Creative Women Behind Ike’s 1952 Campaign


During the 1952 campaign, Jacqueline Cochran, businesswoman and aviatrix, persuaded employees at Walt Disney Studios to produce an animated cartoon in support of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s candidacy.

Staff at Disney worked off the clock to produce the short animated commercial, “We’ll Take Ike.” The lyrics for this song were written by Gil George, who was actually Hazel George. She was first hired as a nurse at Disney Studios. After her knack for writing was discovered she wrote song lyrics for The Mickey Mouse Club and a number of Disney animated feature films.

In the pictured telegram, Jacqueline Cochran wrote, “I personally believe the proposed short could be the greatest piece of propaganda in the whole campaign…” 9/30/52

Also pictured, a letter from Bill Anderson at Disney that accompanied an autographed animation cel setup and copy of the song, “We’ll Take Ike” for the newly elected President Eisenhower.  11/19/52.

-from the Eisenhower Library

Source: presidentialtimeline.org

“Each viewer will see the General just as if he were talking to him.” For the first time in 1952, television became an important part of campaign strategy for the Presidential election.  These notes describe the direction and goals for an upcoming TV appearance in Kansas City by Dwight D. Eisenhower.  9/19/52.
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“Each viewer will see the General just as if he were talking to him.”

For the first time in 1952, television became an important part of campaign strategy for the Presidential election.  These notes describe the direction and goals for an upcoming TV appearance in Kansas City by Dwight D. Eisenhower.  9/19/52.

Source: presidentialtimeline.org

Candidates on TV Dwight D. Eisenhower watching his running mate, Richard Nixon, on television.  9/23/52.
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Candidates on TV

Dwight D. Eisenhower watching his running mate, Richard Nixon, on television.  9/23/52.

Source: presidentialtimeline.org

laphamsquarterly:

Richard Nixon plays piano on Jack Paar, March 8, 1963

Thanks to the 1960 debates, we assume Richard Nixon was rather ham-fisted when it came to TV appearances. Yet here he is three years later, charming Jack Paar and sitting down to perform what may be the first musical interlude by a presidential candidate, a piano composition of his very own. Move over Bill Clinton. 

We’ve got more on presidential media appearances from Abraham Lincoln to The Daily Show in the essay “Working the Room” from our latest issue, Politics. 

For your lunch time viewing pleasure… usnatarchivesexhibits: U.S. Presidents—they’re just like us! They eat meals on TV trays and wear matching outfits with their spouses. Here, President Ronald Reagan enjoys a meal in a very red room with First Lady Nancy Reagan.
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For your lunch time viewing pleasure…

usnatarchivesexhibits:

U.S. Presidents—they’re just like us! They eat meals on TV trays and wear matching outfits with their spouses. Here, President Ronald Reagan enjoys a meal in a very red room with First Lady Nancy Reagan.