Evening star., 1952-05-21
TV and Politics

It is not only politicians who are busy and
slightly breathlesS as time marches on toward
the July conventions in Chicago. The televiSion
technicians and executives in sort of frenzy,
too. Representing the three great networks
CBS NBC and ABC-they are leaving no cathode
tube unturned, and no coaxial cable or relay
tower or mobile unit neglected, in preparing for
by far the biggest show Of its kind since the war
time development of radar first demonstrated
the feasibility of transmitting Give" visual pro-
grams to the Nations homes
This show-to-come gives every promise Of
marking a new and significant turning point in
American political history. Millions Of dollars
are being spent by the networks and the COM
mercial sponsors in getting ready for it, For
Republicans and Democrats alike, for the thou
sands of delegates, for every hopeful with his hat
in the ring, for the finally nominated presiden-
tial candidates. and for the vast armies of their
partisans, it will make all past conventions seem
semiprivate by comparison. On scale never
before even remotely equalled, it will throw the
white light of publicity and average-citizen OBJ
servation on one Of the most important and ram
bunctiously interesting stages in our democratic
process Of choosing man for the White House.
A preview was had at the 1948 Democratic
and Republican conventions in Philadelphia.
Relatively speaking however, that preview was
Lilliputian and crude in character. The networks
in those days were still just feeling their way
toward televising great political events-still ex
perimenting, still improvising, still figuring out
how best to maneuver cameras and sound In or
der to present clear and instructive eye-and-
ear report to the viewing and listening public.
Further, all told, there were then only about
100000 TV sets in operation throughout the
country, and there was no coast-to-coast hook
up. But now, besides the existence of such
hookup, there are approximately 18 million tele-
vision receivers in the homes Of America-or
roughly As times as many as four years ago.
Here is statistic that does more than illus
trate televisions remarkably swift growth, both
as an industry and an entertainment factor,
since 1948. It is statistic that serves also to
underscore the mediums immense potential sig
nifcance as a social, educational and political
force. Certainly, as far as politics are concerned.
TVS impact, even though it cannot be precisely
measured, is thing that the two major parties
and their candidates whether for the White
House or Congress-must reckon with most seri-
ously not only at convention time but throughout
the campaign between July and November. A
meaningful new dimension has been added to
the field Of Office seeking. AS never before, with
an almost haunting omnipresence, the eyes Of
the American people will be on the men asking
for votes
Clearly enough, the fact that television has
thus grown to be as big and pervasive as 1t is
requires Of political campaigners that they try
to be personable as well as brainy AS their pres
ence Eventually in full color) is projected smu-
taneously into millions and millions of American
homes they will be at disadvantage II they are
less charming or noticeably colder than their
opponents This Is no field for negative personals
ties. TV, for good or Ill, has placed premium on
candidates who have not only ability but also the
kind of "it" that could spell the difference be-
tween defeat and election.