Are you in election withdrawal? Don’t know what you will do without those election commercials? Even if you are still celebrating the fact that you can turn on the TV and listen to a commercial that does not talk about Republicans, Democrats, unemployment, or debt, you may still enjoy this exhibit by the Museum of the Moving Image. “The Living Room Candidate” holds presidential campaign videos from every presidential election since 1952. It provides an interesting look at the issues of each of those elections and the changes in presidential campaigning since the mid-20th century. For example, look at the cartoons and catchy tunes used in the commercials of John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower, and then the references to violence in the commercials of both Nixon and Humphrey in 1968. See how the families of candidates have been used in campaign commercials over the past sixty years, and make sure to look for any television or movie stars who might show up in a commercial.
Theodore M. Berry
If you are interested in election campaigns and results more locally, the Archives and Rare Books Library can help with that too. Take a look at our Ballot Box exhibit from 2008. The exhibit highlights political papers held by the Archives and Rare Books Library including newsclippings, campaign flyers, and other campaign related records. Need detailed election results for Hamilton County from the past? ARB holds Hamilton County election results for 1975 and 1985 along with election statistics from 1912-1935. Need information about local election milestones? How about perusing the papers of Cincinnati’s first African American mayor, Theodore M. Berry? The finding aid for the papers is available online, along with an exhibit about his life and career. Or maybe you’re interested in Cincinnati’s first female mayor? ARB holds the papers of Dorothy Nichols Dolbey, who was appointed as the first female mayor of Cincinnati upon the death of Edward Waldvogel. ARB also holds the papers of other great women in Cincinnati politics like Bobbie Sterne and Marian Spencer.
Bobbie Sterne
For more information, to view any of ARB’s collections, or for help finding more information on local political figures, contact the Archives and Rare Books Library at 513.556.1959 or archives@ucmail.uc.edu