On The Campaign Trail

It is that time of the year. Or rather, that time of every fourth year. The presidential campaign is starting to gather steam, and by this time in November, we will have a new president. Our system of government moves on into the 21st Century. With that in mind, today’s FamSite looks at a website that has past presidential campaigns as its subject.

Called On The Campaign Trail, this site uses the latest in internet technology to show what past presidential campaign were like. Shockwave technology allows visitors to experience what our ancestors did with the press coverage of their day. From the front porch campaign style of William McKinley, to the whistle stops of Al Smith, and onto the radio and television coverage of Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and so on, this site gives a glimpse of the relation ship of the 4th Estate to the presidential candidates. You find out how the emphasis shifted from personal appearances to newspapers to radio to television, and currently the use of computers via the internet. The is quite a bit of information here, and it gives a glimpse into how our campaign coverage hasn’t changed all that much.

Enjoy your stop here today, and bookmark it so you can come back in a few months, when the mudslinging really starts. You will be surprised that the more things change, the more they remain the same.

http://www.newseum.org/everyfouryears/shocked.htm