Radio Nixon

[joeybabe25]

I am a free lance writer (United States citizen living in Israel) and I am researching the late President Nixon's use of radio during his time in office from 1969-1974. I am specifically looking how Mr. Nixon used radio only during his time in office. I am 56 years old, and I have memories, I believe, that President Nixon broadcast many speeches using only radio, for a variety of reasons. My understanding is that most of these were either longer policy speeches that the President wanted to use for information, understanding that the particular issue involved may not have been suitable for television (and saving both media for what he believe were more important address').


I have been unable to document that President Nixon used radio in this way, unlike any of his successors would, and perhaps, unlike his immediate predecessors. I have contacted the Nixon Library and The Library Of Congress. They offered some leads, but I am looking for a way to avoid logging through years of daily calenders and assorted network logs and the like. Could anyone offer advice or leads on the subject of Richard Nixon's use of radio only, particularly during his presidency.



Ronald Reagan is credited for bringing back the importance of using radio only in his Saturday morning talks. I believe that Mr. Nixon regularly used radio during his term as president.

Joe

 

[KeithE4]

I am a free lance writer (United States citizen living in Israel) and I am researching the late President Nixon's use of radio during his time in office from 1969-1974. I am specifically looking how Mr. Nixon used radio only during his time in office. I am 56 years old, and I have memories, I believe, that President Nixon broadcast many speeches using only radio, for a variety of reasons. My understanding is that most of these were either longer policy speeches that the President wanted to use for information, understanding that the particular issue involved may not have been suitable for television (and saving both media for what he believe were more important address').

I have been unable to document that President Nixon used radio in this way, unlike any of his successors would, and perhaps, unlike his immediate predecessors. I have contacted the Nixon Library and The Library Of Congress. They offered some leads, but I am looking for a way to avoid logging through years of daily calenders and assorted network logs and the like. Could anyone offer advice or leads on the subject of Richard Nixon's use of radio only, particularly during his presidency.

Ronald Reagan is credited for bringing back the importance of using radio only in his Saturday morning talks. I believe that Mr. Nixon regularly used radio during his term as president.

Reagan brought back the radio addresses that were similar to FDR's "Fireside Chats," but his were on Saturday mornings. I don't remember Nixon being on radio much at all, other than for speeches that were simulcast on TV. He was known to be more of a "tape" guy.

 

[michael hagerty]

I am a free lance writer (United States citizen living in Israel) and I am researching the late President Nixon's use of radio during his time in office from 1969-1974. I am specifically looking how Mr. Nixon used radio only during his time in office. I am 56 years old, and I have memories, I believe, that President Nixon broadcast many speeches using only radio, for a variety of reasons. My understanding is that most of these were either longer policy speeches that the President wanted to use for information, understanding that the particular issue involved may not have been suitable for television (and saving both media for what he believe were more important address').


I have been unable to document that President Nixon used radio in this way, unlike any of his successors would, and perhaps, unlike his immediate predecessors. I have contacted the Nixon Library and The Library Of Congress. They offered some leads, but I am looking for a way to avoid logging through years of daily calenders and assorted network logs and the like. Could anyone offer advice or leads on the subject of Richard Nixon's use of radio only, particularly during his presidency.



Ronald Reagan is credited for bringing back the importance of using radio only in his Saturday morning talks. I believe that Mr. Nixon regularly used radio during his term as president.

Joe

Joe, I think the reason you're having trouble documenting that Nixon used radio exclusively for speeches is that he didn't. Nixon went on TV for speeches and news conferences on a regular basis. Those were simulcast on all-news and talk radio stations.

 

[landtuna]

I'm guessing that most people in American that can remember Richard Nixon are trying very hard to forget him.

Back on topic (sort of) - I seem to remember Mr. Nixon didn't have a lot of luck with TV either.

 

[FreddyE1977]

For the most part Nixon did his communicating with the public on television.
Likewise Carter. Bringing back radio fireside chats was Reagan's idea. To the
extent that Nixon was on radio it was generally a simulcast of his TV address
(which, given the tenor of the times, was generally followed-up by some smart
aleck-y abuse from the disc jockey!)

My guess is that since Kennedy used TV to pretty much destroy him in 1960
Nixon became impressed with the power of television and embraced it as "the
wave of the future". Most radio listeners polled actually thought Nixon won the
1960 debates. Not so for those viewing on television. I think he drew some conclusions
from that.

 

[OldNumber7]

I don't recall Nixon doing any radio exclusive broadcasts. Back then, the TV networks happily gave away their air time for any White House address. His televised addresses, at least in his first term, reached a significant percentage of the population and were generally effective at getting his message out.
On another topic from this thread: Actually it was CARTER who tried to recreate FDR's fireside chats, with a single televised address in a sweater by a fireplace about energy policy. It didn't go over well and he didn't repeat it, despite earlier saying these chats would be a regular thing.
Reagan's White House initiated the weekly radio address as a way to get out his message in an era when the TV networks were less willing to carry presidential addresses. He had done years of radio commentaries after his time as California governor, so he had the experience to make them work. The thinking at the White House was that it was a way for Reagan to make news for the Sunday papers when news editors are scratching for stuff to write. There were scheduled for Saturday morning to reach the millions of people in their cars running Saturday errands -- a fairly high listening time. The strategy was moderately effective and every president has done it since, though the novelty has worn off and the topics border on the mundane.

 

[OldNumber7]

Well this is darned interesting....try googling Nixon radio addresses

The first bunch of hits are scripts of radio addresses Nixon gave while in office. The scripts were posted online by The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara. The scripts appear to be about 10 minutes long, and the notes at the bottom indicate that those that aired during his 72 campaign were paid for by his campaign committee, while others were given outside the campaign.
I have NO recollection of these. I have no idea what stations aired them. But maybe you should check with UCSB.

 

[michael hagerty]

Well this is darned interesting....try googling Nixon radio addresses

The first bunch of hits are scripts of radio addresses Nixon gave while in office. The scripts were posted online by The American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara. The scripts appear to be about 10 minutes long, and the notes at the bottom indicate that those that aired during his 72 campaign were paid for by his campaign committee, while others were given outside the campaign.
I have NO recollection of these. I have no idea what stations aired them. But maybe you should check with UCSB.

Wow.

I stand corrected.

From just a quick glance, it looks like Nixon did a fairly regular weekend radio address (Sundays early on, then moved to Saturdays, which is the day presidents from Reagan to Obama have used). Worth checking to see if Ford and Carter did the same. If so, then it would be Nixon, not Reagan, who revived the practice of a presidential weekly radio address.

The speeches paid for by his campaign committee were on various days of the week...and would have been bought on a station by station basis, since few stations in 1972 carried a network for long stretches of time.

 

[OldNumber7]

I have been unable to document that President Nixon used radio in this way, unlike any of his successors would, and perhaps, unlike his immediate predecessors. I have contacted the Nixon Library and The Library Of Congress. They offered some leads, but I am looking for a way to avoid logging through years of daily calenders and assorted network logs and the like. Could anyone offer advice or leads on the subject of Richard Nixon's use of radio only, particularly during his presidency.
Joe

Also have you tried contacting Patrick Buchanan, perhaps through his publisher or publicist? He may be one of the last of the regulars in the Nixon White House communications office who isn't room temperature. Or he may be able to at least steer you to someone who can help further.

 

[joeybabe25]

Thanks to all of you for your help and suggestions. I will look into contacting Pat Buchanan about radio only.

By the way, Jimmy Carter made big news in 1977 when he sat with Walter Cronkite on CBS Radio for a two hour call in program. I don't think any president has ever done that.

Joe

 

[awsherrill]

I remember that call-in program with Carter, and I also remember the "Saturday Night Live" spoof that promptly followed, with Dan Akroyd as Carter...in the SNL skit, they had Carter talking a caller down from a bad LSD trip.

 

[FreddyE1977]

The speeches paid for by his campaign committee were on various days of the week...and would have been bought on a station by station basis, since few stations in 1972 carried a network for long stretches of time.

As opposed to the FDR and Regan radio chats (and even the current web versions from President Obama)
which are official communications from the White House done in an official capacity. Sounds like Nixon's
were more along the lines of an extended paid political advertisement. And I'm guessing they were only
bought in markets where the campaign thought the race would be tight (which, in retrospect, was virtually
nowhere.)

 

[michael hagerty]

The speeches paid for by his campaign committee were on various days of the week...and would have been bought on a station by station basis, since few stations in 1972 carried a network for long stretches of time.

As opposed to the FDR and Regan radio chats (and even the current web versions from President Obama)
which are official communications from the White House done in an official capacity. Sounds like Nixon's
were more along the lines of an extended paid political advertisement. And I'm guessing they were only
bought in markets where the campaign thought the race would be tight (which, in retrospect, was virtually
nowhere.)

If you follow the link, you'll find that the majority of the speeches were not during the '72 campaign. Some were before, others were post-reelection but before Watergate became a huge deal. The evidence is that Nixon did a regular or semi-regular weekend radio address.

The campaign-related speeches were paid for by the campaign and aired on selected stations.