Thanks to the miracle of the internet, young people today can watch the awful television commercials of the 50's, 60's, and 70's--including the campaign commercials. Lucky you! Please take a look at a one or two of the 1968 presidential campaign commercials I link here:What was the main theme of the commercial/commercials you watched? What issues were the candidates using to try to sway voters? Did the commercial/commercials seem to you at all likely to be effective?
I watched the commercial for Richard Nixon. The main theme of the ad was restoring order and stability in America during a time of unrest. The commercial showed scenes of protests, violence, and social turmoil while presenting Nixon as the leader who could bring the country back together.
ReplyDeleteThe issues Nixon used to sway voters were crime, civil unrest, and the ongoing Vietnam War. The ad suggested that the nation needed stronger leadership to deal with these problems. Rather than focusing on detailed policy proposals, the commercial appealed to voters' concerns about safety and the direction of the country.
I think the commercial was likely effective in 1968 because many Americans were worried about riots, political divisions, and the war. Nixon's message was simple and easy to understand, and it connected with voters who wanted stability and change from the problems they saw around them. Even though the commercial seems somewhat dated today, it probably resonated with many voters at the time and helped Nixon win support.