First Political Campaign Television Ad Ever
[YouTube - Link]
1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) v. Adlai E. Stevenson (D)
This campaign was very unique. The two candidates used radio and television ads effectively and fought a long hard campaign . Ike or Eisenhower (R) was a war hero (Supreme Commander of Allied Forces WWII), so Stevenson was reluctant to attack him directly, and the Republicans had a difficult time attacking Stevenson because he had not been part of the previous Democratic administrations. Eisenhower went out and traveled over 33,000 miles during this campaign.
The campaign's television ads were most effectively used by Eisenhower, who used short ads to promote his popularity. In contrast, his opponent Stevenson used 30 minute speeches as a way to capitalize on the television market.
Eisenhower's short ads:
- were substantially easier to remember
- more likely to be watched by viewers
- played more often.
- Political ads were defined by these first ads on television.
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