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by - October 8, 2008 - 9:43 AM
While we hesitate to get political at mental_floss, we relish the opportunity to get historical. Yesterday, it was reported that Cindy McCain accused Sen. Barack Obama of waging “the dirtiest campaign in American history.” There’s no doubt that the mudslinging has certainly escalated in the last few weeks, but we’re not certain that this campaign is that much harsher than any one in the past (in fact, it seems downright tamer!). Here are some highlights from Jenny Drapkin’s cover story on presidential campaigns that might change Cindy’s opinion, starting with Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson Hires a Hatchet Man
“… Jefferson’s camp accused President Adams of having a “hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.” In return, Adams’ men called Vice President Jefferson ‘a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father.’ As the slurs piled on, Adams was labeled a fool, a hypocrite, a criminal, and a tyrant, while Jefferson was branded a weakling, an atheist, a libertine, and a coward.”
Thankfully, the words “half-breed” and “hermaphroditical character” haven’t come up in this election cycle. More disturbing campaigning after the jump.
LBJ Links Goldwater to the Klan
“…the Daisy Spot, arguably the most effective political ad of all time. Although it aired only once during the 1964 campaign, many historians agree that it was responsible for keeping Lyndon Johnson in office, while insinuating that his Republican opponent, Barry Goldwater, was a trigger-happy extremist. Although Johnson publicly decried the unfairness of the Daisy Spot, it was actually part of a secret ad campaign he orchestrated, the first of its kind to appear on television. In fact, he thought the ad was hilarious and was disappointed when his advisors told him only to air it once. That didn’t stop the Johnson team from releasing other wildly manipulative commercials, however. One of them showed a Klansman burning a cross and then featured a Klan member saying, ‘I like Barry Goldwater. He needs our help.’ In the end, Johnson won all but six states, securing one of the biggest victories the nation had ever seen. From the Wildest Rides to the White House cover story, available here.
Hayes vs. Tilden: The Most Egregious Election in American History
“…in 1876, both the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes, and his opponent Samuel Tilden expected that Tilden—the Democrat—would win. In fact, as the sun set on the eve of the election, both men went to bed believing that Tilden had carried the day. Little did they know that in middle of the night, party operatives would be busy making sure that every vote did not count.” More here.
Dick Tuck: The Democratic Mole who Undermined Nixon
“…during a whistle-stop train tour on the same campaign, Tuck disguised himself as a conductor and ordered Nixon’s train to pull away from the station just as Nixon had begun a speech to the crowd. When Nixon ran for President in 1968, Tuck hired pregnant women to show up at his rallies wearing T-shirts that read ‘Nixon’s the One.’” More here.
Comments (20)
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Love the McCain/Palin ad just above!
posted by Amy D on 10-8-2008 at 10:19 am
Don’t you realize that every election is the ‘Most Important Ever’ and the current President is always the ‘worst in history’?
Remember the VP debate last week where Biden said that “Dick Cheney is the most dangerous VP in US History”? The Historian in me threw up a little bit in my mouth. While I wouldn’t go hunting with Cheney can we not agree he is a step up from Aaron Burr, Spiro Agnew and Andrew Johnson?
posted by Witty Nickname on 10-8-2008 at 10:57 am
No.
posted by Jeff on 10-8-2008 at 12:00 pm
Well, Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton, fled to the Tejas area of Mexico to start his own army, was accused of treason and fled to England. But Jeff doesn’t like the fact that Cheney is a Republican, I guess that is on par.
Read a book Jeff. (Mental Floss has one coming out on the History of the World. Magnesh, does it cover Aaron Burr? Either way a book and 6 months of Mental Floss magazine is worth $16.29 on Amazon)
posted by Witty Nickname on 10-8-2008 at 12:42 pm
Cindy McCain is a mummy.
posted by Merlin on 10-8-2008 at 1:03 pm
Witty,
you’re as much as a partisan as anyone else. Look at Biden’s statement which so offended you. What exactly does it mean? In reality, it doesn’t mean much, but since you’re a partisan Republican you get all offended by it.
Look at the Palin/McCain ad above. “A Proven Maverick” What does that even mean? Just like Biden’s comment, it doesn’t mean shit, but that doesn’t stop McCain and Palin from repeating it an incessantly.
posted by Florida on 10-8-2008 at 1:36 pm
Perhaps if Dick Cheney didn’t have an army of cohorts to cover his treasonous and illegal acts, he wouldn’t seem so innocent. The damage he has done extends far beyond a single killing and flight to foreign countries.
I stand by my educated opinion without resorting to partisan and personal insults.
posted by Jeff on 10-8-2008 at 1:38 pm
What did I say that was partisan? Yes, I am a Republican, but I am no fan of Cheney or Bush, I will be voting for McCain, so what?
I am offended as a historian, so lets back the hyperbole train up here and say that the worst president was James Buchanan or Franklin Pierce (each of who had a hand in starting the Civil War), and the worst VP was Aaron Burr who killed the former Treasury secretary and committed treason.
Can you not agree that although Cheney is bad he is not on that level? If you can not then go drink some more Kool-Aid.
posted by Witty Nickname on 10-8-2008 at 1:51 pm
Look what you started, Mangesh… ;)
ReCapthcha: Nun’s notices
posted by DYMongoose on 10-8-2008 at 1:54 pm
Hmm, I stand by my opinion but in retrospect regret my tone. Let me just add this, Palin is a nincompoop and it would be embarrassing if she was the first female VP, or a VP at all. It seems clear that Obama is going to win the election, and I am actually not that upset about it (even though, as I said I am voting McCain), the only definition for “proven Maverick” I have is a fighter pilot who plays topless volleyball, which Palin is not (I think, however…..) best wishes to you Florida and Jeff, sorry for my tone, I will agree to disagree.
posted by Witty Nickname on 10-8-2008 at 2:01 pm
Hey Witty, What about Harding? I think he is the worst president. And I totally get you on the history. I am consistently bothered by some of the historically inaccurate comparisons both sides use. And I am voting for Obama so nobody has to attack me!
posted by Marty on 10-8-2008 at 3:06 pm
Witty,
First of all, I’ve seen enough of your commentary to know your a Republican. Its obvious.
Second, if it actually means something to you, sure, Cheney and Bush aren’t the worst president or VP ever. However, there is no doubt they are among the bottom five. And hey, we only just entered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, so lets not render a verdict when they still have a few more months to see what else they can royally f*ck up.
Third, I’m not sure if you noticed, but Burr, Buchanan, and Pierce all happen to be dead. Not only are Bush and Cheney still alive, but they’re still actively destroying the country and dragging down the rest of the world with it. Osama bin Laden could never destroy America, but Bush and Cheney are sure giving it a shot.
posted by Florida on 10-8-2008 at 3:17 pm
You all better hush up or I’ll call you on my Obama phone spammer. Oops, I mean “Official iPhone Application”
posted by Gourry on 10-8-2008 at 4:42 pm
Chalk this site up to another one inundated with the “Democrats can do no wrong” crowd. I’m not much of a politics follower and I was willing to look past Miss Cellania’s daily forecast earth link trying to tell us how we’re ruining the earth because I really like mentalfloss. But like other sites I frequented for the educational and entertainment value, these people have to turn EVERY subject into a Bush/Cheney bashing party.
posted by Mike on 10-8-2008 at 5:05 pm
Aaron Burr fled to France not England.
posted by gdbeal on 10-8-2008 at 5:50 pm
gdbeal- Aaron Burr spent the bulk of his exile in London (the house on Craven Street) however he also spent time in France, Germany, Scotland, Denmark, and Sweden.
posted by Becca on 10-8-2008 at 6:09 pm
The party newspapers of the 19th century were really something else. I’d agree that on the whole, they were a lot more slanderous. However, they were also a LOT more creative and a lot more poetic about it, so however untrue most of it probably was, it’s sure a lot of fun to read! “Hideous hermaphroditical character”? That’s gold.
posted by kate on 10-8-2008 at 9:30 pm
She has the right to her opinion and your ”rebuttal” might be interesting in itself if presented neutrally but to use it as a way to slap her down is uncalled for.
Surely there are other public figures out there you could go after right now who deserve it much more: Barney Franks, Jeremiah Wright, Chris Dodd, Olbermann (his untruths are so frequent, it’s ridiculous)…
A web site like this one is best when the authors avoid showing their political colors, you know. Not everyone who reads you is of your opinion and many people would prefer to come here knowing that they’re not going to have to read your anti-whatever venting.
Why can’t there be sites that just stay neutral, for pete’s sake? If I want politics, I’ll go to the blogs of my choice.
posted by Valerie on 10-9-2008 at 5:53 am
I’m sorry you’re disappointed, Valerie. I thought a lot about the lead of the piece before I posted it. But I came to the conclusion that I would have gone after anyone had they made that comment. I only chose Cindy McCain because her words were plastered on 3 different headlines from three different sites I read that day.
This is an educational magazine however, and part of the reason we did an election issue this year was simply to point out that politics has always been dirty.
The idea of our “sacred” founding fathers hiring hatchet men and slinging the sorts of phrases they used is unthinkable, and it’s never mentioned in high school textbooks. But as the post tried to show, politics has always been ugly, and the campaigning of today is no worse than what’s occurred before.
That said, I do appreciate your note. And I also appreciate Witty Nickname’s dialing the tone back and showing such restraint (there were quite a few people on this thread, in fact, who kept the conversation civil, in what could have been an even more vicious debate). The mental_floss staff is full of both Republicans and Democrats, and we don’t have a company stance on Mrs. McCain as a person. We just wanted to set the record straight that however guilty the two campaigns are of pushing spin on the public, neither actually matches up to the dirty tricks played by politicians past.
posted by Mangesh Hattikudur on 10-9-2008 at 9:02 am
Fabulous. Another of of my entertainment websites turned into a party for Republican bashing. Might as well hang a sign saying “Republican’s not served here.”
posted by Fran on 10-9-2008 at 11:03 am