James Monroe was the first sitting president to visit Kentucky – exactly 200 years ago. Then, most Kentuckians wouldn’t know what the president looked or sounded like. Communication and travel were slow.
Things are different now. President Donald Trump will make his third presidential trip to Kentucky on Wednesday. But in some ways presidential visits are more complicated than ever – with advance teams and security detail.
Wayne Onkst, retired Kentucky state librarian, recently published the book, “Presidential Visits to Kentucky: 1819-2017,” which chronicles 120 visits by horseback, carriage, train, steamboat, bus and airplane. Onkst is speaking Thursday in Campbell County.