Today, I decided to take a look at what inspired me to create this blog–clever campaign advertisements that revolutionized the way we look at PR and politics. There is no denying that JFK completely changed the way Americans view the modern President. He was an expert at cultivating an image for himself, and gaining the trust of Americans nationwide.
The charismatic Senator from Massachusetts proved to Americans that we were ready for a”new frontier”–one that incorporates intelligence, sophistication and renewed faith in the Presidency. JFK (with the help of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy) became a fashion icon. Legend has it that JFK even ended the tradition of men wearing formal hats in the United States.
When you look at the advertisement above, you cannot help but remember the Kennedy name. As the catchy jingle comes to an end, you are left with an image of JFK and his family. This image paved the way for future presidential candidates, and showed that Americans DO care about a candidate’s personal life. When President Obama decided to run for office, I remember hearing as much about his family as I did about his public policy agenda.
There are so many factors, especially now with a 24/7 news cycle, that go into creating a successful political campaign. JFK’s interactions with the media and innovative ad campaign helped us realize the complexity of politics and public opinion.
October 28, 2010 at 3:05 am
If only political ads nowadays were this catchy and wholesome-feeling! Great posts by the way 🙂
October 28, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Thank you! I know what you mean. It amazes me how different political campaign ads are today.
October 28, 2010 at 11:45 am
I enjoyed your video on Kennedy, upbeat and promising, then LBJ seemed to just put fear into people to get the vote. I guess PR does what it needs to do at the time . Very interesting blog, will visit again, I signed up for future posts. Thanks for your insights.
October 28, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!