learn about this site's access keys and accessibility featuresskip banner and go to main text
United States House of Representatives Radio-Television Correpondents' Gallery
United States House of Representatives Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery podium in the Gallery
Home | About the Gallery | Today in the House | Using the Gallery | Quick Links | Membership

Broadcast Milestones in the U.S. House of Representatives

December 4, 1923 – First radio broadcast of the opening of a Congress (68th Congress).

December 6, 1923 – First radio broadcast of the President’s State of the Union Address (President Coolidge).

March 4, 1925 – First radio broadcast of a Presidential Inaugural Ceremony (President Coolidge).

April 20, 1939 – House of Representatives approves H Res 169, establishing the House Radio Correspondents’ Gallery.

May 20, 1939 – House Radio Correspondents’ Gallery opens for business.

May 20, 1939 – H.R. Baukhage broadcasts first live radio show news show from the Capitol.

January 6, 1947 – First live televised broadcast of the State of the Union Address (President Truman).

July 7, 1947 – First live televised House hearing (Special Subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor).

March 28, 1957 – First live broadcast from the Speaker’s Office (Speaker Rayburn).

June 5, 1958 – First live overseas broadcast of a Joint Meeting of Congress (West German President Heuss’ Address to Congress).

January 12, 1966 – First color television broadcast of the State of the Union Address (President Johnson).

January 12, 1966 – First televised opposition response to the State of the Union (Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-IL) and Rep. Gerald Ford (R-MI)).

March 19, 1979 – House of Representatives begins televising live gavel to gavel coverage of its proceedings.

April 11, 1994 – First Internet news organization granted admission into the Congressional Radio-TV Galleries (Internet Multicasting Service).

January 29, 2002 – First live Internet webcast of the State of the Union Address (President Bush).

January 20, 2004 – First high-definition television broadcast of the State of the Union Address (President Bush).

About the Gallery