A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-14-04....Presidents for Sale

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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I found this article, "Presidents for Sale" written by Stephen Battaglio, in a recent issue of TV Guide, and thought it would be interesting to look back at some of the television ads of a few of our past Presidents. I followed a link in the article to http://www.movingimage.us , where one can view the full ads of the candidates - as opposed to the still images I posted below - for as far back as the first TV spot in 1952.

Mr. Battaglio begins with:

"'To think that an old soldier should come to this,' Dwight D. Eisenhower said while filming the first presidential campaign TV spot in 1952. But after he won, candidates have regularly called on Madison Avenue for help."

"An online exhibit from the American Museum of the Moving image called 'The Living Room Candidate' shows the wily work of all the presidents' admen. Here are some of the highlights."

Below are excerpts of Mr. Battaglio's article, citing some of the more memorable campaign ads of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush (Senior).

The young, handsome Massachusetts senator's commercials used documentary-style footage culled from rallies and speeches that played to his strengths as a public speaker. "John F. Kennedy's campaign was really onto the importance of television in terms of onveying personality," says David Schwartz, the museum's chief curator of film. Until Kennedy came along, commercials with politicians talking to voters looked stiff and staged.

The ad showing a little girl plucking daisy petals in a countdown that ends with a nuclear explosion and mushroom cloud didn't even mention President Lyndon B. Johnson's opponent, Sen. Barry Goldwater. But viewers knew it meant Goldwater had no qualms about using the bomb. "Daisy Girl" became the most talked-about political ad ever made - even though Johnson only paid to run it once. When Republicans cried foul, the spot was pulled. But news shows ran it frequently. "Nobody has ever topped it," says Schwartz.

Based on his campaign commercials, President Nixon didn't need anyone to break into the Watergate Hotel in order to get reelected. "Richard Nixon really mastered the use of television after learning his lesson in 1960," says Schwartz. Nixon's attack ads against George McGovern employed simple visuals, such as a hand wiping away toy soldiers, planes and ships to depict the candidate's proposed defense spending cuts. Another showed a hard hat looking down at pedestrians - half of whom would be welfare recipients under a McGovern plan. "They're some of the best ads I've ever seen," says CNN senior analyst and former political consultant Jeff Greenfield. "And, given how Nixon ended his career, it seems odd that the ads were accurate."

Campaign ads are now packed with so much information that "they're like video news releases," says Deutsch. But President Reagan's reelection ad team made its point about American preparedness against the threat of Soviet nukes just by showing a bear ominously wandering through the woods (voice-over: "Isn't it smart to be as strong as the bear?"). "One of the most inventive ads ever," says Greenfield. "It never talked about what it was about. The political ad guys today are afraid of being too clever."

The senior Bush's campaign commercial with prisoners robotically going through a revolving door referred to - but did not name - Willie Horton, a Massachusetts convict who committed serious crimes while free on a experimental state furlough program. But on the campaign trail, Bush had made Horton a poster boy for his view that Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis was soft on crime, so viewers got the message. Bush's negative ads against Dukakis were so tough - and effective - that political reporters have put campaign commercials under greater scrutiny ever since. "Every day in the New York Times, they are critiquing ads that ran the night before," says Deutsch.

Mr. Battaglio didn't address any campaign ads after 1988,
so feel free to add your own personal favorites.

Have a Terrific Tuesday - only six more to go!

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[Billie]

Well, good morning to you, Miss Pipster. My day is starting off very well and hope yours is, too. I love the history threads you put up on FR's Finest. I think they are fun and informative.

Thank you - I'm really glad you enjoy them.

(((((((((((((Pippin)))))))))))

[Gabz]

I see how some could take it that way, but I didn't.

The blurb about the "Daisy Girl" made me think of the Swiftees. I was too young to remember it, even if it had run more than once, but I've seen it time and time again on news programs.

Even before the Swiftees were airing their ads the news programs were showing them, and showing them in markets where they were not being aired.

My cable is running the new one about tossing the medals.

[Billie]

FR best site on the internet. Thanks for all you do herein.

Yes, it certainly is the best and also has some of the smartest people - even if we do sit around in our pajamas all day. LOL!

I'm glad to be a part of a place that can and does make a difference.

[Billie]

Had always been under the impression that the "Daisy Girl" ad was by Goldwater. Don't know why ...

Maybe people just associated the ad with Goldwater because of the way it was presented. The ad would probably fit right in today though, only it's the dims who are now crying foul over much the same 'idea' with Cheney's remarks about choosing the right ones to lead on November 2.

[Billie]

Yes indeed ... my head is about to explode with information overload *L*

I am SOOOO ready for November 3rd. I am so tired of the nasty tactics of the left. Not that it will end on November 3rd, but at least - I HOPE - we not only get the White House, but the House and Senate, too. How wonderful it would be to clean house on November 2nd.

[Gabz]

SHEESH Billie.......that animation look like a hurricane.

I guess I should stay off the 'cane threads - I'm seeing those swirl patterns in my sleep!!!

[Billie]

My cable is running the new one about tossing the medals.

I'm anxious to see what they have for the next one, and when it will be coming out. It still galls me that the networks can't wait to get the authors of all the latest Bush-bashing books on their shows, and shun the authors of the ONE anti-kerry book and ANY Pro-Bush or Pro-Iraq war books.

[Billie]

SHEESH Billie.......that animation look like a hurricane.

Oh, you're right - it does! Yikes! I made that animation almost two years ago and haven't used it in ages.

[Gabz]

The only thing I know about what the networks are doing is from reading here!!!

I admit I will occassionally turn on the local seeBS affiliate in the morning - but that is only in regard to local weather and school delays or cancellations. I woke up to heavy fog this morning and switched from TWC to the local affiliate just in time to catch the weather and the delay lists and then switched back to FNC!!!!!!

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!!!!!!

It's really good work - it just struck me, because I'm bouncing between the Ivan thread and various other threads....but keep being drawn back to the Ivan thread......

[dutchess]

Hi sistah! What a great idea for a thread! (and, as always, you illustrate it masterfully). I saw snippets of these ads last week I think on one of the Sunday morning shows. It surprised me that ads way back when were negative...thought that was a new phenomenon. How soon we forget!

Have a great day. Busy work day...hope to stop by later!

[dixie sass]

I know. With relatives and friends all over Florida, Mississippi, Louisanna, and Texas coast - whatever happens there is someone to worry about.

Of course being a natural born worry-wart doesnt' help...

[dixie sass]

It most probably would considering North Korea and Iran.

Listening to some of the Fundementalist Baptist around here speak as though we are in the final days makes me angry. Obviously they haven't read their Bibles where it states that know one knows when the Apocolypse is coming - only GOD knows and it will be in his time. They also forget the promise he made to Noah that he would never destroy the earth again.

If people would look at history, they would find that the same mindset was around at the turn of the last century. People were convinced that the end of the world was going to happen according to Revelations.

People should have more trust in the Lord.

[Gabz]

Of course being a natural born worry-wart doesnt' help...

LOL, you too??????????

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Billie. Cool thread today.

I remember as a kid with a paper route delivering the afternoon paper after the '56 election.

The headline in giant bold print....IKE WINS IN LANDSLIDE

Looking forward to Bush Landslide headlines in November.

[Billie]

The only thing I know about what the networks are doing is from reading here!!!

I turn the morning shows on occasionally and flip back and forth between them to see what the latest DNC Talking points are, but come to FR to see what's really going on in the world. :)

[Billie]

....but keep being drawn back to the Ivan thread......

I feel so bad for evryone all along the coast - if you're not feeling the full brunt of the hurricanes, you're getting hit with heavy rains and flooding.

[Billie]

Hi sistah! What a great idea for a thread! (and, as always, you illustrate it masterfully). I saw snippets of these ads last week I think on one of the Sunday morning shows. It surprised me that ads way back when were negative...thought that was a new phenomenon. How soon we forget!

Thanks, Sistah D, you're always so complimentary. I think the ads get more negative every campaign. As I mentioned, the last two times they haven't been airing in Texas, but I remember the 92 Perot ones being pretty ugly against the Senior Bush. Still irks me that he got in that race - without him, we'd never have had to go through those 8 horrible years with mr. and mrs. liar in our White House.

[Billie]

Amen, dixie.

[Gabz]

The uncertainty is so nerve wracking.

We've gotten residual rain from all of them so far, but nothing else, but I have a teeny weeny inkling of the stress of not knowing from my limited experience with Gloria (85) and Isabel (last year).

I got a lot of comfort from the threads last year regarding Isabel, and during the February '03 blizzard, I learned just how truly wonderful FReepers are.........so many knew that my husband was away for the week on business and I was home alone with a 4 year old and 33 inches of snow.

And so I stick with the 'cane threads just trying to return the favor in a small way.