America's history through the lens of 20th century broadcast media
Copyright 2020 Greenstone Media Consulting, LLC
"Presidential" Campaigns
Americans' penchant for poking fun at politicians, particularly during presidential campaigns every four years, dates well back in radio's development. While Will Rogers poked fun with works and jokes, other entertainers ginned up bogus presidential "campaigns". Eddie Cantor seems to have been the first launching his campaign in 1932 and Lum (of Lum 'n Abner) followed in 1936. Gracie Allen launched her own bid in 1940 as a candidate of the "Surprise Party". Don McNeill ran his in 1948; Howdy Doody spoke for youth in his 1948 and 1952 campaigns and others followed suit.
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Eddie Cantor's 1932 'Campaign' materials included a campaign button, the "Your Next President" book and a campaign song "When I'm President" which included the lyric "when I'm president there will be no president."
Eddie Cantor - 1932
Gracie Allen - 1940
Gracie Allen's 1940 campaign began as a publicity stunt with paid petition gatherers hired in Hollywood to seek petition signers. Those who signed were given a bag of nuts on the spot. But the campaign, which ran on the Surprise Party ticket, soon took on a life of its own with traditional whistle stop presidential train tours, appearances across the country and endorsements given such as one by a Harvard fraternity. The campaign's mascot was a kangaroo which amplified the campaign's slogan "It's in the bag." The campaign was amplified by Gracie's campaign song "Vote for Gracie," her book "How to Become President" and similar campaign paraphernalia.
Gracie Allen's 1940 campaign began as a publicity stunt with paid petition gatherers hired in Hollywood to seek petition signers. Those who signed were given a bag of nuts on the spot. But the campaign, which ran on the Surprise Party ticket, soon took on a life of its own with traditional whistle stop presidential train tours, appearances across the country and endorsements given such as one by a Harvard fraternity. The campaign's mascot was a kangaroo which amplified the campaign's slogan "It's in the bag." The campaign was amplified by Gracie's campaign song "Vote for Gracie," her book "How to Become President" and similar campaign paraphernalia.
Gracie's campaign occurred during a year in which the nation was facing up to challenging international developments and a lingering Depression. The campaign's slogan "Down with Common Sense" seemed to speak to a national mood which wasn't buoyant and her campaign added needed humor to the national climate. It was likely the most fully fueled entertainer-candidate campaign until Paul Paulson's 1968 "run."
Breakfast Club's Don McNeill's 1948 Campaign
McNeill, who was the longtime host of NBC-Blue/ABC's morning program "The Breakfast Club" later recalled that the idea of a presidential run began during an Aunt Fanny skit on the program. Aunt Fanny was a gossipy character played by Fran Allison (who later became more famous as Fran on early' television's Kukla, Fran and Ollie" apparently spontaneously suggested a presidential run in a non-scripted on-air comment and the idea took off from there. The campaign is reported to have run on the Laugh Party ticket although the button above suggests that it also ran on the Breakfast Party ticket.
McNeill, who was studiously apolitical, also later reported that he squashed the effort when it began to get legs.
McNeill, who was studiously apolitical, also later reported that he squashed the effort when it began to get legs.
Howdy Doody for President - 1952
Howdy Doody campaign pinbacks, flip-up badge and ballot.
Some Other Presidential Campaigns
Let's 'Lect Lum (of Lum 'n Abner) - 1936
Lum and Abner were the stars of the long-running program of the same name which started a 1936 Presidential campaign for Lum as a publicity stunt. It grew to unanticipated proportions. Read their account of the effort in an interview at: Lum's Presidential Campaign.
