LBJ ‘Daisy Ad’ Changed American Politics, Author Says

President Johnson’s daisy petals and mushroom clouds TV ad targeting Barry Goldwater only aired once officially during 1964 campaign. But it’s now recognized as one of the most iconic campaign ads of all time — with its influence on political advertising clearly evident today.

The story behind the ad reveals just how bold and transformative it was, Louisiana State University communications professor Robert Mann told ABC News’ “Top Line.” Mann is the author of “Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds: LBJ, Barry Goldwater, and the Ad That Changed American Politics.”

“It was an unusual way to start a presidential campaign. It was the first spot of that campaign by Johnson, going hard negative on Goldwater, but he wanted a mandate, and he wanted to go after Goldwater’s vulnerability, which was Goldwater’s reckless talk about nuclear war and nuclear weapons,” said Mann.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com …

via LBJ ‘Daisy Ad’ Changed American Politics, Author Says.

 

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