Which president delivered the first televised presidential address from the White House?

President Harry Truman delivered the first televised presidential address from the White House, on Oct. 5, 1947.

Truman, the 33rd president, asked Americans to decrease their use of grain to help starving Europeans, History.com says. Famine was widespread throughout Europe following World War II.

In fact, Truman thought his administration’s Marshall Plan for European economic recovery would fail if America didn’t provide food aid.

Per History.com, the president asked farmers and distillers to reduce their grain use. He also asked the American public to:

• Give up meat on Tuesdays and eggs and poultry on Thursdays

• Save a slice of bread daily

The good news, the website adds, is that the Marshall Plan was successful in helping spur an economic revival throughout Europe.

Most Americans, unfortunately, missed Truman’s address on TV, History.com says. That’s because TV was in its infancy and the number of sets in U.S. homes numbered only in the thousands. Radio was far and away the go-to source for news and entertainment.

That would change a decade later when millions owned a TV and more presidents used the medium as the best way to connect with constituents.