:Yes previous presidents also used teleprompter, but not on almost every speech, and that is a huge difference. Some historic speeches at the same Brandenburg Gate: 
 * JFK (1963) Ich bin ein berliner (I am a Berliner) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH6nQhss4Yc 
 * Reagan (1987) Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8 
 * Obama (2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v;=tYFhENV4BmY#t=290s 
 In the first two cases they were able to deliver the speech without using teleprompter, what a difference!