Benjamin Harrison voice recording
1889 voice recording by US President Benjamin Harrison
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Benjamin Harrison voice recording refers to the first known voice recording of a United States president, 23rd president Benjamin Harrison, who served from 1889 to 1893.[1][2]
.jpg) Official Presidential portrait of Benjamin Harrison | |
| Date | 1890 |
|---|---|
| Type | Voice recording |
| Participants | Benjamin Harrison Gianni Bettini |
Recording
Transcript
"As president of the United States, I was present at the first Pan-American Congress in Washington, D.C. I fully believe that with God’s help, our two countries shall continue to live side by side in peace and prosperity. Benjamin Harrison."
— Benjamin Harrison, 1890[3]
Background
The administration of Benjamin Harrison oversaw the First International Conference of American States. In the recording, President Harrison mentions the conference and his hopes of peace for the future.[4]
Recording process
The recording is attributed to the professional guidance of Gianni Bettini in the actual recording process. According to the Library of Congress, only one copy survived into the modern era, contained on an Edison wax cylinder, it is currently housed at the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Site.
Any earlier recordings have been lost to time. For example, a widely reported event is that upon an invitation by President Rutherford Hayes, Thomas Edison used the event in 1878 to demonstrate how Hayes' voice could be recorded.[5]