With President Trump visiting Midland today to raise money for his re-election campaign and to discuss energy production in West Texas, many people may be wondering about previous times a sitting president visited the Texas Panhandle. With that concern in mind, we now rewind to 1938 to take you back to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s appearance in Amarillo.

On July 11, 1938, Roosevelt visited Amarillo, off the heels of his landslide 1936 presidential re-election victory over Kansas’ Alf Landon. Roosevelt’s visit to Amarillo included a parade and a speech in Ellwood Park, which attracted over 150,000 people, according to eyewitness accounts held in historical archives. During his speech, Roosevelt spoke on issues important to the area, including soil, water, and agriculture.

In addition to Roosevelt’s appearance, residents also received a surprise by way of an unexpected rainstorm in Amarillo. Roosevelt was quoted in his speech at Ellwood Park as saying, “If I had talked to the newspapermen on the train today they would have given me a hundred to one odds it wouldn't rain in Amarillo.”

The trip attracted numerous other elected officials from the area and dignitaries. Among those who made the trek to Amarillo for the speech was New Mexico Gov. Clyde Tingley, who was quoted as saying, “You know, I was mighty happy when I came over here [to Amarillo.”