Memorable Political Moments

With media playing an ever-larger role in American politics, more and more attention is paid to how radio and television shape the course of events.

Recently, the Museum of Broadcast Communications polled scholars, politicians, commentators and analysts to produce a list of the “Top 125 Most Memorable Political Moments,” beginning with radio’s commercial debut on Election Night, 1920.

Here are the Top 10:

1. John Kennedy Assassination and Funeral (November 22, 1963)

2. 9-11 World Trade Center Attack (September 11, 2001)

3. Kennedy-Nixon: First Televised Debate (September 26, 1960)

4. Franklin Roosevelt: Pearl Harbor Speech (December 8, 1941)

5. Moon Landing (Neil Armstrong) (July 21,1969)

6. 1968 Democratic Convention Riot (Chicago) (August 26-29, 1968)

7. Franklin Roosevelt: First Inaugural Speech (March 4,1933)

8. Richard Nixon: “Checkers” Speech (September 23, 1952)

9. Martin Luther King: “I Have a Dream” speech (August 28, 1963)

10. Richard Nixon: White House Farewell Speech (August 9, 1974)

Ready to see the rest? Visit the official MBC site.