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.
1) One character cast in a “heroic” role was Eisenhower. Not only was he well liked by the public for his crucial role in World War Two he was also very popular after being elected. Admired for ending the war and boosting the economy America truly had a, “love affair,” with the man. Certain characteristics are required for being a hero. Hero’s are generally younger and need to die young also. Eisenhower fought in World War I and World War II and was older than any previous president when he took office. Despite his age the GOP was effective in casting Eisenhower as a hero who fought valiantly and solved many of the problems Americans faced at the time.
2) One character that was cast in a, “grandfatherly role,” was Richard Russell of Georgia. Russell was also a contender for the Democratic nomination but was considered by many not progressive enough. Being a southerner at a time of segregation was not the image the Democrats wanted. Russell was too old fashioned and out of touch.
3) One character that didn’t fit into the role that they were trying to play was Adlai Stevenson. Stevenson was a man ahead of his time, progressive, intelligent. The man was eloquent, something not often found in politics. These characteristics however ended up hurting his Presidential campaign as Stevenson was subsequently cast as an “egghead,” and a little too “dandy,” His personal belief that Politics should remain free of negative ads ended up hurting him as a candidate as he refused to air them. Stevenson also believed that the American public would see past the GOP’s campaign strategy, specifically the flashy, well produced, Madison Avenue television commercials and focus on substance. Stevenson never succeeded as a politician because Stevenson never “stooped down” to the levels that good politicians can and do.
Events:
• After allegations arose that Nixon was involved with unethical contributions he took to the air to explain his story to the American public. In the speech Nixon denounced the allegations and even went so far as telling a “personal,” story about a dog named checkers. The message in the event was that Nixon is a decent man who loves dogs.
• When Stevenson addressed the DNC before accepting the nomination from the Democrats in 1952 he gave a magnificent speech which garnished much support. The principle in this speech was Stevenson. The message of this event was that the democratic party needed to be more progressive.
• When Stevenson addressed a large crowd in Honolulu, Hawaii he mentioned “I guess you all like your eggheads hard boiled here in Hawaii.” The principle in this event was Stevenson and his message was that he needed the people of Hawaii to help him win the presidency.
• After losing the 1952 race Stevenson traveled around the world. Upon his return to America five months later Stevenson described his visit and spoke with concern about the “have and have nots.” The principle in this even would be the trip and Stevenson return.
• At a memorable speech in Miami in 1954 Stevenson was very vocal about the Eisenhower administration and Senator McCarthy. The message in this speech was that there needs to be change. The principle is Stevenson.
Settings- Campaign HQ in Champaign, Illinois
Costume- Hole in Stevenson’s shoe showed he was a, “man of the people.”
Gestures and Body Language- Nixon on TV during “checkers,” speech, he displayed himself well and successfully portrayed his human side
Music- The song about Stevenson, jingle actually, which talks about the man with the holes in his shoes.
Spectacle- Television coverage of DNC for the first time ever.
Symbols- As mentioned before, the hole in one of Stevenson’s shoe made him seem more like an average joe and less like an “egghead.”
Christina Cordova
March 16, 2005
Political/Government PR
Alton Miller
Assignment for “The Man from Libertyville”
Roles
1. Eisenhower was cast as the hero by the media and the people. Since he was a general and a very likable public figure, the people and media liked his persona and did everything possible to create his persona.
2. I think Adlai Stevenson was cast in an underdog role. He was a “non-conniving idealist” and a governor with no true aspirations to be president. In the end he did realize he wanted to become president but when it was too late. The people cared for him deeply even though he did not win any election.
3. I think President Truman was cast in a “grandfatherly” role. He admired Stevenson a lot and advised him on many occasions. He truly wanted a man for the job and that’s what Stevenson was for him.
4. I don’t think that Stevenson should have been the underdog. He had set values and goals in his campaign he truly was a man for the people and he should have won just because of that alone. Is he would have won he would have been the hero in the story not just the underdog.
Events
1. a. Eisenhower
b. Republican National Convention in Chicago
c. The message was that Eisenhower would get the job done.
2. a. Adlai Stevenson
b. Democratic National Convention in Chicago
c. Stevenson accepts the presidential nomination. First convention to be
broadcast on television
3. a. Adlai Stevenson
b. Speech at a Miami dinner
c. He bashed Senator McCarthy and Eisenhower on their take of communist Americans.
4. a. Adlai Stevenson
b. Press conference with Eleanor Roosevelt
c. Mrs. Roosevelt was fond of Stevenson and supported his campaign for President
5. a. John F. Kennedy
b. Democratic National Convention 1956
c. Stevenson introduced JFK and supported his nomination for president
Other Dramatic Elements
a. Settings: Jackson-Jefferson Dinner, Democratic National Convention, Republican National Convention
b. Costume: Democratic buttons and ribbons; hole in shoe
c. Gestures and body language: Hands in up &down motion during speech
d. Music: Patriotic; Orchestra; they made a song “The man with the hole in his shoe”
f. The shoe with a hole in the bottom became the symbol of Stevenson’s working background.