AP Synthesis Essay
Since its introduction into the presidential elections in the early 1960's, television took hold of politics and had a major influenece on the elections through the molding of public opinions on a monumental scale, the creation of a climate of immediate public response to candidates, and a new amount of pressure placed on candidates as they work to keep a favorable public image. It is for these reasons that television has caused a great rift in the atmosphere of presidential elections; candidates are now more preoccupied with public image and catering to American audiences than actual political issues.
With the first televised presidential election in 1960 between the young and charasmatic John F. Kennedy and the dull and monotonous Richard M. Nixon. For the first time in American politics, voters could watch closely and feel a direct connection with the candidates. This intimate relationship wouldn't be possible without the reach of television. Frank Stenton, the president of CBS, stated that "the people once more become the nation, as they have not been since the days when we were small enough each to know his elected representative." Stenton then explains that " As we grew, we lost this feeling of direct contact - televiion has now restored it." AS the head of a mojor American Broadcasting corporation, Dr. Stenton saw first hand the potential influence of mass media (i.e. television) would have on presidential elections and thge future of American politics. (Doc.A)
Returning to the Nixon-Kennedy debates, statistics reported by Loius Menerd, author of "Masters of the MAtrix: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Culture of the image", showed that voters who tuned into the 1960 presidential debates via public radio deeclared Nixon the winner, while those who viewed the televised coverage of the debates declared Kennedy to be the clear winner. (Doc.C) This Defends the statement that the image and display of a candidate greatly affects a voter's opinion of said candidate, regardless of prior moral standings or political affiliations. The immediate response to candidates changed the way American politics functioned. Candidates now had to tread along the path of public support carefully or face falling out of favor with the ever-watching American public. The 1960 election began a trend in American politics; that american politics would now be a a competition for public support over personal image rather than political ideals as candidates struggled to adjust to the changing political climate.
While television was able to play a positive role in politics by allowing a broad and easily accessible political community for many voters, it also pushed many away. Because of the television, the public has grown to subject presidential candidates to a celebrity style system of popularity, rather than pure political ability...
With the first televised presidential election in 1960 between the young and charasmatic John F. Kennedy and the dull and monotonous Richard M. Nixon. For the first time in American politics, voters could watch closely and feel a direct connection with the candidates. This intimate relationship wouldn't be possible without the reach of television. Frank Stenton, the president of CBS, stated that "the people once more become the nation, as they have not been since the days when we were small enough each to know his elected representative." Stenton then explains that " As we grew, we lost this feeling of direct contact - televiion has now restored it." AS the head of a mojor American Broadcasting corporation, Dr. Stenton saw first hand the potential influence of mass media (i.e. television) would have on presidential elections and thge future of American politics. (Doc.A)
Returning to the Nixon-Kennedy debates, statistics reported by Loius Menerd, author of "Masters of the MAtrix: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Culture of the image", showed that voters who tuned into the 1960 presidential debates via public radio deeclared Nixon the winner, while those who viewed the televised coverage of the debates declared Kennedy to be the clear winner. (Doc.C) This Defends the statement that the image and display of a candidate greatly affects a voter's opinion of said candidate, regardless of prior moral standings or political affiliations. The immediate response to candidates changed the way American politics functioned. Candidates now had to tread along the path of public support carefully or face falling out of favor with the ever-watching American public. The 1960 election began a trend in American politics; that american politics would now be a a competition for public support over personal image rather than political ideals as candidates struggled to adjust to the changing political climate.
While television was able to play a positive role in politics by allowing a broad and easily accessible political community for many voters, it also pushed many away. Because of the television, the public has grown to subject presidential candidates to a celebrity style system of popularity, rather than pure political ability...
I stopped writing at this point in the piece due to time constraints.
