"Like a TV Show"

"This month, operatives for Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton have said they will try to mold each of their conventions into something of an infomercial for each of their candidates. For most of American history, this would have been impossible, because usually nominees were not anointed until the delegates met, often after many ballots. But in modern times, with nominations so often locked up in advance, campaigns would be foolish not to try to turn those days of exposure into a major marketing opportunity.

"The first to do this with serious forethought was Nixon's now infamous Committee to Re-elect the President, in 1972."

 

Michael Beschloss in The New York Times revisits the first modern presidential convention.