Category: Television
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Government In the Spotlight
Kefauver’s high-profile Senate hearings demonstrated his theory about how the legislature could remain relevant and serve the public. His colleagues didn’t understand the theory – so they didn’t understand him either.
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Dropping the Mask
When Kefauver appeared in costume on a silly game show, journalists claimed he was debasing politics. But their real worry was about the growing influence of TV.
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Support Your Local Sheriff!
The crime hearings earned Kefauver a reputation as a racket-buster. But that reputation obscured what he really tried to accomplish.
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DC Takes the Stage: The 1950 “Amateur Hour” Benefit Show
Could you imagine one of today’s Senators on “American Idol”? In 1950, a collection of Washington VIPs appeared on a TV variety show to raise money for charity. It was… really something.
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“Seventeen Days to Victory”: Democrats’ Televised Hollywood Spectacular
A couple weeks before their landslide loss, the Stevenson-Kefauver campaign held a star-studded coast-to-coast gala event. Was it a waste of money… or a preview of future campaigns?
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Miami Heat: Kefauver, Russell Face Off in ’52
In 1952, Estes Kefauver and Richard Russell had a furious faceoff on a Miami TV station. Was it the first televised Presidential debate? It’s complicated.
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Don’t Touch That Dial: Kefauver and Television
Estes Kefauver was the first politician to use TV as a springboard to national fame. Why has his pioneering role been forgotten?
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Adlai Stevenson, Fake Farmer
In 1956, the Stevenson campaign put out an ad to show that he understood the problems of family farmers. He failed miserably.
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Stevenson Toons In for ’56?
Eisenhower’s 1952 relied on the sales of Madison Avenue -and Disney – to roll to victory. After resisting those techniques the first time around, the Stevenson/Kefauver campaign gave them a try in ’56. How did it turn out? Judge for yourself.
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EK Endorses JFK for 1960
In 1960, Estes Kefauver was not a candidate for President… but he remained beloved with the voters. See the ad he recorded asking voters to support the Kennedy/Johnson ticket
