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The history of presidential campaign songs goes back to George Washington

  • NPR
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: DJ Cassidy performs during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic Party supporters are gathering in Chicago, as current Vice President Kamala Harris is named her party's presidential nominee. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: DJ Cassidy performs during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic Party supporters are gathering in Chicago, as current Vice President Kamala Harris is named her party's presidential nominee. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

It was Ronald Reagan who started the trend of using pop songs. Chris Willman, the chief music critic at Variety, gives a short history of 200 years of campaign music.

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