Question

The president rose to speak and there was silence (begin when)

Answer 1

There was complete silence when the President rises to speak.

When the President rises to speak, there was silence.

When is used for the ‘during the time that’ to connect two different sentences that happen at the same time.

Here as soon as President rose from his seat to speak, all the members went silent.

When has connected the sentences by the elimination of and.

Answer 2

When the President rose to speak, there was silence.