President Barack Obama will campaign in Roanoke tonight, marking the first time a sitting president has held an event here since 1977. We’ll flashback throughout the day to other occasions that presidents have visited Roanoke. We’ll kick it off, however, with a flashback to the last time Obama held an event in Roanoke as a candidate.

You can discuss the president’s pending visit on an open thread here.

Jimmy Carter | Wikimedia Commons

September 24, 1977: From then-President Jimmy Carter’s daily diary. (Sorry for some of the formatting on this one. It’s worth checking the link for a better version, but you can get the essence of the trip from this.)

The President flew by Air Force One Jetstar from Andrews
Air Force Base to Roanoke Municipal Airport, Roanoke,
Virginia. For a list of passengers, see APPENDIX “B.”

The President was greeted by:
Henry E. Howell, Jr., Democratic candidate for
Governor of Virginia
Mrs. Henry E. (Betty) Howell, Jr.
Noel C. Taylor, Mayor of Roanoke, Virginia
Richard “Dick” Pattisall, Chairman of the Roanoke
County (Virginia) Democratic Committee
Sydnor C. Brizendine, Chairman of the Roanoke
City (Virginia) Democratic Committee
Gerald Moody, Field Representative for the International
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers,
Roanoke, Virginia

The President went to the holding room. He was accompanied
by la
Mr. and Mrs. Howell
William J. Rosendahl, Campaign Manager to Mr. Howell
The President met with:
Mr. and Mrs. Howell
Mr. Rosendahl
The President went to his motorcade.

The President motored from the Roanoke Municipal Airport
to the Roanoke Civic Center. He was accompanied by
Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

The President attended a campaign rally in honor of Mr.
Howell,
Members of the press

The President was greeted by a delegation of local officials
and Democratic party leaders. For a list of attendees,
see APPENDIX “C.”

The President viewed a portrait of himself by artist
Lenore Holsveig.

The President went to the platform in the Civic Center.
For a list of platform guests, see APPENDIX “D.”

The President was introduced by Mr. Howell.

The President addressed the crowd attending the campaign
rally.

The President returned to his motorcade. He was accompanied
by Mr. and Mrs. Howell,

The Presidential party motored from the Roanoke Civic Center
to Roanoke Municipal Airport.

The President went to the holding room in the Piedmont
Aviation Building.

The President was greeted by George A. Litchard, Manager
for the Roanoke Division of Piedmont Aviation.

The President boarded Air F o r c e One Jetstar.

The President flew by Air Force One Jetstar from Roanoke
Municipal Airport to Norfolk International Airport,
Norfolk, Virginia. For a list of passengers, see
APPENDIX “E.”