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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~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

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!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-13-04 Military Monday

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[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Airman 1st Class Andrew Lebeau (left) and Staff Sgt. Dustin Prowell check out a bomb discovered here Sept. 10. Base officials believe the bomb is left over from World War II. Sergeant Prowell is an explosive ordnance disposal journeyman, and Airman Lebeau is an EOD technician. Both are assigned to the 355th Civil Engineer Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina D. Kinsey)

040909-N-8801B-001 Arabian Gulf (Sept. 9, 2004) – The amphibious assault ships USS Essex (LHD 2), foreground, and USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) sail side-by-side in the Arabian Gulf during cross deck maneuvers. Cross decking is used to share supplies, personnel and equipment without having to pull into a port. This is the first time in history Essex and Belleau Wood has traded supplies in this manner. Essex is currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Travis M. Burns (RELEASED)

040912-N-1513W-045 South China Sea (Sept. 12, 2004) - An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Black Eagles" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Three (VAW-113), takes flight after launching from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are currently at sea on a scheduled deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Richard R. Waite (RELEASED)

040908-N-6011D-001 Virginia Beach, Va. (Sept. 8, 2004) – Five F-14A Tomcats assigned to the “Checkmates” of Fighter Squadron Two One One (VF-211) fly in formation as they complete their final fly by at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana. VF-211 is the last operator of the F-14A model of the Tomcat and will transiton to the F/A-18F Super Hornet when they make a homeport change to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., and will become Strike Fighter Squadron Two One One (VFA-211). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Marlowe P. Dix (RELEASED)

[dutchess]

Hi Texagirl...I was just going to jump in to clarify the James Byrd ad also. The ad was aired heavily in Ohio in 2000...and was paid for by the NAACP....a "non partisian" group who can't understand why GW won't speak to them. It was absolutely shameless.

Again great job sistah Billie. So much is happening on the political side (plus work) my stomach is in complete knots until Nov. 2nd. (BTW which one of us is scheduled for the Nov. 3rd thread LOL!!!!) Freepmailing you shortly!

[Billie]

Thank you for the synopsis of the Byrd story. I remember how horrible that whole thing was - such an awful way to die, and the pain his family his family had to relive.

[Billie]

*There* you are with our pictures today - thanks a whole bunch!

[Billie]

Again great job sistah Billie. So much is happening on the political side (plus work) my stomach is in complete knots until Nov. 2nd. (BTW which one of us is scheduled for the Nov. 3rd thread LOL!!!!) Freepmailing you shortly!

Thank you again for your compliment, sistah D! I know exactly what you mean about knots in stomach with this whole political scene.

LOL! I don't know WHOSE Wednesday November 3rd will be! You three always do such a great job working up the Wednesdays! LOL!

[Billie]

Will check back in later this evening. Time to finish getting dinner ready.

(((((((((Dutchess))))))))))

How's Rusty?! :)

[Mama_Bear]

I don't know WHOSE Wednesday November 3rd will be!

I counted forward every two weeks from this Wednesday....looks like it won't be mine. LOL

You three always do such a great job working up the Wednesdays! LOL!

Speaking of which, tomorrow is going to be a Finest re-run, I'm afraid....another Play Day!! I've been so involved in helping Amy with the FR Picnic, I ran out of time and couldn't get an original post finished......but, that's okay, we can all use a "play day" every now and then, right?

Sistah hugs!

[Mo1]

if we have to concede *any* of them, let it be a teeny tiny one - like DC's 3(?) votes!

OK .. besides .. DC isn't a State :0)

[dutchess]

Speaking of which, tomorrow is going to be a Finest re-run, I'm afraid....another Play Day!! I've been so involved in helping Amy with the FR Picnic, I ran out of time and couldn't get an original post finished......but, that's okay, we can all use a "play day" every now and then, right?

Oh nooooo a rerun???? Like I've never done it LOL!!! Really enjoyed your picnic thread....and RE the November 3rd thread....Hopefully the only thing we need to say is BUSH WINS.......REALLY....100%....GIVE IT UP LIBS....HERE'S THE KLEENEX....... :o)

[Mama_Bear]

BUSH WINS.......REALLY....100%....GIVE IT UP LIBS....HERE'S THE KLEENEX....... :o)

LOL. Oh, lets hope and pray! What a celebration that will be, and a relief to FINALLY have it over with! I don't know how many more of these elections I can take.

Hey, I just saw BobJ on CNN with Paula Zahn talking about the forged documents. It's a miracle that I came upon it. I don't watch CNN, was channel surfing and spotted Bob and realized, "hey, I know him......he's one of ours!" LOL.

Great job, BobJ! Always happy to see FReepers getting air time.

[dutchess]

Oh my gosh...just checked out the calendar and...if things don't change...I do Wed. November 3rd. Nightmares of 2000...should I be saving flip flop pictures....Oh My Gosh.... (just kidding...we're going to be celebrating....I feel it in my bones!....plus need lots of help from you sistahs!!!! :o) )

[Mama_Bear]

plus need lots of help from you sistahs!!!! :o) )

That's what sistahs are for. Whatever you need, let me know. :-)

I have a good feeling about this too. In fact, I am so sure about it that I am making plans to go back to DC for the Inauguration!

[dutchess]

Lori - I have a good feeling about this too. In fact, I am so sure about it that I am making plans to go back to DC for the Inauguration!

Me too....wouldn't it be great to have a "finest gathering"!!!! Hey Aqua and Billie (dansy pippin, free and deadhead too) time to plan a DC trip in January!!!!!

Okay...time for bed!

[Aquamarine]

I'm happy for you. You deserve it after putting in so many hours of hard work for the Party...not the Mama Bear or Billie wouldn't deserve it too.

We'll all be celebrating in here that day, looking forward to it.

[Aquamarine]

A trip to DC...hmmmmm, we'll see. Not sure if I can get the hubby to go back. lol

Good night!

[Mama_Bear]

I have a good feeling about this too. In fact, I am so sure about it that I am making plans to go back to DC for the Inauguration!

Me too....wouldn't it be great to have a "finest gathering"!!!! Hey Aqua and Billie (dansy pippin, free and deadhead too) time to plan a DC trip in January!!!!!

Oh, you can be sure we will have a Finest gathering somewhere in DC! If not an actual ball, at least we'll see about renting a small room for a get-together. I refuse to come all the way back to DC AGAIN and not meet up with all the Fine east coast FReepers that will be there. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Not sure if I can get the hubby to go back. lol

I asked mine and he said he didn't really want to go, so I will be going back with Amy. I don't like to travel alone and neither does she, so this works out just fine! We will be bringing her 4 year old niece with us. She is a little doll and a lot of fun to be around. :-)

I do hope that somehow you can make your way up to DC and get together with us. It would be wonderful to hug you in person. :-)

[Aquamarine]

Sounds tempting. When is that, in January? We should have plenty of time to work something out by then. *fingers crossed*

[Mama_Bear]

January 20th. I think Amy and are going to arrive on the 19th and leave on the 23rd or 24th. We haven't firmed up our travel plans yet.

Yes, keep those fingers crossed!

[tame]

You've got mail from earlier :o)