The Influence of Television

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the article "Presidential Elections in the Age of Television". The paper looks at how Rothwell's article shows the role of television by examining the outcome of various presidential elections. The paper discusses Rothwell's idea of television as a political medium and the role of money in politics. Finally, the paper looks at Rothwell's suggested reforms that might curb the influence of television on political races.

From the Paper:

"When I think of television's influence on elections, my mind jumps to the presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960, but Rothwell says the medium's effect can be traced farther back than that. Rothwell says television first became a part of the political scene in 1948, when the networks first covered the Republican and Democratic conventions, and when Harry Truman ran the first political advertisement."
"Rothwell also points to the 1952 presidential election, in which Dwight Eisenhower hired an advertising firm to create an advertising campaign for television. Eisenhower's opponent, Adlai Stevenson, criticized Eisenhower's advertising firm for selling a candidate the same way it sells inanimate objects, but Stevenson, too, used some advertising."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Rothwell, Jennifer Truran. "Presidential Elections in the Age of Television." Social Education. September 1, 2000. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67412067.html (accessed 03/11/07).

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