Since we’re smack in the middle of an election year, and probably one of the more contentious ones in recent times, getting an idea that all Presidential elections were not anything like what they are now, but I suspect you know that.
Tonight and for the next few nights, I’ll be running a series of broadcasts from CBS Radio under the title Campaign ’76 – five minute reports from the campaign trail of both major political parties, primarily focusing on Jimmy Carter for the Democrats and President Ford and Ronald Reagan (who was looking to unseat the incumbent Ford in 1976) for the Republicans – no sides taken, just the nuts and bolts of getting the message out, gauging the climate, talking to voters – getting a feel for the message and the process.
As was indicated during the lecture by Marquis Childs in 1952 I ran last night – elections used to be fun – the process was straightforward – the candidates presented their positions – went to the voters, twisted arms, made their case, made promises and hoped one had the better message and better solution than the other – polls were taken, opinions were studied and everything (most everything) was done with an air of civility – knowing that whoever won, there needed to be unity for the sake of democracy. The Loyal opposition was just that – but common ground was a virtue; it was the thing that held the country together. It was unconscionable to threaten shutting down the government if you didn’t get your way.
It also should be noted that campaign season officially began in September of the election year – not starting the day after the election and occupying print and broadcast time for the following four years until the next election – or that elected legislators not spend their terms in office fighting to keep from being unseated by relentless attacks from would-be successors during the following four years. Makes for a constant state of uneasiness and not healthy in light of the current state of the world and America in general, for that matter.
This first series of episodes covers the period July 16, 1976 to August 4, 1976 – just after Jimmy Carter gets the nomination at the Democratic Convention and just ahead of official campaign season.
A fascinating series of accounts and definitely a series to take notes from.
Enjoy:
