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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-14-04....Presidents for Sale
Billie
Posted on 09/14/2004 5:23:14 AM PDT by Billie
A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day
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~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine ~
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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."
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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.
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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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Thanks, Mixer!
1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar. 2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up. 3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit. 4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it. 5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: campaignads; freepers; fun; military; patriotic; surprises; veterans
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To: 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. Thank you, Dave. I'm also looking forward to those headlines on November 3rd. Barring any massive voter fraud I'm convinced Bush will win big!
61
posted on
09/14/2004 9:25:45 AM PDT
by
Billie
To: Gabz
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. A wonderful support group Freepers. :)
62
posted on
09/14/2004 9:34:44 AM PDT
by
Billie
To: Billie
Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nations leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk............................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty
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Maigrey................cousin WVNan..............friend's son ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear.........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel..................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son katykelly.................son cookcounty..............son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.....................niece Donaeus...................nephew dixie sass...............nephew BeAllYouCanBe............son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn...................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles......................son Redhead....step-granddaughter Redhead..step-grdaughter fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy...niece Sunflowergal.........grandson visualops.................cousin Alouette.......................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa.................son auboy.........................cousin spotbus1....................husband
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63
posted on
09/14/2004 9:36:19 AM PDT
by
Billie
To: ST.LOUIE1
Miss you, wolfie and hope you get that big ole' smokin' pc SOON so you can hurry back here and start charmin' and sweet-talkin' us all again. :)
64
posted on
09/14/2004 9:44:06 AM PDT
by
Billie
To: All; Billie; dutchess; Aquamarine; The Mayor
Good morning all! Interesting topic for the post today, Billie.
"Daisy Girl" became the most talked-about political ad ever made - even though Johnson only paid to run it once.
I remember that one!! (I was very young, LOL). It sure did cause a commotion. Like the majority of people, I thought it was despicable and I agree, no one has come close to topping that one. Even though "Daisy Girl" was pulled, I think it was that ad that set the tone for future campaigns playing on voter's fears. Makes sense. You can't depend on being able to appeal to people on a moral or intellectual level, but the "fear factor" is a sure fired way to get people not to vote for the "scary guy".
Of course, in the case of most Democrats, and especially in Kerry's case, the Republicans don't even have to try make him look scary.....he just IS!
65
posted on
09/14/2004 10:36:59 AM PDT
by
Mama_Bear
(Not Fonda Kerry!)
To: Mama_Bear; Aquamarine; dutchess; dansangel; All
Good morning all! Interesting topic for the post today, Billie.Thanks, Lori. I really liked the idea when I first read it, but almost didn't do it LOL! I thought I could just go to TV Guide online and copy and paste it, and save the picture illustrations they used! NOT! Fortunately, the link to all the real TV advertisements allowed me to save an individual picture from each ad, and with a little experimenting in PSP, was able to simulate a TV screen to frame them all alike. :)
Dansy girl, I hope you and Dan have made it to *Destination: Sunny Florida*! Anxious to hear from you.
HUGS, Sistahs!
66
posted on
09/14/2004 11:34:13 AM PDT
by
Billie
To: Billie
How wonderful it would be to clean house on November 2nd. You bet .. I would love to send a very clear message to the Dems
67
posted on
09/14/2004 12:50:53 PM PDT
by
Mo1
(Why is the MSM calling the Vietnam Vets and POW's a suspected group??)
To: Billie
Good job on this post Billie. Don't know if anyone else has already mentioned it but there was an ad when President G W Bush was running for president insinuating that it was his fault that some guy in Texas drug a black guy in chains behind his truck. That was the lowest commercial of them all.
To: Aquamarine
I remember that ad. It was disgraceful.
69
posted on
09/14/2004 1:22:10 PM PDT
by
Texagirl4W
(If President Bush loses the 2004 election because of his stand on abortion, he is still the winner.)
To: Billie; LadyX; dutchess; All
shhhhh....don't tell anybody but the dims are looking for Buckhead and he's hiding out in The Finest. :)
To: Mo1
You bet .. I would love to send a very clear message to the Dems It's looking good right now, but who knows what could happen in the next 6 weeks. We just have to play like we're behind and keep up the good fight. :)
71
posted on
09/14/2004 1:48:16 PM PDT
by
Billie
To: Texagirl4W
Can you do a better job of describing that commercial? I couldn't remember the names and details.
To: Billie
I'll breath easy when Nov comes ..
We just have to play like we're behind and keep up the good fight. :)
I want 50 States ... yes, I know .. I'm greedy :0)
73
posted on
09/14/2004 1:52:09 PM PDT
by
Mo1
(Why is the MSM calling the Vietnam Vets and POW's a suspected group??)
To: Aquamarine
Good job on this post Billie. Don't know if anyone else has already mentioned it but there was an ad when President G W Bush was running for president insinuating that it was his fault that some guy in Texas drug a black guy in chains behind his truck. That was the lowest commercial of them all. Thanks, Aqua. I know, I can't think of any that could be any nastier - but we need to consider the source. The dims have gotten progressively dirtier and dirtier, and they haven't had anyone equal to Dubya in resolve - his patience, strength, honesty and resilience are something they can't counter without resorting to lies and smears.
74
posted on
09/14/2004 1:56:18 PM PDT
by
Billie
To: Texagirl4W
I remember that ad. It was disgracefulIt was awful. But gore was a horrible candidate - just like kerry is - neither of them have an ounce of charisma or personality - they're just flat not likable! I can hardly wait til the first debate. :)
75
posted on
09/14/2004 2:03:37 PM PDT
by
Billie
To: Aquamarine; Buckhead
shhhhh....don't tell anybody but the dims are looking for Buckhead and he's hiding out in The Finest. :)LOL! His secret is safe at the Finest. :)
76
posted on
09/14/2004 2:05:53 PM PDT
by
Billie
Comment #77 Removed by Moderator
To: All
2004 National POW/MIA
Recognition Day
September 14, 2004
![](http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/images/POW_MIA2004sm.jpg)
By custom, it is often observed in Pentagon ceremonies on the third Friday in September, however, it has been moved in the past to avoid conflicts with religious observances. In 2004, it will be observed on Tuesday, September 14, 2004, out of respect for Rosh Hashanah.
78
posted on
09/14/2004 2:37:47 PM PDT
by
Billie
To: Mo1
I want 50 States ... yes, I know .. I'm greedy :0) Yeah, I want them all, too - if we have to concede *any* of them, let it be a teeny tiny one - like DC's 3(?) votes! And I 'specially want Massachusetts and North Carolina for Dubya!!!!!
79
posted on
09/14/2004 2:41:52 PM PDT
by
Billie
To: Aquamarine
Well, this is probably more than you want to know. On June 7, 1998, James Byrd, Jr. of Jasper, Texas was picked up on a deserted road outside of town by John W. King, Lawrence Brewer, Jr., and Shawn Berry. They proceeded to put a rope around his neck and drag him on a dirt road until he died. Details are very gory. (GOREy, ha)
Byrd was a well known, well liked, black resident of Jasper. His death attracted much attention throughout the United States. Then President Clinton called Byrds mother to convey his condolences. It was widely claimed to be a hate crime.
The Byrd family approached then Governor Bush to enact a hate crime to punish the 3 men involved. He said the men were on death row and what could be more punishment then this.
In a nutshell, the democrats blamed Governor Bush and made this an issue during the presidential race in 2000.
Google James Byrd to find lots more on this.
80
posted on
09/14/2004 3:51:25 PM PDT
by
Texagirl4W
(If President Bush loses the 2004 election because of his stand on abortion, he is still the winner.)
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