Video killed the neo-FDR

It started with the Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960, the first debate ever to be broadcast on national television. Television was not yet as ubiquitous as it is today, and nearly as many people listened to the debate on the radio as watched it on TV. After the debate was over, polls showed a puzzling result: most people who had listed to the debate thought that Nixon had won, but those that had watched the debated overwhelmingly named John Kennedy the winner! This symbolism of this event was remarkable: Nixon was an adroit political speaker, and Kennedy a famously attractive young man. In the end, JFK's good looks helped him carry the debate and, eventually, a narrow victory in the general election. Perhaps even more significantly, the moment catalyzed a political revolution in America: the era of the photogenic president.

The movement began slowly, with uggo's like Nixon still managing to gain the Oval office into the 1970's. But by the 80's the Republicans, at least, had it figured out: they nominated a literal leading man, and soon former actor Ronald Regan was waving regally to the crowd at his inauguration. The phenomenon was apparent even after election, as Regan's (and later Clinton's) seemingly crippling scandals were shrugged off by an enamored public.

The phenomenon was dealt a setback in 1988 when neither George H. W. Bush nor Michael Dukakis provided the looks to sate Americans desire for a handsome head of state, but this was quickly righted by the appearance of beautiful Bill Clinton in 1992. Since then, Americans have chosen the better-looking candidate in each of the last four elections.

The peak of this obsession came just recently. Republican primary voters were in despair, presented with double-chinned John McCain, squinty Rudy Giuliani, rotund Newt Gingrich, and Mitt Romney, who looks a little like a charicature of an oily used-car salesman. Suddenly, a whisper ran through the Right: Fred Thompson was considering throwing his hat into the ring. An immediate upswelling of support ensued, instantly vaulting Thompson, who still has yet to announced as this is being written, into second place in the polling. What was the source of this excitement? Was it Mr. Thompson's position on family values? No, his record is fairly middle-of-the-road. A reprieve from the marital scandals characterizing the rest of the Republican field? Nope, Thompson has also been divorced. An distinguished political record? Can't be that either, Thompson spent just a term and a half in the Senate before deciding that the life of a politician was too intense. So what made Thompson so special? He plays District Attorney Arthur Branch on Law and Order.

It's not like the issues don't matter any more. Just like the talent competition can gain you some ground in the Miss America pagent, it pays to have some rhetoric to back up your looks. However, there's no question that having the "presidential look" is a major boon to one's candidacy. So what does this mean for America? Well, for one, you probably won't see too many more wheel chairs in the White House...