Use the video links on this page to explore ads and speeches from past campaigns. Historic Ads | Speeches & Debates Historic Elections: 1800-2000 Campaign Ads Resource Analyze a Speech Activity

Historic Campaign Ads

Election of 1840: Martin Van Buren (D), William Henry Harrison (Whig) Partisan songs, souvenirs, and buttons made this election the first "modern political campaign." In this song, the Van Buren team attempts to mock opponent William Henry Harrison (nicknamed Old Tippecanoe) for his "frontier" roots. more about the Election of 1840 "Rock-A-Bye Baby" (Van Buren Campaign Song) (1 min 15 sec) more video on Martin Van Buren more video on William Henry Harrison

Election of 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson (D), Barry Goldwater (R) American involvement in Vietnam was an issue of the 1964 election. This Democratic campaign commercial criticizes Republican candidate Barry Goldwater's his hawkish image, particularly his openness to nuclear weapons. "Daisy" Ad (Johnson Campaign) (1 min) more video on Lyndon B. Johnson

Election of 1976: Gerald Ford (R), Jimmy Carter (D) More than two years after Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency, the only "appointed" president in history, Gerald Ford, ran for office against Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia.  more about the Election of 1976 "Feeling Good About America" Ad (Ford Campaign) (1 min 15 sec) more video on Gerald Ford Anti-Inflation Ad (Carter Campaign) (30 sec) more video on Jimmy Carter

Election of 1988: George H.W. Bush (R), Michael Dukakis (D) Vice President George H.W. Bush and Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis vied for the presidency largely through negative campaigns. However, here, Vice President Bush speaks of his experience working under President Reagan. "I Am What I Am" Ad (Bush Campaign) (35 sec) more video on George H.W. Bush

Election of 1992: George H.W. Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D), Ross Perot (I) While businessman Ross Perot eventually dropped out of the race, he was the first independent presidential candidate to have ever led the two major party candidates in public opinion polls. President George H.W. Bush and Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton continued to challenge one another largely on the economy and government spending. "Read My Lips" Ad (Clinton Campaign)  (30 sec) more video on Bill Clinton

Historic Speeches & Debates

Election of 1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower (R), Adlai Stevenson (D) Both parties relied strongly on television for the first time in a presidential election. However, television played more positively to General Dwight D. Eisenhower's smile and "folksiness" than to Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson's appearance as a distant intellectual. Dwight D. Eisenhower accepts GOP nomination (2 min 10 sec) more video on Dwight D. Eisenhower

Election of 1960: John F. Kennedy (D), Richard Nixon (R) On September 26, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Vice President Richard Nixon participated in the first-ever televised presidential debate. Watch Entire Televised Debate (58 min) Richard Nixon clip   more video on Richard Nixon John F. Kennedy clip   more video on John F. Kennedy