On October 5, 1947, President Harry Truman made the first ever televised presidential address from the White House. In his speech, the president asked Americans to cut back on their use of grain to help starving Europeans. At the time, Europe was still recovering from the Second World War, and much of the continent suffered from famine. Farmers and distillers were asked to reduce grain usage, while the public were requested to not eat meat on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays, and to save of slice of bread each day. The food program proved to be short lived, as Truman’s Marshall Plan succeeded in helping boost economic revitalization and growth in Europe. Television was still in its infancy in 1947, so TV sets in the home were rare, meaning the majority of American’s missed Truman’s TV debut. Each of Truman’s subsequent speeches were televised. :camera: Hu Chain Associates, Harry S. Truman Library #news #politics #truman #television #history