Campaign Advertisements

large view Rudolph Guiliani campaigning in Florida.

Political Campaign Television Advertising

Text taken from: http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/P/htmlP/politicalpro/politicalpro.htm

(Please see the link at the bottom for the complete article.)

Since its beginnings, television in the United States has been intertwined with political processes of every type, ranging from coverage of major political events and institutions to effects on campaigns and elections. From its early position as a new medium for political coverage in the 1950s, television quickly supplanted radio and eventually newspapers to become by the early 1960s the major source of public information about politics.

Televised Coverage of Major Political Events

Television's influence grew quickly by providing audiences with the chance to experience major political events live or with little delay. For instance, observers have long discussed the fact that television coverage of the famous 1954 McArthur Day Parade in Chicago communicated more excitement and a greater sense of immediacy to television viewers than to those participating in the live event. The televised hearings in conjunction with Joseph McCarthy's search for communist sympathizers in the early 1950s also captured the attention of the public.

Television and Political Campaigns/Elections

No aspect of the political process has been affected more by television than political campaigns and elections. The first presidential election to see extensive use of television was the 1952 race between Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson. In that campaign, Richard M. Nixon, as Eisenhower's vice-presidential candidate, "took his case to the people" to defend himself on television against corruption charges in the famous "Checkers" speech. However, the most significant innovation related to the role of television in the 1952 campaign was undoubtedly Eisenhower's use of short spot commercials to enhance his television image. The Eisenhower campaign utilized the talent of successful product advertising executive Rosser Reeves to devise a series of short spots that appeared, just like product ads, during commercial breaks in standard television programming slots. Not only did this strategy break new ground for political campaigning, but many observers have credited the spots with helping Eisenhower to craft a friendly, charming persona that contributed to his eventual electoral success. Stevenson made it easier for the Eisenhower campaign by refusing to participate in this type of electronic campaigning. Although Stevenson did produce television commercials for the 1956 campaign, he was never able to overcome Eisenhower's popularity.

FactCheck
This website is run by the University of Pennsylvania. The editors select recent ads, speeches, or statements made by politicians and then "fact check" their claims. Would you be surprised to learn that candidates often says things that aren't true?

Famous Ads from Prior Presidential Election Campaigns
This website compiles some of the most famous ads from past presidential elections. These ads are believed to have had a profound affect in determing the eventual winner.

2008 Presidential Campaign Ads
This website, run by Stanford University in California, compiles recent ads run by all presidential candidates during the 2008 Presidential Primaries. What a series of ads run by a single candidate. Can you discern the primary themes, motifs, and strategies used by the candidate? Do you observe any change in strategy over time?

Past Presidential Campaigns
This interesting site has compiled sundry information pertaining to past presidential campaigns, including all slogans used by candidates during presidential contests.

2004 Presidential Campaign Ads
Return to 2004, when President George W. Bush triumphed over Democrat Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election. View the television ad campaigns for each candidate.

History of Political Television Advertisements
This is the full article from which selections above have been taken.

The Living Room Candidate
This website has compiled television advertisements used in all Presidential campaigns, dating back to 1952, when Republican Candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower ran the first such ads.

C-SPAN Campaign Network
This website, run by the government-funded C-SPAN television network, provides links to recent speeches, advertisements, and other campaign-related events.

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