Campaign '68 Art of the spectacle
Oct 16, 2018
Explore the fascinating world of media manipulation as Roger Ailes transforms Richard Nixon's public image in the 1968 campaign. Discover how Ailes' tactics shifted presidential elections, merging media with emotional engagement. The podcast delves into Rupert Murdoch's evolving relationship with Donald Trump, illustrating how ratings influenced political support. Ailes' conservative media legacy is critiqued, especially its relevance during the Trump era. This captivating analysis spans decades, highlighting a media maverick's unmatched influence on American politics.
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Backstage Pitch That Changed Campaigns
- Roger Ailes approached Nixon backstage and offered himself as a media consultant, promising to use TV production techniques to improve Nixon's image.
- Nixon hired Ailes to avoid repeating his poor TV appearance in the 1960 debate, changing campaign media forever.
TV Reordered Political Power
- Sherman and Ellis explain that pre-1968 politics were dominated by print media and less choreographed TV presentation.
- Ailes shifted power by using television to present candidates directly to voters, bypassing print gatekeepers.
Politics As Television Performance
- Ailes treated politics as television performance, prioritizing emotional reactions over policy detail.
- He manufactured town-hall spectacles with pre-screened panels and staged camera work to create legitimacy.
