Existing comment:
Art and Culture
The Kennedys understood that media and popular culture—from magazines to television, movies, and musicals—were becoming just as important to American life as the “high” culture—such as ballet, opera, and poetry—that they championed. They incorporated popular culture into White House activities and took advantage of all forms of media, both old and new. The Kennedys were frequent subjects of traditional press reports and regularly appeared in the pages of popular magazines and on television.
These appearances made Americans feel that they knew the Kennedys better than any presidential couple before them. “The slick or bombastic orator, pounding the table and ringing the rafters is not as welcome in the family room as he was in the town square or party hall,” wrote Kennedy. By embracing popular culture, the Kennedys were able to project an image of themselves as the glamorous guests in every American’s family room. |