February 13, 2008 10:02 PM
TV marketing of presidents 1952-2004
Click above for TV ads for presidential candidates dating back to Eisenhower and up through 2004.
The Introduction begins:
"The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal is the ultimate indignity to the democratic process."
-Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson, 1956"Television is no gimmick, and nobody will ever be elected to major office again without presenting themselves well on it."
-Television producer and Nixon campaign consultant Roger Ailes, 1968When television emerged as a mass medium in the early 1950s, TV advertising became an essential campaign tool. In 1948, there were TV sets in just 400,000 American homes. Over the next four years, the number rose to nineteen million.
Thanks to my daughter Sophia for turning me on to this site. Be sure to show your teens!
Love,
Posted in Current Affairs | Permalink
