NOTHING NEW ABOUT RELIGION IN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS: Ford Runs Political Ad in 1976 Featuring Sermon Endorsement from Evangelical Leader

In the 1976 presidential campaign, Ford used political ads featuring endorsements from Evangelical leaders to counter Jimmy Carter’s image of piety and to turn the Baptist governor’s famous Playboy interview […]

August 16, 2010

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In the 1976 presidential campaign, Ford used political ads featuring endorsements from Evangelical leaders to counter Jimmy Carter’s image of piety and to turn the Baptist governor’s famous Playboy interview against him. Today, with all the focus on religion and politics, a political ad of this sort would be unthinkable, yet it ran nationally in 1976.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Associate Professor of Communication, Northeastern University

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