Friday, June 21, 2013

Nixon vs. McGovern campaign ads

A couple of commercials from the 1972 Nixon vs. McGovern campaign.  Please take a look at both.  Which do you think is more effective? Why?

1 comment:

  1. Wow, those are both wildly effective commercials. I watched the Nixon ad first and thought it used visuals very effectively. Not only were they using easy to remember numbers (16 to 6, 1/3, 1/4) but they swiped them away and it left an impression. The ad used powerful statements like "cutting into security," "peace," and "strength." And then when the ad started talking about Nixon, some very patriotic and proud American music started playing. It made it seem like McGovern was un-American because he wanted to decrease the military.
    After Nixon's ad, I didn't think any could compare. But McGovern's ad, where he uses one-word phrases to discredit Nixon, was very effective. Spying, thievery, payoffs, government, credibility, bugging, lying, espionage, deals, testimony, hiding, dishonest, secrecy, deception, all lead up to WHITE HOUSE. I thought this was more effective because they obviously chose those words very carefully to incite very specific thoughts into the minds of viewers. The newspapers flashing in the background was also a powerful message, telling the public he is a criminal.

    ReplyDelete