7,000 Miles by Satellite: Congressman Staggers, Sr. & Telstar

By Jody Brumage

On July 14, 1962, an editorial column in the Dominion News proclaimed the occurrence of “An occasion history may well rank with the Wright Brothers first flight; Marconi’s message, and the first telegraphic epic of our time.” As the world witnessed this momentous event, one West Virginian congressman played a unique role in the occasion.

The first photograph transmitted via satellite, showing Vice President Johnson with Congressman Staggers, Sr. in the background.

This event of tremendous historical significance was the launch of the Telstar Satellite, a joint effort of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) and the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and France. The launch occurred on July 10, 1962 and within days the satellite began transmitting photographs, sound, and eventually television signals, with messages being transmitted for over 7,000 miles from the satellite’s position in orbit.
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The first telephone call to be transmitted over Telstar was between Vice President Lyndon Johnson and Frank R. Kappel, Chairman of AT&T and leader of the development of the project. Images of the phone call were also transmitted via Telstar, showing both Johnson and Kappel. Sitting immediately behind the Vice President was West Virginia Congressman Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Together, the two men were captured in the first photograph ever transmitted via Satellite.

The viewing party at the Telstar Demonstration. Vice President Johnson is seen on the left in the front row and Congressman Staggers, Sr. is behind him. Senators Margaret Chase Smith and Everett Dirksen are seen at the right on the front row.

Congressman Staggers, Sr. was a rising member of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and also served on the Transportation and Aeronautics Subcommittee, which had approved funding for development of the Telstar Program. AT&T provided the members of the committee with a booklet explaining the project and its goals. A press release from Congressman Staggers, Sr.’s office declares the Telstar Satellite to be “the marvelous machinery which makes it possible for any event anywhere on earth to be seen and heard everywhere on earth.”

Improving the nation’s transportation and communications infrastructure remained important goals for Congressman Staggers, Sr. throughout his career. As Chairman of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee (1966-1981), he had a hand in supporting many advances in both areas. Shortly after the launch, Congressman Staggers, Sr. wrote to Vice President Johnson, requesting that he sign a copy of the famous photograph to keep as a memento of the historic occasion.

An article from the July 23, 1962 “US News and World Report” covering the Telstar experiment.