Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890–1969)

Dwight David Eisenhower—West Point graduate, supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe, president of Columbia University, and supreme commander of NATO forces—was the 33rd president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. The Eisenhower presidential campaign of 1952 was the first in which television played a major strategic role. Eisenhower's campaign and presidency established historic and enduring precedents in televised political communication. Two key moments of his presidency are the election campaign and his farewell address.

Unique to the 1952 campaign was the confluence of television set ownership (19 million compared to fewer than 500,000 in 1948) and the burgeoning broadcast area, which was able to reach 40% of the population. For the first time, television was perceived as an important strategic campaign tool. ...