Pro Politics with Zac McCrary Media Consultant Neil Oxman on the History of Political Admaking & His Own Career
Veteran Democratic media consultant Neil Oxman is one of the most interesting people working in politics. In addition to his years helping elect Democrats at all levels, he caddies on the PGA tour for golfing legends including Tom Watson. In this discussion, Neil talks the history of political ad-making from the 1950s to today and goes deep inside several of his own high-profile races including PA Governor Ed Rendell, Philadelphia's first Black mayor Wilson Goode, Al Gore's 1988 presidential campaign, and more throughout his career that show the ways TV can help win (and lose) political campaigns. Neil's full presentation on the history of campaign ads was recorded by C-Span in 2016 and can be found here.
IN THIS EPISODE…
Neil’s Philly roots and unusual law school experience at Villanova…
Neil gets his foot in the door in politics in the summer of 1976…
What leads to Neil opening his own media firm in 1980…
Neil talks the roots of television advertising in political campaigns…
The 1969 television ad that Neil believes kicked off the rise of political ads in non-presidential campaigns…
Neil compares ads from the 70s/80s to political ads of today…
The races on which Neil starts to come into his own as a media consultant…
Neil helps Wilson Goode beat Frank Rizzo to become Philadelphia’s first Black mayor…
Neil’s role on the Kentucky Senate race in 1984 and the strategic mistake that led to Mitch McConnell’s first win…
Neil’s role as ad-maker on the Al Gore 1988 presidential campaign…
Neil’s connection to then-mayor of Cincinnati Jerry Springer…
Neil helps Ed Rendell become Philly Mayor and Governor of Pennsylvania…
The last ad that Neil thinks actually mattered in a presidential race…
Neil talks his habit of watching 100s of movies a year…
Neil talks moonlighting as a caddy on the PGA tour for greats like Tom Watson…
Who’s the best golfer in politics?
Neil’s advice for those who want to get into political media…
Neil’s recommendation for the best political movies…
AND 215 media markets, Roger Ailes, Altoona, Doug Bailey, Birch Bayh, Abe Beame, Homero Blancas, Ed Brooke, Pat Caddell, Frank Capra, Hugh Carey, Bob Casey Jr, Bob Casey Sr, Frank Church, Citizens United, cocktail parties, the Columbus Dispatch, Bob Colville, the Daisy ad, John Dierdorf, David Doak, Mike Dukakis, Dwight Eisenhower, Mike Ford, David Garth, gerontocracy, gigantic piles of polls, Wilson Goode, Bob Goodman, Bill Green, Michael Harrington, Anita Hill, Richard Holbrooke, Dee Huddleston, HUT levels, Andi Johnson, Lyndon Johnson, Julian Kanter, Robert Kennedy, Ed Koch, John Lindsay, the Louisville Courier Journal, Willie Maples, McDonalds, George McGovern, Jack McGregor, Mark Moskowitz, Ralph Nader, Jack Nicklaus, Dan Quayle, process questions, Mark Putnam, Robert Redford, regional agoraphobia, Rosser Reeves, Jim Rhodes, Frank Rizzo, Nelson Rockefeller, Buddy Roemer, Nolan Ryan, Rick Santorum, Mike Schmidt, Allyson Schwartz, Joe Sestak, Bob Shrum, Mark Singel, Arlen Specter, Bob Squier, Clarence Thomas, Danny Thomas, Lee Trevino, troglodytes, Harry Truman, Paul Tsongas, Paul Tully, WASPy establishments, Doug Wilder, Tiger Woods, Tom Wolf, Lynn Yeakel & more!