media, and President Barack Obama was perhaps the first to fully embrace this new form of communication. Obama used Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to connect with millions of Americans, and his innovative social media strategies helped him win the presidency in 2008 and 2012. Obama himself frequently used Twitter to share his thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics, and he even made history by sending the first presidential tweet in 2009. Barack Obama, the 44th US president, famously used a BlackBerry smartphone throughout his presidency. Obama's use of a personal smartphone was unusual for a sitting president at the time, as it posed significant security challenges and made it more difficult for the Secret Service to protect the president's communications. However, Obama was determined to keep using his BlackBerry, as he felt that it helped him stay connected with the American people and get a more accurate sense of public sentiment. Obama's BlackBerry was heavily modified for security purposes, and he was only able to use it to communicate with a small group of close associates and senior staff.

Today, social media continues to play an important role in presidential communications. Donald Trump made particularly heavy use of Twitter during his time in office, using the platform to make controversial even outrageous statements and shape the media cycle and public opinion. 

The history of US presidents using technology reflects the changing nature of American society and its relationship with innovation. From the telegraph to Twitter, each president has used the latest technologies of their time to connect with the American people and shape public opinion. As we look to the future, it will be fascinating to see how technology continues to evolve and how future presidents will use it to communicate with the public.