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Media Pioneer
A New Art Form
In 1959 Kennedy wrote, “Whether TV improves or worsens our political system… whether it gives us better or poorer candidates… the answers are all up to you, the viewing public.” He understood that television and new forms of documentary film let him speak directly to Americans, and that Americans, in turn, would judge politicians by what they saw on their TV sets.
Kennedy allowed innovative filmmaker Robert Drew to follow him in real time during the Democratic primary campaign. Using a small, inconspicuous camera, Drew created an up-close, intimate portrait of Kennedy.
These appearances allowed Kennedy to show a side of himself that appealed to the American public—one that was funny and self-deprecating, but also smart, optimistic, and serious about America’s future. |