A Presidents Day Tribute: The Presidents Who Visited Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Travelling Presidential Road Shows are a relatively modern invention.

Bill Clinton set the tone for the modern Presidency when he regularly hit the road to sell his programs to the American people (some wags said he loved campaigning so much, the campaign never ended).

Ironically, President Clinton didn’t include Chattanooga on his itinerary.

He sent Vice President Gore instead.

But since then, both George W. Bush and Barrack Obama have held events here.

George’s Dad also visited Chattanooga, but that was when he was running against Ronald Reagan.

Speaking of the Gipper, he was the first modern President to hit the scenic city while in office.

It didn’t hurt that his Chief of Staff attended McCallie, and wanted to introduce President Reagan to Krystal burgers.

But you have to go back to 1940 for the most important Presidential visit in Chattanooga history.

President Franklin Roosevelt came to town to dedicate the Chickamauga Dam, the pride of his new TVA program.