Ike, Bob and Adlai

If anyone wants to know why Adlai Stevenson ran for President twice and lost, this campaign advert from his 1952 election campaign may provide an explanation.

Comments

[Ted]

I assume "Bob" was Robert Taft?

[Oliver Kamm]

Yes, it was Robert Taft. Eisenhower and Taft differed on many things, but most fundamentally on President Truman's commitment of the US to the defence of Western Europe. Taft advocated an 'Asia First' position, which was more in tune with the sentiments of the Republican Party at that time. Fortunately for us Europeans, Eisenhower's views prevailed.

[CT_Barbarian]

Those of you not in the United States are forgiven for not knowing that the advert refers to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower who was the Republican nominee in 1952 and Robert Taft, a "conservative" senator from Ohio who had designs on the presidency (those of you in the US who don't know this should punch your High School history teacher on the nose).

While bizzare this is not representative of Stevenson's campaign - reputedly he was embarrassed by this ad. His other advertisements were dull to the point of hilarity; a balding intellectual lecturing straight on into the camera.

In contrast, Ike's ads in '52 were brilliant. "Men and women in the street" were asked questions and Ike, in a sound studio but looking left as if he were replying to the individual, would give folksy, definitive replies.

I wonder what people will make of today's campaign advertisements in 54 years time?