Evening star., 1960-06-05
The Conventions as Popular Drama
TV IS THE KEY
By ISABELLE SHELTON
Star stan Writer

By ISABELLE SHELTON
star staT Writer
The TV cameras wide-ranging
eye, which first focused on ma
tional political conventions exper-
mentally in 1948. has moved in
to such an extent this year that
planners are as concerned with
the man watching in his living
room as with the spectators in the
convention hall.
An estimated 102 million view
ers saw parts of the conventions
on televiSion in 1856. At least
that many are expected to be
looking this time, at the Demo-
cratic convention opening July II
in Los Angeles and the Republi-
can conclave which starts July 25
IN Chicago.
This is compared to approx
mately $4,000 - delegates, alter
mates, press and spectators-who
can be Shoehorned into the Demo-
cratic convention. The Republi-
cans can squeeze in only 10000.
No political tactician dares give
short shrift to the vast reservoir
of votes back home. The conVen-
ton is the best chance each party
has to project to the national con-
SciousneSs the Image" it seeks to
create.
Long -winded repetitive rhetoric
to half-empty halls is a crashing
bore to the man sitting in his liv-
ing room. Spontaneous" demon
Strations which are contrived pail
after time on the viewer who is
not part of the mass hypnosis of
the convention hall.
Must Hold Audience
Said Samuel Brightman, deputy
chairman on public affairs of the
Democratic National Committee:
The newspapers used to ignore
the dull spots. Only the delegates
were bored. The people back home
never knew. Now they do. We
don't want to lose them. They
may never come back"
Mr.. Brightman and his Re-
publican counterpart, Hal Short,
G. o. P. Public Relations Director,
both believe strongly that many
people make up their minds early
how they are going to vote.
Both see the conventions as the
campaign kickoff, a marvellous
chance to reach the maximum
number of voters, free. Met
works carry the conventions as a
news program, without charge.
Television now heavily influ-
enceS the hours convention is in
session, the number and length
of the speeches, the pace of the
program, the placement and en-
gineering of the speakers podium,
the decorations in the hall ctele-
vision blue" has largely replaced
the red, white and blue), the
decorum and attire of delegates
and, to an unreasonable extent,
even the identify of the candi-
dates.
Delegates are enjoined to "be
on time, sit quietly, wear subdued
clothing, preferably not white
While not the prime considera-
ton, television also is a factor in
the minds of those who pick the
chief convention officials, who will
be ION camera" most of the time.
When the iAdomitable Speaker
Rayburn decided this year to re-
linquish the post of Democratic
convention chairman he has held
the last three times, some of those
backing MiSsouri's Representative
Richard Boiling as his successor
stressed the Missourian's hand
some appearance.
In the end, the post went to
Florida Gov. Leroy Collins, to
satisfy the party's obligations to
the South. Mr.. Collins, distin-
guished and grey-headed, is ex-
pected to "look good" himself.
Photoeenic Candidates
AS for the candidates, televi-
sion is credited with the increased
emphasis both parties place on
young, vigorous-looking standard
bearers.
The selection process, the ulti-
mate purpose of that three-ring
circus known as a nominating
convention, also is seen affected
by the electronic eye.
The Democrats, with hot con-
test for the presidency believed
likely, nevertheless are predicting
they will be out of Los Angeles
no later than Saturday night"
more probably by Friday night.
They see no possibility of a
repetition of 1924 when it took
1O3 ballots and IA days, not count
ing Sundays, to nominate John
w. Davis.
Elimination of the two-thirds
rule in Democratic conventions is
one reason the matter would be
settled more expeditiously, Mr..
Brlghtman points out.
But beyond that, 1.-THE country
wouldn't stand for" long drawn
out convention, he believes. IF
people watching on television saw
their State holding things UP, in
a hopeless fight. the delegates
would hear from them in a hurry"
The seriousness with which
both parties view television's
convention role is indicated by
the close attention both party
headquarters are giving to a
20-minute film of the highlights
of the 1856 conventions.
Republicans are finding the film
particularly useful because the
Democrats met in 1856 in Chica-
COS International Amphitheater,
where the G. o. P. will meet this
year.
G. o. P. convention officials
have run the film over and over
as they seek ways to increase the
conventions visual appeal. elimi-