Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates/Ike for President (advertisement)/archive1

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Background

• "Dwight D. Eisenhower was the commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during the 1940s and directed the 1944 Normandy invasion."
  • Ref#2 (Whitney 2005, p. 1): "On June 6, 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was arguably the most powerful man in the world. He was the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force"
  • Ref#3 (Busch 2012, p. 55): "Eisenhower had served as supreme allied commander in Europe, planning and directing the June 6, 1944, Normandy invasion"

• "According to authors Kenneth E. Morris and Barry Schwartz, Eisenhower was "extraordinarily" popular and in the late 1940s; he frequently led the list of the "most admired man" poll conducted by Gallup."
  • Ref#4 (Morris & Schwartz 1993, pp. 133, 140): "Much is known about Dwight Eisenhower's accomplishments as wartime general and postwar president; however, little is known about the reasons for his extraordinary popularity." (pg 133) ... "Eisenhower and MacArthur led the list of "America's Most Admired Men" in the late 1940s ..." (pg 140)
  • Ref#5 (Smith 1986, pp. 573–574): "Almost yearly since 1947 Gallup has been asking the American public what man and what woman "living today in any part of the world" they admire the most." (pg 573) ... "Dwight D. Eisenhower (before his elevation to the presidency) and MacArthur were the leading light." (pg 574)

• "He served as the Chief of Staff of the Army from 1945 to 1948."
  • Ref#6 (Pach 2017, p. 58): "In November 1945, Eisenhower's friend and mentor, Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall, retired ... new chief of staff of the army. He [Eisenhower] served in that role, the most senior position in the army, for over two years, until early 1948." [1]

• "In 1948, despite being asked repeatedly by many organizations and prominent politicians, Eisenhower denied all requests to enter politics,"
  • Ref#7 (Ambrose 1983, p. 478): See this preview. There is no exact direct quotation from the source; it is all scattered in chunks.

• "asserting that it was not appropriate to the army and him as the Chief of Staff."
  • Ref#8 (Pickett 2000, p. 35): "As army chief of staff he considered both unseemly and inappropriate any actions on his part to put himself forward as a candidate for presidency" [2]

• "In 1952, however, according to author William B. Pickett, Eisenhower moved closer to partisan Republican politics."
  • Ref#9 (Pickett 2000, p. 76): "After the 1948 presidential election, Eisenhower was moving ever closer to partisan Republican politics. [3]

• "His supporters rallied and chanted the phrase "I Like Ike", referring to his nickname, Ike."
  • Ref#10 (Ambrose 1983, pp. 28, 523): ""... the "Ike" was a natural transformation of the first syllable of his last name"" ... "Jacqueline Cochran, the famous aviator and wife of Floyd Odium, the financier, flew to Paris with a two-hour film of an Eisenhower rally in Madison Square Garden, held at midnight following a boxing match. It had been carefully stage-managed by Eisenhower's friends and the Citizens. Some fifteen thousand people attended, despite — according to Cochran — a total lack of cooperation from the city officials (all, of course, Democrats). The film showed the crowd chanting in unison, "We want Ike! We want Ike!" while waving "I Like Ike" banners and placards."

• " Irving Berlin included a song titled "They Like Ike" in the Broadway musical Call Me Madam."
  • Ref#11 (Christiansen 2018 (b), p. 45): "Irving Berlin wrote “They Like Ike” for the Broadway show Call Me Madam," [4]

• "Various newspaper editors endorsed Eisenhower's candidacy;[12] politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties supported him.[13]"
  • Ref#12 (Daniel 2000, pp. 396–397): Can access through WP:TWL; there is no exact quote, the whole source lists various editors endorsing Ike
  • Ref#13 (Pusey 1956, pp. 6–20): Again, the reason for this wide page range is that there is no no exact quote supporting the statement, but various instances of politicians from both parties supporting Ike. See

• "After winning the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire[14] and narrowly losing Minnesota,[15] he contested the presidency as a Republican. In July 1952, the Republican National Convention nominated him for president, with Senator Richard Nixon as his running mate.[16]"
  • Ref#14 (SAGE Publications 2010, p. 399): "1952 Primaries: Republican: March 11 New Hampshire: 'Dwight D. Eisenhower (N.Y.) 46,661'; 'Robert A. Taft (Ohio) 35,838'; 'Harold E. Stassen (Minn.) 6,574'; 'Douglas MacArthur (Wis.) 3,227'; 'Others 230'"
  • Ref#15 (Pusey 1956, p. 13): "Next came an unexpected blizzard of votes in Minnesota. ... Stassen led the General by 20,000 votes"
  • Ref#16 (Lawrence 1952): "General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower won a hard-fought first-ballot nomination today as the Republican candidate for President and Senator Richard M. Nixon of California was chosen by acclamation as his running mate for the Vice Presidency." [5]

• "They were challenged by the Democratic presidential ticket of Adlai Stevenson and John Sparkman."
  • Ref#1 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 37): "... John Sparkman (Senator from Alabama and Stevenson’s running mate) ..."
  • Ref#17 (Voss 2008, p. 186): "... Eisenhower's Democratic opponent Adlai Stevenson ..." [6]

Creation

• "In 1952, approximately 40 percent of Americans owned a television"
  • Ref#18 (Kamber 2003, p. 29): "By 1952, 40 percent of American households had televisions ..." [7]

• "In his 1990 article, "Television's First Political Spot Ad Campaign: Eisenhower Answers America", author Stephen C. Wood wrote that the 1952 presidential election was the first to "render political television strategically viable"." [8]
  • Ref#19 (Wood 1990, p. 266): "First the 1952 election was the first presidential campaign in which the factors of television broadcast area, set ownership and the number of broadcast stations combined to render political television strategically viable."

• "Total media expenditure for the election is estimated to range from $2 million (equivalent to $19.5 million in 2020) to over $6 million (equivalent to $58.5 million in 2020)."
  • Ref#19 (Wood 1990, p. 266): "Estimates of total media expenditures' for the 1952 campaign range from $2 million to well over $6 million" [9]

• "The Eisenhower campaign launched television advertisements titled "Eisenhower Answers America"."
  • Ref#20 (Wood 1990, pp. 265–270): ""Eisenhower Answers America" (1952) was the first political spot ad campaign broadcast on television". Various other instances in that page range support that it was by the Eisenhower campaign [10]

• "BBDO was responsible for handling most of Eisenhower's campaign advertisements."
  • Ref#20 (Wood 1990, pp. 265–270): "The Republicans, on the other hand, formally engaged three agencies: for television and radio speeches and programs, B.B.D. and O., for print media, Kudner, and for the Eisenhower Answers America spot ads, Ted Bates, Co."
  • Ref#21 (Diamond & Bates 1992, p. 50): "... The Republican National Committee and Citizens for Eisenhower-Nixon gave their advertisement accounts to BBD&O" [11]

• "On September 30, 1952, Jacqueline Cochran,"
  • Ref#22 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 32): "... a Western Union telegram of September 30, 1952 written by campaign operative Jacqueline Cochran reads:" [12]

• "a pilot, cosmetic business executive, and a campaign aide of Eisenhower,"
  • Ref#23 (Eisenhower Library): "Jacqueline Cochran, cosmetics executive and world-famous aviatrix," ... "Jacqueline Cochran’s interest and involvement in politics led to a close friendship with Dwight D. Eisenhower. In February 1952 she helped sponsor a massive rally on General Eisenhower’s behalf at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The rally was recorded and Ms. Cochran flew the film to France for a special showing at General Eisenhower’s headquarters. The show of support was a major factor in convincing General Eisenhower to run for president in 1952." [for campaign aide] [13]

• "wrote a letter to Roy O. Disney, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, about a proposed advertisement which she discussed with John Hay "Jock" Whitney. She speculated it to be "the greatest piece of propaganda in this whole campaign"."
  • Ref#22 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 32): "Addressed to “Mr. Roy [O.] Disney, Plaza Hotel, New York City,” a Western Union telegram of September 30, 1952 written by campaign operative Jacqueline Cochran2 reads:"

"JUST TALKED TO MR. JOCK WHITNEY TO TRY TO GET ASSURANCE THAT YOUR WONDERFUL SHORT WOULD HAVE NATIONAL TELEVISION COVERAGE STOP I AM WIRING MR. WHITNEY TO PHONE YOU AT PLAZA STOP I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THE PROPOSED SHORT COULD BE THE GREATEST PIECE OF PROPAGANDA IN THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN AND I CERTAINLY HOPE IT CAN GO ON A NATIONAL HOOKUP.3 THANKS AND REGARD"

• "Her husband, Floyd Odlum, was a director of the Disney corporation."
  • Ref#24 (Rumbough Jr. 2013, p. 108): "As it happened, Jackie's husband, Floyd Odlum, was a director of the Disney Corporation ..." [14]

• "Two days later, she wrote another letter to George L. Carlson, informing him about the animated cartoon "We Like Ike". She referred to it as the "most extraordinary one minute short", and told him that many people including Paul G. Hoffman and Paul Helms were impressed by the idea. Helms had donated $1,000 (equivalent to $9,700 in 2020) for the advertisement, which had been deposited in an account handled by Carlson. Cochran requested Carlson to pay the amount to an employee at The Walt Disney Company."
  • Ref#25 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 33): [15]

"A letter of October 2, 1952, by Cochran and addressed to Mr. George Carlson of the accounting firm Ernst & Ernst and with copies to Paul Helms and William Anderson, reads: Dear Mr. Carlson: A large group of artists, musicians, lyricists and producers of the Walt Disney organization have gotten together and, on a voluntary basis on their own time, are in the process of producing a most extraordinary one minute short which is an animated cartoon called “WE LIKE IKE”. They are also producing a 20 second animated cartoon in the same character. The lyrics that accompany this one minute short and the plans for the short have been presented to several people, including Mr. Paul Hoffman and Mr. Paul Helms, and everyone is overwhelmingly impressed and enthusiastic over this piece of propaganda. The only expense involved in connection with these two shorts is certain laboratory costs which it is impossible for the group at Disney’s to contribute. Mr. Paul Helms contributed $1000., which has been deposited in the special account you are handling, and he gave me permission to use his contribution for this purpose. Mr. William Anderson of the Walt Disney Studio will submit to you in the next ten days an invoice, covering the laboratory costs incurred in making these cartoons and the cost of making several prints. These costs will not exceed $1000. Will you kindly send Mr. Anderson a check to cover the invoice."

• "As Disney was a union shop, its work rules prohibited any partisan political activity. As a result, the work for the advertisement was done by unpaid volunteers outside the working hours."
  • Ref#24 (Rumbough Jr. 2013, p. 108): "There was one issue to be resolved: Disney was a union shop, and the work rules prohibited any partisan political activity. But if the work could be done by unpaid volunteers working outside of normal working hours? No problem" [16]

• "Two animated advertisements were made by the Disney Studio."
  • Ref#26 (Christiansen 2018 (a), pp. 33–34): "I. —1 minute spot: “We’ll Take Ike” Words and Music: Gil George and Paul Smith Publisher Assigned: Walt Disney Music Company Total Footage: 90 feet Total time: 60 seconds Usage: Visual Vocal—Complete
    II. —20 second spot: “We’ll Take Ike” Words and Music: Gil George and Paul Smith Publisher Assigned: Walt Disney Music Company Total Footage: 30 feet Total Time: 20 seconds Usage: Visual Vocal—Partial" [17]

• "The first one was one-minute long, having 90-feet (27 meters) long tape footage. The second one was an abbreviated version of 20 seconds, with 30-feet (9.1 meters) long tape footage. Gil George and Paul Smith were responsible for the lyrics and the music."
  • Ref#26 (Christiansen 2018 (a), pp. 33–34): "I. —1 minute spot: “We’ll Take Ike” Words and Music: Gil George and Paul Smith Publisher Assigned: Walt Disney Music Company Total Footage: 90 feet Total time: 60 seconds Usage: Visual Vocal—Complete
    II. —20 second spot: “We’ll Take Ike” Words and Music: Gil George and Paul Smith Publisher Assigned: Walt Disney Music Company Total Footage: 30 feet Total Time: 20 seconds Usage: Visual Vocal—Partial" [18]

• "The advertisement was initially called "We'll Take Ike", but is also known as "I Like Ike" and "Ike for President"."
  • Ref#27 (Rumbough Jr. 2013, p. 109): "Disney called the one-minute spot "We'll Take Ike"— as in, "We'll take Ike to Washington." But, for obvious reasons, it has always been known as, "I Like Ike" " [19]
  • Ref#22 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 32): Refers to the ad as "Ike for President" in the heading. [20]

Synopsis

• "The animated advertisement begins with a bouncing Ike campaign button as the music plays in the background."
  • Ref#28 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 35): "At first we see “Eisenhower for President” across the screen with a bouncing IKE campaign button underneath while music plays."

• "The frame changes to Uncle Sam as a drum major leading a circus elephant. The elephant is wearing an Ike banner in his trunk, and a caricature of Eisenhower around his body, beating the drum with his tail."
  • Ref#28 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 35): "After the bouncing button, we see a drum major, an elephant with caricature of Eisenhower around his body, an IKE banner proudly unfurled from his trunk, and beating a rolling bass drum with his tail in time to the music"
  • Ref#29 (Burns 2010, p. 196): "Leading the procession was uncle Sam, ..." [21]
  • Ref#30 (Hollihan 2009, p. 143): "One of these first ads featured a dancing cartoon figure of Uncle Sam leading a circus elephant wearing a banner bearing a likeness of Eisenhower" [22]

• "Following the elephant is a parade of many people of different occupations,"
  • Ref#30 (Hollihan 2009, p. 143): "Parading behind the elephant was a diverse array of American men and women drawn from a variety of different occupations and ..." [23]

• "which author Eric Burns writes to have "marched in exaggerated fashion with the goofiest of facial expression"."
  • Ref#29 (Burns 2010, p. 196): "they marched in exaggerated fashion with the goofiest of facial expression" [24]

• "They included farmers, painters, police officers, businessmen, chefs, firefighters, nurses, cowboys, bankers, pipe-fitters, teachers, and housewives."
  • Ref#28 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 35): "Subsequently we see a parade of men and women whose professions are clearly identifiable by their clothing: businessman, cook, nurse, cowboy, banker, pipefitter, teacher"
  • Ref#29 (Burns 2010, p. 196): "cowboy, farmers, painters, cops, chefs, firemen, businessmen, housewives" [25]

• "The frame is replaced by three donkeys, which author Paul Christiansen calls Democratic donkeys. The music follows: "We don't want John or Dean or Harry / Let's do that big job right, [31] mocking Sparkman, Secretary of State Dean Acheson, and President Harry S. Truman. The parade then continues; a man riding a donkey is seen traveling in shadows towards the left. The music follows: "But Adlai goes the other way / We'll all go with Ike"[31]"
  • Ref#31 (Christiansen 2018 (a), pp. 36–37): Lyrics "We don’t want John or Dean or Harry. Let’s do that big job right. Let’s get in step with the guy that’s hep. Get in step with Ike." (pg 36) "As we hear, “We don’t want John or Dean or Harry,” we see Democratic donkeys behind a fence: curly-haired John Sparkman (Senator from Alabama and Stevenson’s running mate), mustachioed Dean Stockwell (Secretary of State under Harry Truman), and bespectacled Harry Truman" ... "At “But Ad-uh-lay goes the other way” we are treated to a caricature of Stevenson in shadow on donkey, riding in the opposite direction of Ike and everybody else in the parade; Stevenson is of course riding to the left (as we might expect a left-winger to do)."

• "The Capitol building is shown with an Ike banner. A close-up is taken of the dome of the Capitol and the rising sun, which turns into an Ike campaign button. The narrator concludes: "Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of their country.""
  • Ref#1 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 37): "Then we see a plane flying over the US Capitol Building with—what else?—an “IKE” banner. After that, a close-up on the Capitol dome, and a pan up with the sun rising behind it as the music reaches its climax with a high F. The sun has an IKE label..." "The narrator intones: “Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of their country. Vote for Eisenhower.”"

Analysis

• "The advertisement used name repetition to produce a catchy jingle."
  • Ref#33 (Burton & Shea 2010, p. 3): "Using markettested gimmicks such as name repetition, Eisenhower's campaign produces a catchy jingle that went" [26]

• "The phrase "Ike for President" appeared 19 times in the advertisement."
  • Ref#28 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 35): "The ostinato is a repetitive tonal motive (1Ike—5for—6Pre-si—7dent—1Ike), which occurs fifteen times in the ad in exactly this guise (see Figure 1.1), and another four times with the same words and different melodies." (15 + 4 = 19)

• "Author Victor Kamber called "Ike for President" a net positive advertisement."
  • Ref#34 (Kamber 2003, p. 30): "A positive spot also used animation, this time from the Disney studio, along with the jingle "You like Ike ..." " [27]

• "Author Thomas A. Hollihan wrote that its main purpose was to win name recognition and communicate that "Eisenhower enjoyed the support of people of different socioeconomic means"."
  • Ref#30 (Hollihan 2009, p. 143): "Clearly, the purpose was to win name recognition, communicate that Eisenhower enjoyed the support of people of different socioeconomic means, and ..." [28]

• "Dennis W. Johnson wrote that the main goal was to "drive home a consistent, simple message: 'I Like Ike'"; he remarked that it "has to be one of the best presidential slogans ever created"."
  • Ref#32 (Johnson 2017, p. 67): see this preview for mostly direct quotation.

• "Christiansen wrote that in "Ike for President", while Eisenhower's name receives a tonal emphasis, the word president is unstressed and is on the submediant and leading tone.[28] He speculated that the reason behind this is to emphasize Eisenhower and imply that his personality is greater than the presidency. The advertisement begins in D major but later changes to F major; the tempo is constant at 120 beats per minute.[28]"
  • Ref#28 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 35): "Eisenhower’s nickname receives metrical, rhythmic, and tonal emphasis: “Ike” is heard at the beginning of every measure, it is accented, and it is on the tonic. “President,” on the other hand, is unstressed, and is on the submediant and leading tone. In fact, the word “Ike” is given so much prominence, one might almost get the impression that Eisenhower’s personality is more important in this ad than the Presidency itself." ... "The tempo is 120 beats per minute, the most common tempo for marching"

• "Christiansen contrasts the similarity between "Ike for President" and Negro spiritual song "All God's Chillun Got Wings"; he compares "You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike" to "I got wings, you got wings, all God's chillun got wings"."
  • Ref#35 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 38): "As a curious aside, we might note that the text of “I Like Ike” is strikingly similar to a Negro spiritual, “All God’s Chillun.”6 The similarity between the two songs does not end with the parallelism of the lyrics; it also extends to the melody and rhythm, which are so close that one has to wonder whether the composer of the song was subconsciously mimicking the spiritual or even intentionally doing so. 'You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike (for President) I got wings, you got wings, all God’s chillun got wings.'"

• "He refers to the final sentence by the narrator as a "party-transcending appeal to voters","
  • Ref#1 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 37): "The narrator intones: “Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of their country. Vote for Eisenhower.” The famous “Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of their party” typing test becomes a party-transcending appeal to voters to be there for their country ..."

• The last direct quotation is copy-past thing; definitely supported by the source.

Aftermath, impact, and legacy

• "The "Ike for President" advertisement was shipped to major American television stations; the Eisenhower campaign's goal was to broadcast it in targeted areas five to six times every night in the final two weeks of the campaign. Cochran paid approximately $2,700 (equivalent to $26,300 in 2020) for over 400 copies of the advertisement."
  • Ref#36 (Rumbough Jr. 2013, pp. 110–111): "Jackie donated some $2700 to pay for more than 400 prints of [advertisement] which were shipped to major television stations throughout the country." ... "Our goal was to have at least five or six spots a night in targeted area, over the last two weeks before the election" [29]

• "The Eisenhower campaign created other commercials featuring Eisenhower's wife Mamie, which is considered an indirect attack against the divorced Stevenson"
  • Ref#37 (Diamond & Bates 1992, p. 59): "The viable use of Mrs. Eisenhower [name mentioned in source] in the campaign was calculated, not only as an element of Ike's fatherly image but also to remind voters that Stevenson was a divorced man ..." [30]
  • Ref#34 (Kamber 2003, p. 30): "The Eisenhower ads prominently featured Ike's wife Mamie in an indirect attack against the divorced Stevenson" [31]

• "Reacting to the advertisement, Stevenson said: "This isn't Ivory Soap versus Palmolive"."
  • Ref#17 (Voss 2008, p. 186): Direct quote here

• "Later, he called "Ike for President" the worst thing he ever heard, and said that Eisenhower is "selling the presidency like cereal ... How can you talk seriously about issues with one-minute spots?""
  • Ref#38 (Burns 2010, p. 197): Direct quote here

• "His campaign spent 95 percent of their television budget on broadcasting Stevenson's 30-minute long speeches."
  • Ref#39 (Kamber 2003, pp. 30–31): "[Stevenson campaign] put 95 percent of their entire television budget into a series of 30-minute speeches by their candidate" [32]

• "Although the speeches attracted a huge audience, authors Edwin Diamond and Stephen Bates speculated that most viewers were already committed to voting for Stevenson."
  • Ref#40 (Diamond & Bates 1992, p. 46): "The evening speeches attracted an average audience of 3.8 million, in all probability an audience of people already committed or leaning to Stevenson." [33]

• "The Stevenson campaign created the "I Love the Gov" advertisement in response to "Ike for President"."
  • Ref#41 (Christiansen 2018 (a), pp. 38–39): "The whole raison d’être of this ad [I Love the Gov] is as a response to “I Like Ike.”"

• "Eisenhower won the election, defeating Stevenson by a margin of 353 electoral votes."
  • Ref#42 (SAGE Publications 2010, p. 877): "Eisenhower 442, Stevenson 89" (442 - 89 = 353)

• "Rosser Reeves, the advertising expert of the Eisenhower campaign, later talking about the commercial, said: "It was such a landslide that it didn't make a goddamn bit of difference"."
  • Ref#43 (Kamber 2003, p. 31): "Rosser Reeves, the advertising maven of the Eisenhower campaign, later said, "It was such a landslide that it didn't make a goddamn bit of difference ..." [34]

• "Roy O. Disney wrote a letter to Cochran ten days after the election, saying that the "boys and girls all enjoyed working on the project and, of course, we are all very happy at the outcome of the election"."
  • Ref#44 (Christiansen 2018 (a), p. 34): Following letter

"In a letter written to Jacqueline Cochran on November 14, ten days after the election, Roy O. Disney writes: Dear Miss Cochran: As requested in your letter of November 6th I am enclosing a list of the Disney employees who contributed their time and efforts to the production of the Eisenhower cartoon. The boys and girls all enjoyed working on the project and, of course, we are all very happy at the outcome of the election. Kindest regards."

• "Time magazine ranked "Ike for President" eighth in its top-ten list of campaign advertisements."
  • Ref#45 (Rumbough Jr. 2013, p. 111): "Time magazine ranked the "upbeat and cute" Disney spot as number 8 in a list of top 10 campaigns of all time" [35]

• "Author Marya Mannes, writing for The Reporter, poked fun at the advertisement and composed her version:" + direct quote
  • Ref#29 (Burns 2010, p. 196): Writing in the trade journal Reporter, she [Marya Mannes] poked fun at Eisnehower's ad, comming up with her own version of one:

Eisenhower hits the spot,
One full General, that's a lot.
Feeling sluggish, feeling sick?
Take a dose of Ike and Dick.
Philip Morris, Luck Strike,
Alka-Seltzer, I like Ike'

[36]