Television provided audiences the opportunity to experience major political events live from the comfort of their own homes. One great example of this is the 1954 McArthur Day Parade in Chicago where television communicated more excitement in the crowd to T.V. viewers than there actually was. Another historic event and probably one of the most mesmerizing was President Kennedy's assassination, which was caught live on national T.V, followed by Jack Ruby's assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald which was also caught on live television. Basically from the 70's up to today our society has been an eye witness to state funerals, foreign wars, political scandals from Watergate to BP's Oil Spill.
Political campaigns and elections are the aspects in the American political process that have been affected the most by television. President Eisenhower successfully used short spot commercials to campaign himself. This use of product advertising has since become the major form of communication between candidates and voters. 50-75% of campaign budgets go exclusively to these commercials.
News coverage is also very important in political campaigns. Television stations are bias when it comes to elections, favoring a candidate by enhancing his/her image to the public. When news station decided to broadcast national party conventions it became clear to the candidates that a "scripted" speech would work in their favor. Basically candidates get to carefully choose their responses to a certain topic and if the news station that is covering let's say a particular debate, is in their favor then any negative statements made by that candidate will be dismissed.
Television has such a great impact on the American political process but is this a positive impact? Is our society content with candidates having such an impersonal relationship with us? Are we buying what we see on T.V. when it comes to campaigns?
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