Political commercials
Former Dole Institute fellow Paul Curcio shared the followingexamples of the best and most infamous U.S. political commercials.
- Dwight Eisenhower: The Man From Abilene
- Lyndon Johnson: Daisy
- Ronald Reagan: Its morning in America again
- 1982 Democratic National Committee TV Ads
- Willie Horton political ad 1988
- Michael Arcuri NRCC Ad
- Michael J. Fox on stem cell research (endorsing Clare McCaskill)
- Jesse Helms "Hands" ad
- John Kerry (Any questions?)
The best and worst in politics was on display at the Dole Institute on Tuesday afternoon.
About 100 students turned out for the kickoff to this semester's programming. They were treated to free pizzas and cookies, as well as a screening of some of the best and "most infamous" U.S. political ads of all time.
Paul Curcio, a Dole fellow in fall 2005, selected the ads. The institute hoped that seeing the activities that go on at a study group would encourage students to attend some of this year's study groups.
"I really enjoyed the time here," said Curcio, who works for a political advertising firm in Virginia. "A number of the students who are now helping run the place were only freshmen then, so it's been neat to see them."
Curcio said that the numbers that came to the event Tuesday night were bigger than he remembered getting for his events. He said his study groups fluctuated from 15 students to as many as 35.
Among the ads he showed was a famous commercial from Lyndon Johnson, which featured a young girl picking petals off a daisy and a nuclear explosion.
The ad, which Curcio said is probably the most famous ad ever, produced a visible reaction in the crowd.
Students who came seemed excited by the semester's programming and eager to get involved.
Lawrence freshman Aleese Kopf said she planned to try some of this semester's study groups.
"I want to get more involved at the Dole Institute," she said. "I think they have really neat programs."
Olathe graduate student Amanda Houghton said that she was drawn to the Dole Institute by the excitement and intellectualism of the place.
"The speakers were really good," she said. "I took away a whole different view on (Hurricane) Katrina and on FEMA from one of the study groups last year."
The students also heard from Dole Institute Director Bill Lacy, who is on an indefinite leave leading Fred Thompson's "testing the waters" campaign before Thompson decides to declare his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.
Lacy thanked the students and told them it was their excitement that persuaded him to run one more campaign.
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