“I Like Ike:” Looking Back at the Intersection of Cold War Politics, Mid-Century Celebrity, and Hollywood Glamour at the Dawn of the TV Age
When Dwight D. Eisenhower is mentioned, 'glamor' is usually not the first adjective that comes to mind. On the contrary however, as a presidential candidate, Eisenhower benefited significantly from his fame as a military hero and his popularity among Hollywood's elite. This talk will delve into Eisenhower's 1952 campaign, one of the first to successfully utilize television as a campaign communication strategy. It will also explore the co-mingling of presidential politics and the entertainment industry in the 1950s, a potent combination that remains highly seductive to American voters well into the 21st century.
Anna Hajdik, lecturer, Literature, Writing, and Film
Thursday, October 3, 2024
