Who was the first President to be interviewed by Rolling Stone Magazine?

While it's now common for politicians to engage with popular culture, the idea of a presidential candidate sitting down with a rock and roll magazine was a novel concept in 1992. During his first campaign for the White House, Bill Clinton broke new ground by granting an extensive interview to Jann Wenner, the founder of Rolling Stone. This was a strategic move designed to sidestep the traditional political press and connect directly with younger, "MTV Generation" voters on their own turf.

The interview (Review) was a key part of a broader, and highly successful, strategy to master "soft media." It perfectly complemented another iconic moment from that campaign: his saxophone performance of "Heartbreak Hotel" on The Arsenio Hall Show. Both events helped craft his image as the first baby boomer candidate, a leader who was more modern, culturally aware, and relatable than his predecessors.

Although he was a candidate for that first groundbreaking interview, Clinton continued the relationship with the magazine after winning the election, solidifying his status as the first U.S. President to be featured. He set a new precedent for political communication, and future presidents, most notably Barack Obama, would follow his playbook by using non-traditional media outlets like Rolling Stone to reach a wider audience.