History of Public Relations

Key Events in PR History

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Amos Kendall served as the first presidential

press secretary and was a member of
Andrew Jacksons kitchen cabinet in the
1820s.
The first presidential campaign slogan
emerged in 1840. Whig candidate William
Henry Harrison, who had been a military
hero from the Battle of Tippecanoe, and
running mate John Tyler ran under the
banner of Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too.

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History

In 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton issued

the Seneca Falls Declaration of
Sentiments at the landmark womens
rights conference.

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History

In 1850, P.T. Barnum brought Swedish

soprano Jenny Lind to the United
States and used celebrity promotions
and product endorsements to generate
publicity for her tour with his circus.

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History

During the 1850s American railroads

used publicity, advertising and printed
materials to attract tourists and settlers
to the American West. The Canadian
Pacific Railroad built hotels/resorts
along its transcontinental path to
increase business.

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In 1874, a national touring network of

entertainment, educational and
spiritual presentations brought
messages to mass audiences.
In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened,
and P.T. Barnum led a parade of
elephants across the bridge to
demonstrate its strength.

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History

In 1886, New York City began paying

tribute to heroes and dignitaries with a
Ticker-Tape Parade.

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In 1897, the Association of American

Railroads used the term public
relations in a company listing.

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In 1889 Westinghouse established the first

corporate public relations department, a
year after Mutual Life created a species of
literary bureau to create advertising and
publicity.
Westinghouse engaged in a public battle of
the current with Thomas Edison and the
General Electric Company, promoting the
benefits of alternating (AC) versus the direct
current (DC).

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During his quest for the presidency, William

McKinley organized a Front Porch
Campaign to bring supporters to his Ohio
home. His advisors introduced aggressive
fund-raising strategies, urging him to
outspend his opponent, William Jennings
Bryan, 10-1. McKinley also was the first
candidate to use the telephone for
campaign purposes.

History