TELEVISION & POLITICS
How television networks benefited from Donald Trump and how Trump benefited from television networks
One of the ways television has influenced politics is through presidential deabtes.One of the most memorable presidential debates was in 1960, between John F.Kennedy and Richard Nixon. It was so memorable because it was the first ever televised presidential debate. The debate captured the eyes of many Americans and gave them a reason to turn on their TV set. For instance, according to Broadcast Magazine, it was estimated that 74 million viewers tuned in to their TV sets to watch the first ever televised debate(TIME,par.4,2010). Of course back then TV was still broadcast in black and white, but nonetheless it still captured an audience (History.com, par.1,2010).
"The Kennedy-Nixon debates not only had a major impact on the election’s outcome, but ushered in a new era in which crafting a public image and taking advantage of media exposure became essential ingredients of a successful political campaign" (History.com, par.1,2010). The debates also showed the key role that television played and continues to play today in the democratic process. After one of the many press conferences had during this candidacy race, Nixon was in trouble after the media asked the current president about Nixon's contributions as vice president. When the president hesitated and was clearly exhausted, he answered , “If you give me a week, I might think of one. I don’t remember.”(History.com, par.2, 2010) This was ammunition for Kennedy to use. Shortly after it happened a commercial aired making Nixon look incompetent and unready to take on the role of president.
Due to the fact that television was still so new at the time viewers, the media and the candidates were still adjusting to how each live broadcast worked. For instance, television viewers at the time judged the candidates on the way they acted or looked on camera. For example, Nixon presented himself in a sloppy way, and shut down any makeup artist trying to help him. Kennedy came prepared and looked fresh and clean cut (Deadline Hollywood,par.13,2016). Television viewers were more impressed by Kennedy during the debates because he was the perfect representation of what Americans wanted to see as their president. For example, If you were to describe the president, you would say that he is someone who not only looks the part, but someone who citizens can trust to run their country. Society has set certain ideas about certain subjects, especially politics. In that moment Kennedy won over the viewership because he represented what all Americans at the time wanted to see as their president.
The presidential debates weren't Nixon's only way of getting more air time. In 1972 after the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned as president, putting a distrust between the American citizens and the government (History.com,par.1,2009). The scandal received a lot of attention from the press. Without the televised hearings and networks talking about Nixon's resignation, it wouldn't have gone down in history as one of the biggest political scandals (History.com,par.1,2009). Another memorable presidential election that had a lot of "negativity" and scandalous behaviour between candidates and the media was past 2016 election, where Trump won presidency. Even as Trump's opponents and anti-Trump supporter's leaked videos and evidence of scandalous behaviour to the media [television networks] to try and undercut Trump (Washington Post, 2016,Cillizza). Trump won over Americans in the electoral vote, to beat out his candidate Clinton as the 45th President of the United States.
Not only were the first televised debates a major change for the political world, but when celebrities took a shot at running for not only governor of California, but President of the United States, they changed the way that politics was presented to the public, through different modes of communication, their status as a celebrity and personality. The two celebrities that paved the way for future celebrities like Trump to get into politics were President Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Reagan was an actor and Governor of California before he made his way to becoming President in 1981(Histroy.com,par1,2009).And Schwarzenegger was known for body building, his action figure, acting and now for his role as governor of California.
Reagan was the first to change the way that U.S Presidents communicated. For example, Lyn Nofziger, spokesman and strategist for Reagan (M.Broder A1), said in an article on Dateline NBC,"one reason he was able to communicate those bedrock principles is because he believed them. “If you are trying to sell something you don’t believe in, eventually the people catch on."(Mankiewicz A26). Another example would be from Trump's campaign and his message during the campaign, "Let's Make America Great Again". Trump believed in his message and the ideas that he was "selling" to American's and in the end it worked, making him the 45th President of the United States.
Arnold Schwarzenegger famously known for his body building, action hero, and acting also took a shot at Governor of California. Recently he took over Trump's famous reality TV show , The Celebrity Apprentice. In an article by Vanity Fair they outlined the similarities between Shwarzenegger and Trump. For example, victory wasn’t an by accident at all. It was a proof of concept for the Republican candidate of the future. It was Donald Trump’s road map(Horton par 7). This meant that Shwarzenegger made room for other icons such as Trump to run in a political race.
The course of politics changed in 1960 after the first televised debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Not only did it secure the relationship between politics and the media , but it gave viewers a chance to see what their future president of the United States would be like. Furthermore in 1981, Ronald Reagan, actor and governor of California secured his spot in the White House. After Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger , actor, body builder and, action hero, took his shot at governor of California. All of these politicians paved the way for the current president Donald Trump. In the past 2016 election Trump and Hilary made every debate one to watch. For instance, more than 100 million people were predicted to watch the first debate between Hilary Clinton and Trump (Feldmann,par.4). Furthermore, Clinton and Trump attracted more viewers because the of the back and forth banter between the two candidates (Feldmann,par.5). The debates between Clinton and Trump can be compared to the first ever televised debates between Nixon and Kennedy, which gave Kennedy a boost in the polls - another edge that historians say help shape the outcome for the election (Feldmann,par.11).Through the electric televised elections between Kennedy and Nixon, the Watergate scandal, and Reagan and Schawrzenegger's rise to power it will become apparent how Trump was able to secure a spot as the current president of the United States.