Social pundits often consider 1968 a pivotal year in our democracy. Fifty years later, the deaths of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy have many liberals questioning how compassionate our democracy may have been had they lived. There is no doubt they would have made a powerful one-two punch in eradicating many of the social ills caused by uncontrolled capitalism.
Fifty years later we are also dealing with the implosion of the Democratic Party at its national convention and the unexpected return of Richard Nixon via the now vaunted Southern Strategy. Perhaps fifty years later what we should begin evaluating is the social impact of television not only on our society, but on our political foundations.
Most U.S. history books point to the televised 1960 presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon as a turning point in national politics. Observers at the time believed Kennedy performed better than Nixon by successfully displaying a charisma seldom seen then, or now, in our politics. Still, the influence of the debates on his narrow victory is questionable. But the genie of television was definitely out of the bottle.
Because of television our national politics has slowly become about charisma and less about substance. Because of television, Ronald Reagan was known as the “great communicator” while Jimmy Carter will always be “that peanut farmer.” Gerald Ford built his reputation on his integrity in Congress years before becoming president but because of television he will be remembered for his many clumsy falls. While George W. Bush’s decisions after 9/11 continue to be debated, his “folksy” charm during televised speeches led him to two-terms in the White House.
The ability to send live images across the globe via satellites has certainly changed the way the world communicates. It really isn’t hyperbole anymore to say the world is smaller than it used to be. As a result, our systems of politics is no longer about small town America. It’s now about our role in an ever-changing world. Television now provides near instant access to world events and it is now expected that our political responses should be just as instantaneous.
Once upon a time our political leaders were experienced in political and economic theories. The Founding Fathers were knowledgeable of the classic theories of government but feared giving to much influence to a populace that could barely read. Today, our political leaders are highly educated, for the most part, and understand the same classical theories of government and economics. While they don’t always agree on the best applications of those theories, there’s no question that they understand them.
Nonetheless, in the last fifty years television has practically rendered that knowledge and expertise irrelevant. Because of television, what my grandmother used to call “book knowledge” has become passé. Because of television, all one needs to possess is a particular charm and people will follow. Substance is irrelevant today. A glib smile and an “us against them” rhetoric and anyone can rise the political ranks all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I’m sure then, Founding Fathers would be aghast if one of their contemporaries publicly stated he could publicly murder someone and still get elected.
Fifty years ago television brought the deaths of the Kennedy brothers, urban riots, and a near daily tally of Vietnam-related deaths into American living rooms. Television changed how Americans saw the world and themselves. Now the internet is the new kid on the block. I wonder how it will change our politics in the next fifty years.
See you soon.
PS: Has anyone seen the President’s taxes yet?