(Premier Login altonmiller) Forum Owner Posted Mar 11, 2005 2:54 PM
1. Eisenhower was cast as a hero during his first election. He was seen as the political figure capable of abolishing communist threats in the US. He was a war vet, and his party played on this aspect and cast him in a heroic role. Stevenson was cast in a David-and-Goliath role during his last campaign for the Democratic Primary. He had already run and lost twice against the Republican Party, but his campaign gave the message that with all his experience, he could finally rise to the challenge and win. After Kennedy was elected, Stevenson played the grandfatherly role. He had wisdom, experience, and knowledge. However, he was greatly overlooked as far as policy-making went, because of this status. Finally, in his first campaign for the presidency, Stevenson did not fit into a role. He was a humble, honest man who wanted a just Nation, but the problem was that he kicked off his campaign by saying that he didn’t really want the responsibility.
2. 1. Stevenson’s Speech in Miami
a. America
b. Stevenson spoke about the disdain he had for the divide in the Republican Party between Eisenhower and McCartney
c. The message was that Stevenson had ideals that went along with the Democratic Party, and which weren’t being fulfilled by the Republicans
2. Stevenson’s First Acceptance Speech
a. Stevenson
b. He accepted the Democratic Nomination for President, but he spoke as though he didn’t really want it, but that he would do it because he felt it was his duty.
c. The message was that he was an honest, moral man who could do great things in the White House, if only he actually wanted to.
3. Eisenhower and Taft Make Peace
a. Eisenhower
b. Taft decided to put his differences aside form Eisenhower’s and give him his support. The whoe thing consisted of a hand-shake.
c. The message was that Eisenhower was good enough to have the support of Taft.
4. First DNC with Live TV Coverage
a. Stevenson, the winner
b. There was a lot of hoopla, and Stevenson gave his speech with added mannerisms geared towards the TV audience, making the whole event slightly more spectacular.
c. There was a big feeling of unity and a big show for the TV audience. It was now more important to focus on visuals.
5. Stevenson at the UN Meeting
a. Stevenson and the US
b. Stevenson was questioning a foreign official on a pertinent issue, and there was live TV coverage.
c. Stevenson showed himself to be strong and powerful. He showed that he had strict ideals and wasn’t going to back down.
3. a. At the DNC with live TV, the hall was grand and the podium was
somewhat noble-looking, with the crowd forming a ‘U’ around it.
b. Stevenson’s shoe with the hole in it became a staple of his first Presidential campaign
c. Eisenhower always appeared more confident and strong while Stevenson looked more down-to-Earth and genuine. This was revealed in the way they walked, and in their tone of voice when they spoke.
d. The music always consisted of Patriotic tunes.
e. Both the DNC and the RNC were held in the same hall, and both were seen on TV and were huge spectacles of Patriotic citizens rallying for a common cause.
f. The shoe with a hole in the bottom became the symbol of Stevenson’s working background, as well as his humble, caring attitude.