Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
Continued from Fifth Page

Continued from Fifth Page
record over the Capital his voice was heard
soon after landing describing the feat.
From Washington also within the past
month the Nations welcome to Admiral Byrd
and his intrepid companions was put on the
air and his own description of his South Polar
expedition was broadcast.
Now the observance Of every regular national
and historic event of any consequence in the
District of Columbia and its vicinity is booked
for the air.
birthday ceremonies this year at Alexandria.
Va. went on the air from Washington, SO also
were the Memorial day ceremonies at Arlington
Cemetery this May land the Capitals Inde-
pendence day celebration this month distributed
to the network from District of Columbia
stations
In Washington the microphone has been car
ried to more places than in any other city. OF
the many public buildings here there is hardly
one that has not at some time or other been
point of origin for radio network program.
The microphone has even entered the private
study at the White House, where it picked up
a Thanksgiving proclamation from former
President Coolidge, and it has been brought
into the Senate on three occasions.
~SPEAKING to you from the Nations Cap
ital-" nearly every prominent political
figure in the United States from President
Hoover down has gone on the air within the
past year. And these speakers include MEM
bers of the cabinet, members of Congress, men,
bers of the diplomatic corps and officials Of
the Army and Navy and of the Federal Gov
eminent.
speech by the President has always held
first place in radio interest. President Hoover
has appeared before the microphone over IS
times since he has been in ONCE, and includ-
ing his speeches before election, the network
has carried his voice more than so times
Calvin Coolidge was the first President
whose oath of Office and inaugural address
were broadcast. When he faced the micro
phone at the Capitol on March 4, 1925, it was
the first time the voice of President deliver
ing his message at Inauguration heard in
other American cities outside of Washington.
In all, President Coolidge spoke to the radio
audience from the Nations Capital 81 times in
2 years.
Woodrow Wilson made his first radio address
when he spoke into the microphone for S
minutes from the library of his Washington
home, on street, on Armistice day 1923, three
years after he left the White House and the
year before he died. This was in the early
infancy of broadcasting. It had been only two
years since the program which gave broadcast
ing its start was put on the air by station
KDKA in Pittsburgh when the Harding cleo
ton returns were reported by radio. 1t
called at that time IAN innovation comparable
in cultural importance to printing" But its
real value as news medium was yet to be
appreciated.
The National Radio Forum, inaugurated by
The Washington Star on March 2, 1929, and
broadcast as a regular weekly event by the Co
lumbia Broadcasting System. has brought before
the microphone most of the Nations political
leaders, and is one of the most popularity
received programs from Washington. The CO.
iumbia Systems international good will pro-
gram. known as THE Conclave of Nations" has
introduced the diplomats. These two Washing
ten programs recognized as the principal
educational and news features on the air, and
both have served to make the country better
acquainted with the officials Of its Government
and the men who are in Washington represent
ing the foreign nations.
Other news feature programs of importance
from Washington are "a Half Hour in the
Nations Capital" and 1.-THE National Home and
Farm Hour" the latter distinct and valuable
service to the farmers throughout the United
States, and introducing to them officials of the
Department Of Agriculture and other Govern
ment Bureaus dealing with problems pertinent
to the farming industry.
OF particular news Importance are the regular
broadcaSts Of David Lawrence, editor of the
United States Daily; William Hard. Frederic
William Vile and other nationally known
writers.
Not only is Washington the center of
radio but the very deStnies of radio broadcast
ing are controlled here, and the many ramif1ca-
tions of the radio industry regulated direct
ly indirectly through various governmental
agencies. These include Congress, the Federal
Radio Commission the Department of Com
merce, the Bureau of Standards, the Patent
Office the Court Of Appeals of the District Of
Columbia ami the Federal Trade Commission.
Each has some individual and distinctive func-
ton to perform in guiding the development of
radio and keeping 1t within reasonable bounds
a limitation based on the needs and wants Of
society.