University of Virginia Library

Alderman's Corridors Of Campaign Capers

By LISA DUGGAN

What is the character of an
American presidential
campaign? Is it indeed a time
of participatory democracy in
which the American people
choose their leadership and
shape their destiny — or is it
perhaps more accurately
described as a time of
deception and trickery in
which a candidate is more sold
than chosen?

The exhibit now on display
in the manuscript department
of Alderman Library affords a
rare opportunity to browse
through history and confront
the evidence.

A half-hour tape (edited
and recorded by Greg Johnson)
spews forth the idealistic hopes
and aspirations of the
candidates in campaign
speeches ranging in time from
those of William Jennings
Bryan to those of Barry
Goldwater. The personal letters
and other effects of those
involved in the campaigning
(assembled by Ann
Stauffenberg) acquaint one
with actual political conduct.

Many of the problems and
issues of past campaigns, as
discussed in the letters in the
display, bring to mind
platforms so hotly debated in
the campaign concluding
today. One of the most
prominent is the question
of political sabotage and
espionage epitomized by
the Watergate incident. Such
incidents have a long history in
the American political process.

In 1788, the primary issue
was the ratification of the
constitution rather than the
election of the president. A
letter written by Arthur Lee
expresses concern over the fact
that pro-Constitution factions
had been tampering with the
mail.

During 1840, a
Charlottesville Whig wrote
instructing party members to
search the Treasury Department
files for incriminating evidence
against Martin Van Buren in his
bid for re-election.

One of the most blatant
examples of the perpetuation
of the tradition of political
sabotage can be found in the
"Fact Book" issued by
the Democratic Party in 1892
which warned members to
beware of the Force Bill of
1890, a bill that provided
Federal supervision of
elections, thereby threatening
democratic control of the
black vote.

Also on display is a copy of
the famous Coffin Hand Bill
accusing General Andrew
Jackson of murdering six
militia men (whom he had in
fact had executed for
desertion).

The problem of the
two-faced politician is dealt
with in the display by
cartoonist Thomas Nast. He
portrays William Sherman
(who the Republicans had been
trying to draw into political
life, and whose refusal to run
Nast did not take seriously)
divided down the center,
showing a different face to the
North and South of 1884.

The first signs of the
Women's Rights movement can
perhaps be found among those
like an elderly widow of 1800
who "insisted to give in her
ticket, and it was with great
difficulty that the
commissioners could persuade
her she had no right to vote."

Among the excerpts that
comprise the audio section of
the display one can hear such
familiar themes as a call to
southern Democrats to join
with Republicans (1908), a
speech concerning the
importance of arms limitation
(1921 – in reference to
shipbuilding), and the
resounding cry of "Four more
years!" (1956).

Perhaps the most impressive
aspect of the entire
conglomeration of history is

the sameness of the political
rhetoric and the campaign
methods. Few tricks for
emotional appeals of the
present campaign can be called
original. Each meaningless
platitude, each plea for votes
has precedent. One leaves the
exhibit with the sense that
nothing really changes in the
actors or the scripts of a
political campaign.

The taped portion of the
manuscript department display
will remain on the second floor
of Alderman Library until
Friday, the visual portion can
be viewed through February.