The Legacy of JFK

The election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and the first televised debate between a radiant, handsome guy and the ugly, twisted Richard Nixon set a new scene for the political ground. Before that, most leaders were fat, avid drinkers and smokers, and certainly old. After Kennedy, the physical appearance of a political candidate became of vital issue as to the point give the image of an active, young, charismatic and politically correct even if they really aren't, as Kennedy was not certainly, became more important than the policies they proposed.

For instance, the only one polytically correct leader by the WWII era, who didn't smoke, didn't drink, was fond on sports and physical attitude and and avid vegetarian was, well, you know

Well, how do you feel about it? Had this been real, has it been positive for the course of history?

Politically Correct? :/ Hitler? We're talking the dude who believed in the whole 'racial superiority' hullabaloo, right?

Hmm...yeah...

But there was a time when they was not so Obviously Evil

Despite all, people voted for him

Well yeah, but I don't really think that translates to 'politically correct'. :p

Plus, from what I understand, Germany was desperate, and then he came along with his beguiling ideas and charismatic tongue, sweeping the German nation off its feet and dancing with it in a waltz, a waltz of fascism.

Or you know, something like that.

Well, it is...

But that's not the point...

The point is how image had become prevalent on politics despite how real that image is

-Shrugs- I dunno if it's a recent phenomenon, or something that happens again and again in history (I'm sorta predisposed to thinking the latter), but in any case, if the former is true, maybe it's the association between presidency and celebrities? :3

What I want to know is to what degree this is actually a thing outside of the USA. I can only speak for my own country, but we certainly don't focus as much on the personal nature of our elected rulers as Americans do.

edited 31st Aug '12 6:11:48 AM by Lemurian

Politicians personal life in Europe seems more irrelevant than it is for the americans, for example, the religious issue. Whatever, Image becomes a sickening obsession to the point of Uncanny Valley...

See, Angela Merkel

edited 31st Aug '12 6:11:15 AM by MrsRatched

At least Kennedy was a real politician. And while it's true that he looked better on television than Nixon, it was the GOP's fault for banking on JFK seeming too young (he didn't) or inexperienced (ditto) to viewers at home.

Reagan did a lot to inaugurate the 'good-looking figurehead' syndrome we see today. In fact, I suspect the reason he's so idolized is because he was supposedly anti-government and just sat back and let business do its thing, much like Coolidge. That's the Republican ideal of a President, someone who follows orders and reads their cue cards.

Say what you will about Rufus Shinra, at least he was hands-on.

" Before that, most leaders were fat, avid drinkers and smokers"

To the best of my knowledge the three presidents immediately preceding Kennedy were not fat, didn't drink a lot, and except FDR, didn't smoke a whole lot either.

FDR was actually the first one to grasp the importance of mass media in politics. They didn't have much in the way of TV back then but he did know how to utilize the radio and present himself as a suave and cool operator compared to the frumpy Hoover. Reagan was copying Roosevelt, not Kennedy, when he used the media to give his presidency the boost over his opponents.

I'll also point out that the physically unappealing Nixon did go one to win his elections, and enjoyed plenty of popularity until he screwed himself over by being an immoral idiot.

edited 31st Aug '12 9:59:25 AM by Parable

Actually it's always seemed odd to me that Kennedy managed to sell himself as a hottie. None of those boys were lookers, unless you wanna count their rather scummy dad.

Then again, I'm a Trudeau fangirl, so my taste isn't exactly world-class either.

You also have to remember that JFK was in the first election where visual media (i.e. television) was widespread.

And also that people who listened to JFK's debates with Nixon on the radio felt that Nixon had crushed him. JFK's performance was so bad that none of the radio audience thought he had a chance in hell of winning an election.

But the radio was no longer the dominant factor in mass media that it used to be.

The failure of the Bay Of Pigs and ever-increasing popularity (at least for the first few years) of Fidel in Cuba. And a lot of jokes about "the man on the grassy knoll" and lots of conspiracy theories. And icon status (my old history teacher said "Dying young gives you a saintly reputation". How true.)

Eishenhower was a noted smoker. It greatly contributed to his death.

He's the best president of the last 50 years.

Kennedy or Eisenhower?

@Braeburn: I think he means Kennedy...

Eisenhower was more than fifty years ago.

My bad. Didn't do the math.

On the subject:

I should point that according to Wikipedia,

"The key turning point of the campaign were the four Kennedy-Nixon debates; they were the first presidential debates held on television, and thus attracted enormous publicity. Nixon insisted on campaigning until just a few hours before the first debate started; he had not completely recovered from his hospital stay and thus looked pale, sickly, underweight, and tired. He also refused makeup for the first debate, and as a result his beard stubble showed prominently on the era's black-and-white TV screens. Nixon's poor appearance on television in the first debate is reflected by the fact that his mother called him immediately following the debate to ask if he was sick. Kennedy, by contrast, rested and prepared extensively beforehand, appearing tanned,[note 1] confident, and relaxed during the debate. An estimated 70 million viewers watched the first debate.[12] It is often claimed that people who watched the debate on television overwhelmingly believed Kennedy had won, while radio listeners (a smaller audience) believed Nixon had won.[12] A study has found that the alleged viewer‐listener disagreement is unsupported.[13] After it had ended, polls showed Kennedy moving from a slight deficit into a slight lead over Nixon. For the remaining three debates Nixon regained his lost weight, wore television makeup, and appeared more forceful than his initial appearance. However, up to 20 million fewer viewers watched the three remaining debates than the first debate. Political observers at the time believed that Kennedy won the first debate,[14] Nixon won the second[15] and third debates,[16] and that the fourth debate,[17] which was seen as the strongest performance by both men, was a draw."

But even if we ignore that information, the idea that politicians wouldn't take advantage of television and the increased focus on a candidates appearance, if JFK hadn't been around is silly. As @Parable mentioned, FDR used Radio to his advantage, and politicians are now starting to use the Internet for similar reasons.

JFK is an icon because he was assassinated. And as an icon, he has an untarnished reputation. BTW, does it bother anyone else how when someone famous dies, everyone immediately starts portraying them as a saint?

edited 16th Sep '12 3:49:21 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

"BTW, does it bother anyone else how when someone famous dies, everyone immediately starts portraying them as a saint? "

Really?

I had better inform Hitler, Santa Anna, and Kim Jong-il of this.

But I get what your saying, people like to gloss over JFK's faults and focus on his positive traits. A lot of it comes from the idea that Kennedy would have handled the Vietnam War better than Lyndon B. Johnson did. The accuracy of this idea is debatable.

edited 16th Sep '12 7:32:35 PM by DeviantBraeburn

For all his good points, he really does seem to have had a bit of a need to be the hero of the tale, and I think eventually it would have bitten him. That's just the impression I get. Maybe what I'm seeing is residual daddy issues, maybe it's something he would have had no matter what his last name was, I don't know.

Well his dad did push him (after his older brother died in WW 2) to become the president.

On that note Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. was sorta an asshole.