Campaign Spot: McGovern Defense (1972) - HISTORY

In this ad, McGoverns defense cuts are criticized, questioning the candidates priorities for national security.

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One of Nixons lasting legacies was his trip to China to normalize relations between the two countries which had been cut off for 20 years. No American president had ever visited China. Nixons tip signaled a major change -- for both America and Chinas policies. And for Republicans, a huge reason to re-elect their candidate.

George McGovern makes a play for the quintessential undecided voter. Though a clever spot, it would not help McGovern much in the real polls. He had already been branded too liberal advocating withdrawal from Vietnam, amnesty for draft evaders, and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Nixon won in a landslide.

For his second run for the presidency, Nixon hired filmmaker Eugene Jones to produce ads that captured the turbulence and unrest in the nation at the time. Convention was one in a series -- mimicking the uneasy mood and tension in the US, suggesting that Nixon was the only man to bring the country together again.

Another classic spot in the history of campaign ads. Russia is calling. In the midst of the Cold War, who would you rather pick up the phone? By the vanguard Madison Avenue ad agency, Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB).

Spiro who? In 1968, Nixon chose the governor of Maryland as his Vice President running mate.

Similar to Convention, Nixon points out Americas major frustrations and links them to breakdowns in the Democratic leadership.

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