 In early July 1937 , the BSA held its first national Scout jamboree in Washington , D. C. , attended by 25 @,@ 000 Scouts and Scouters . In addition to overseeing the innovative event itself , Goodman 's public relations service did yeoman work to ensure extensive news media coverage . A jamboree press tent accommodated 626 news media reporters , photographers , and broadcasters . Sixty @-@ four news releases were issued and the public relations service assisted in the making of 11 newsreels and 53 magazine articles . The three major U.S. radio networks of the time , NBC , CBS and Mutual , all set up complete broadcasting studios near the jamboree headquarters to produce almost 19 hours of live , on @-@ site jamboree coverage broadcast coast @-@ to @-@ coast . Celebrities also visited the jamboree , including well @-@ known broadcaster Lowell Thomas and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt . While at the jamboree , Scouts also attended a three @-@ game baseball series between the Washington Senators and the Boston Red Sox at Griffith Stadium , with Goodman arranging for Eagle Scouts to have a place of honor with President Roosevelt in the stands ( pictured ) . 
