Now is the time. Do we log you write your candidate come to the aid of your party takes your cash to make some noise. That man, you know that little ditty is one of the items being featured in a new Minnesota historical societies. If it opens next month after History Center on the campaign Trail is the name of the exhibit and at races the way political campaigns have changed over the years from the X long or windy stump speeches to 10-second sound bites this being election day primary election day across the state of Minnesota. We thought we'd spend the hour talking with the folks who are putting the exhibit together get a better idea of how politics have changed over the years. I exhibit curator Celeste de rosny is with us as is Steve kielar the exhibit content expert and we also have a number of audio samples including that song from the exhibit. We'd like to hear from you as well as we go through our discussion during this hour. If you have a question about the exhibit a comment about how you sent Paula to apply to go campaigns have changed over the years. We invite you to give Call the number would be 2 to 76,000 in the Twin Cities to 276 thousand or if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities. You can reach us toll-free at one 802-4228 to it the last day. Thanks for coming by. Thank you. Appreciate it. Can you give us the first of all we should mention that the exhibit itself is not open yet. It opens October 15th. What are what are you planning to have? What does the scope of the exhibit? Can you give us some ideas? Well, the exhibit covers a presidential electoral campaigns in Minnesota right from the beginning when Minnesota became a territory. All right to the present day. We have some video tape from the 1990 campaign nothing from this campaign and it basically is divided into three sections the first section concentrates on 19th century campaigning where voters were going to tend to Rally. I'll probably show the loyalty to the party. So the amps are on group loyalties. There's a second section on with a radio console and then some Franklin Roosevelt Fireside Chats. I guess we'll be hearing one of them later that stresses family decisions the family making a decision in the home. The final section is a video section that stresses campaigning and the video age Mostly the focus is on Minnesota campaign saw her. That's correct and presidential campaigns as they have been conducted in Minnesota Eisenhower speaking at Northfield JFK. We have a good video on JFK at a bean seed in Minneapolis Auditorium from 1960. So it's presidential candidates as they appear in Minnesota and then candidates for Governor of Minnesota. No, but we have Jacqueline Kennedy's recipe for beans and I'm sure she made them a lot but we have no him things really change that much you get the you get the sense that they have that that we used to get a lot of real long speeches or candidates would drive up or ride up on your horse or whatever get up and crawling us stumped and take the jacket off and go to work for for 5 hours. Is that true is that the way campaigns used to operate? Norma said I've just finished a political biography of Senator knut Nelson a nineteenth-century Minnesota politician and he would give to our speeches at once his daughter complain that wasn't long enough. So the the pace and the timing of it is changed enormously the willingness of people to get out and and attend a rally wear and tear a 2-hour Speech vs. Today's you no problem with participation of Precinct caucuses and so forth. It has been much discussion about right. I wonder have you had a chance to actually go through some of those long speeches. Have you read them? Not in their entirety. Did they have a lot more content to him or were they just longer amazing content Nelson would give it a 2-hour speech on the Filipino Rebellion friend since to 1901 and there's an amazing amount of detail and people seem to to be hungry for it and to listen to it. You look at letters to the editor in 19th century newspapers from ordinary minnesotans. They would probably put us to shame really as far as their knowledge of the concrete details of issues. What are the areas in the exhibit where you can really see some changes in the third section that Steve mentioned the use of television and campaigning and we have early Eisenhower commercials up to the more slick commercial say that I'm Carlton used in his 10-day campaign in 1990 and just by looking at the breadth of those commercials that appear more issue-oriented initially tomorrow focusing on the can do that the personality of the candidate as opposed to issues or the party and we have about a dozen sees me about 10 examples and just buy that one section. You can really see some changes near Speed the video spots a very brief my pack when we were going over the FDR fireside chats we had to cut extensively because we realize that the his lengthy discussion of issues would not suppress interest 1990s exhibit door. I just would bar everybody, huh? Simplified in order to do that because entation of the exhibit of the issues not the issues themselves simplified to the point where they don't anymore, right? There's a funny one with the Eisenhower from the 1952 presidential campaign voter ask him about the cost of living going up in and Eisenhower replies my name you complains about that all the time. There's basically no answer the question whatsoever. Just now we have a couple of samples hear from one of the more interesting gubernatorial races in the state of Minnesota back in 1938. Elmer Benson and Harold stassen, the young Harold stassen, and this was a bring me up-to-date in my recollection was at this was one of those Watershed elections in the state of Minnesota was hitting on you was definitely it was the end of the farmer labor Aurora in Minnesota politics for all practical purposes. They have control the government the steak. Until the 1930s was very bitter campaign anti-Semitism charges of communist influence in the farm labor Administration and assassins Victory Samantha. A republican nomination for the following 10-15 years as I recall to this being the 50th anniversary of the dfl party that stash and went also sort of set in motion the wheels and eventually led to the to the merger of the Democrats and former labor rights and play a couple of the eclipse that you brought along from camping. What's the first one we're going to hear. You'll be hearing Luis e Lohman who was the campaign manager for Elmer Benson. I happen to love this clip and then also Harold stassen response. Okay, first of all, the Lewis Lomond got to speaking for Elmer Benson. Our society is composed of people of all shades of political and economic opinion. No one is expected to agree on every proposal but no one can get Governor Pence and honesty of purpose his efforts to bring maximum happiness Minnesota's people on his desire to protect the interests of Labor and Industry professional man on Independent businessman has a proven record of progress and prosperity the Republican candidate for people jelly by proclaiming to the world that Minnesota has a bad name. It does have a bad name among the 60 ruling families of America. Government anywhere Minnesota farmer labor government certainly isn't popular along Wall Street financial analyst 80. Business journals have to admit that Minnesota is a bright spot in the world whole nation as far as business is concerned. I asked you to vote for the time and labor candidate for governor Pence preserve American institution as I intended by keeping and buy electric public off Elmer Benson. For the past 30 minutes episode of WCCO and Associated stations have been engaged by the Benson for governor volunteer committee on tonight's program. You heard. Dr. HC Tony veterans volunteer committee Lewis element State campaign manager of the farmer labor party. Way to leave the radio announcer on there. I'm personally always interested to hear the the old time radio a Styles here. Now. We got a second that clip that goes with this, right? That isn't Garmin for the next 30 minutes play facilities of WCCO have been engaged by the Assassin for governor volunteer committee. We taken out to the song Paul Hotel in Mankato with a capacity crowd has gathered at a dinner sponsored by the station for governor volunteers of the 2nd congressional district in honor of Harold stassen Republican candidate for governor. If a governor is to make a contribution to the confidence of a people in government, if he is to assist in developing tolerance and understanding and the relations between the people ministration is to be one of integrity and economy. Damn that Governor must be elected as a representative of all of the people and not of any special group or class. The people of our state cannot get secure progress through a businessman the governor or a farmer's Governor or a laborers Governor. They can best secure progress through a governor that represents the people as a whole It is what this fundamental principle in mind that I have invited alliances our commitment to any special group or interest. I desire to be in a position. If I am elected governor of men and women of all groups, I would much rather be defeated without string than being elected with string. Harold stassen in 1938. Do you know if that was what was that a lie broadcast? It was from the hotel in Mankato a rally campaign rally that they held in Mankato. I'm just amazed that the technology that that sounded you know, except for the scratchiness would probably have the recording itself the actual broadcast on an excellent. There was a band at the end of the edited out. Is that right Watershed election in 1938, but that's going to be opening next month after the Minnesota Historical Society is called on the campaign Trail tracing a campaigns in Minnesota and how they've changed over the years and it would love to have you join the conversation Our Guest today the curator of the exhibit celester brozinni and Steve kielar who is going to be expert the content expert on the on the exhibit. If you'd like to join the conversation, let me give you the phone numbers of Twin City area number is 227-6002 to seven. 6000 if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities, you can reach us toll-free at one 800-242-2828 questions about the exhibit or your own thoughts and how the campaigns have changed over the years be interesting to hear you on this election day would celebrate their election day with a look at how campaigns have changed across the state of Minnesota. We have a caller on the line by the way and Virgil is on the line from embarrass. Hi. Good morning. Thanks for waiting on the phone so long. I'd like to know how much of the dark side of Minnesota politics is in your exhibit. I seem to remember from my youth or something called the quote. I-35 Scandal on coal is definitely in there. That was a 1962 and it's widely. Thought you were denied Elmer Anderson a second term as Governor and we have a delightful TV footage of Anderson giving a speech on that issue and also a TV news reporter covering the issue. Broken the last couple weeks of the campaign and last minute charge was later proven false and Anderson went on to lose the election by 91 votes to Karl Rove on in general. Are there a lot of a dark episodes in the in the exhibit not in the exhibit we focus on campaign Styles and how they've changed over the years and we don't have the space to get into a detailed issues or or detailed scandals that might have erupted so it's More broadly focused on that but there certainly are plenty of episodes such as an television work against Anderson that that was that information was disseminated very quickly and he didn't have time to counteract. Whereas television Works in favor for Arne Carlson in 1990. When he did a 10-day campaign and made good use of television commercials. So we shall both sides what happened. What was the difference? I mean, why didn't why wasn't Elmer Anderson able to to use television to get his message out? This was all trumped-up nonsense. Well, I suspect that the charge was not easily proven false. Whereas the Carlson all he had to do was to announce that he was now the regular Republican candidate after Jon grunseth withdrew his name and so a TV was very useful instrument in 1992 very quickly get out to the people that the news and all the way. Do candidates just give me a new name on the ballot and that would be something that would been very difficult a hundred years ago to have a 10-day campaign for governor. Like we did a 1990 earlier than the broadcast of the 1938 campaign. There was a time when radio was was the big medium it was anybody ever better at it than FDR so far as we could you guys could tell not as far as we can tell know he's an expert is a great quote from Frances Perkins about the Roosevelt imagining one or two people listening as he's giving His Radio fireside chat and his voice is is very soothing it's very quiet. It's not this bombastic style that you heard a minute ago with Luis Lowman. It's very soothing and the works well on the radio, we should tell people who don't know. What is a fireside chat. It was just the nickname that was given for Roosevelt's radio addresses to the nation that were usually given from the White House, maybe the Diplomatic reception room or the Oval Office and he did those periodically throughout his administration. The White House Washington DC tonight Columbia's microphones are set up in the Diplomatic reception run with the White House to bring you the 11 Fireside jet President Franklin D Roosevelt sent his first inauguration, March 4th, 1933. Since October 12th, when he departed on his trip to the Pacific Northwest as the president informally discuss the state of the nation with the people of the United States. In these great problems of government. I try not to forget that's what really counts at the bottom of it. All is that the men and women willing to work can have a decent job a decent job to take care of themselves and their homes and that children adequately. That the farmer the factory worker the storekeeper the gas station man, the manufacturer the merchant big and small the bank takes pride in the help that he can give to the building of his community that all of these can be sure of a reasonable profit and safety for the earnings that they may not today or tomorrow alone. But as far ahead as they can see I ain't going to hear your unspoken Wonder as to where we are headed in this troubled world. I cannot expect all of the people do understand all of the people's problems. But it is my job to try to understand all of the problems. I always try to remember the reconciling differences cannot satisfy everyone completely because I do not expect too much. I am not disappointed, but I know that I must never give up that I must never let the greater interest of all the people down melee because that might be for the moment the easiest personal layout. I believe that we have been right in the cost. We have trotted. To abandon our purpose of building a greater a more stable and a more tolerant America would be to miss the tide and perhaps don't miss the part. I proposed to sail ahead. I feel sure that your hopes. I feel sure that your help is with me. how to reach Airport We must sail. Sale not lie at anchor sale not drift. The president of the United States The Honorable Franklin D Roosevelt influence his Fireside checked and which he has discussed relief and economics with the people of the nation. This was the 11th fireside chat since the president's inauguration in 1933. Why do people listen to those when they were broadcast definitely definitely it was a popular? Things to be listening to on the radio course radio back then was the dominant medium in America Fibber McGee and Molly and would more people pay attention to those those say the presidential press conference. Now Primetime, press conference. It's hard to prove that statistically but yes, I believe so because the the options that people had as far as media as far as information sources was much more limited than now so there is wasn't the problem of distraction by by so many sources of information like we have today and this is one of the things that we deal with any exhibit to the last section is an individual choices the increasing individualism in the electorate where a candidate can't even be sure that people are paying attention. I to the campaign. Where is that could be taken for granted, especially with a presidential campaign in the 1930s at least to a point Ray. We have a great quote from Franklin Roosevelt. It really describes the organizing theme of our exhibit. He says and I quote in the olden days campaigns were conducted amid surroundings the brass bands and red light especially with the Advent of radio near oratory and emotion are having less to do with a determination of public questions today Common Sense plays the greater part and final opinions are arrived at in the quiet of the home on Court. And that is what Roosevelt is trying to appeal to their is people's opinion as it's ever receive in the living room in front of the radio console quietly thoughtfully. And right now we have MTV And one of the cool things in the exhibit that are down Nelson. The exhibit designer has done its created what we call an interpretive scene with an early 1940's radio and it's the setting is late thirties early forties comfortable chairs and the visitor can sit down and just you know, literally punch the buttons and get to hear the speeches and we tried to create that kind of seen so it would be you know contemporary that's a very nice part of the exhibit a lot of visitor interaction History Center 15th of October. It's called on the campaign Trail in a chat it traces how campaigns and campaigning has changed over the years Our Guest today Steve. Kielar, who is he really the expert on the content of the exhibit and the curator of the exhibits the last rizzini and that we sure hope that you're enjoying the program. We hope you'll get a chance to get out and take a look at the exhibit again. We should understand. It's not actually there yet. They won't the open till the 15th, but something to look forward to if you got some questions about the exhibit or some comments or questions about how campaigning is actually changed. We invite you to give us a call Twin City area number is 227-6002 276 thousand if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities, you can reach us toll-free at 1 800-242-2828. And I guess one other reminder that to everyone underscore that you can hear extensive election night coverage here on the FM news station starting at 8 tonight will be dipping our toe into election returns from 8 to 9. And then about 9, it's katie-bar-the-door when they was like it when they was all start pouring in so you'll be able to join us this evening. Lots of callers on the line with questions and comments about the exhibit Dan from Duluth High are your interest in the old radio broadcasts to the exhibit? Not too much how the candidates use the media but how media have covered the campaigns I find in recent years so many of the media tend to dwell on polling and sort of the horse race aspect incentive really analyzing the issues and I wonder if there's been any change the specially in Minnesota over the years of how much they starting with newspapers and then getting into radio and then getting into television reporters have focused on the candidates the question. I think as resources that the media has available for polling and other purposes as they've increased that the horse race aspect has been emphasized more and more. The exhibit does not get into the subject of media coverage of government in general of political campaigns, except in a peripheral way occasionally as an Andersen spot and I 35 conference either we mention we do have a news reporter on camera talking about the the charges about I-35. But basically this is this is a exhibit about the interaction between campaigns and voters and how that changes over the decades as technology has changed as culture changes as the audience changes one of the things you do hear a lot in today's campaigns always how how awful the news media is and by golly if you could just get them off our back and if I could just speak directly to the people. I know it's kind of a constant refrain from politics. Did you used to hear a lot of that in the old days to yes because in the 19 century most newspapers almost all newspapers were partisan. They either supported the Republican Party the Democrats and they would dish up the dirt and sling mud at the other candidates in ways that are not even equal today. So it happened at that point a hundred years ago. Sure. My halo other campaigns have gotten progressively dirty or over the years more and more mudslinging every year. We were all going to hell in a handbasket. That's not necessarily true. No, it's it's been there before. I believe it was. Harrison or no, I'm Cleveland Grover. Cleveland was accused of being unfaithful to his wife and consequently some of the campaign material that came out of that election have pictures of his wife on a map to show their know their marriage was stable, but they're different accusations for a long time before they said it campaign song Mama. Where is your pie? Where's my pot? And Atheism his campaigns in the late 19th century. So there were there was a personal mudslinging been to a lot of talk about communism is I ever called thirties and forties. There was a Communist party in Minnesota, but I'm in that was a that was a constant refrain true to if I recall correctly back to the phones with Brad for Minneapolis join just now. He's got a question. My question is right in regard to debates in making a comparison between the Lincoln-Douglas debates now being recreated on C-Span in depth and how local radio stations broadcast Statewide and local election debates in about 45 minutes. How much have the content and formats of debates change through the years? Big subject. I have not seen the C-SPAN Recreation of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The Lincoln-Douglas debates were not So different than modern debates in in terms of content. They did not discuss the details of issues. So you probably would get more statistics and detailed policy. Guanica discussion from Franklin Roosevelt the 1930s. It was an inner Frontier era. Both candidates were trying to make their pitch to The the voter in Illinois and there you can see that the types of issues. They stressed varied with depending on weather in Southern Illinois or Northern Illinois during that campaign politics doesn't change a whole lot of interesting point is that in in a age of televised debates. You can't make a a campaign statement in a debate to a narrow segment of the audience because the audience is going to hear it is going to see it and some will be offended. You can't delicately make that pitch in one area of the state and not in another. What are the things that we have in the exhibit is a clip from the 1960s John Kennedy and Richard Nixon debate. And what's particularly interesting about that is. Former President Nixon had recently gotten out of the hospital and he refused to wear makeup and he had a knee injury. He banged his knee in a in a car door during campaigning so both he and and Kennedy are standing at podium Sims. And Richard Nixon is shifting on comfortably and he looks very nervous and it's partly because dude with health and he doesn't look as youthful and us as Kennedy did who was wearing makeup on so the debate went very well and and Nixon did very well in that debate, but after Paul's you mentioned polling People who watched it on television felt that John F. Kennedy had won the debate whereas radio listeners thought that Nixon had won the debate and it's interesting. We also have Clips when John Kennedy was here for the bean seed commenting on debating and there was more at stake than just make up something like that. So he commented on it. We also have a clip of Nixon talking and explaining why the debates were so good because we had a more informed public because of the debates. So that's one of the real interesting pieces in the exhibit. That was a probably defeat the classic TV presidential debate and I think maybe the first one actually but historically to the candidates 10 to travel around together and debate each other on the radio or just on the stump was a typical or did they try to avoid each other like the plague it was not typical. Matter fact the kennedy-nixon debate in 1960. If I remember right? It was the first presidential debate between two candidates or they're having some of the primary elections but not in it for general election campaign. That is also not been a customer until the last 20 years or so. There's a lot of questions that kind of thing. And for the first debate it was very warm in the studio and President Nixon was perspiring a lot and he did not want that shown on camera, but Kennedy's add man made sure that that was shown that subsequently the second debate when they went into the studio. I think it was a different Studio. I'm sorry. I don't recall what the temperature was freezing. It was like a meat locker in there and Nixon's people had turn down the temperature and Havelock the thermostats in the Kennedy people. It took them a lot of maneuvering to get the heat turned back up and then I believe the third debate to place in two different states and it was sad alighted and so they could work out their own temperature, but it was like those kind of games we're going on behind the scenes to make the person the candidate appear better on television because They were realizing what a powerful medium it was we're talking about a new exhibit and that will be opening on the 15th of October at the History Center, Minnesota Historical Society exhibit called on the campaign Trail and we have the curator and the exhibit content expert here in the studios. If you'd like to join the conversation, let me give you the phone numbers to 276 thousand is the Twin City number you're calling from outside the Twin Cities. You can reach us toll-free at one 802-4228 to a primary election day and a good chance to talk about how campaigns have changed over the years. What is a team Stephen I've been talking a lot about radio and television something else that's in the exhibit. And we've made it. We have a good collection at the Historical Society of political campaign memorabilia. So we have a campaign badges ribbons buttons from think one of the earliest elections we have is Abraham Lincoln 1860 up through 1990s. I think both are really going to love I'm looking at this material for those who do not want to get into the details. They won't be bombarded and overwhelmed but there are an amazing number of a good campaign items in drawers that will be available for the political buff to looking to join the line for Minneapolis with a question or comment Hi. You say your exhibit is about the interaction between candidates and voters on the campaign Trail. I'm I'm hoping that your exhibit shows the people who work for the candidates. It's and it's working voters out there choosing a party and working for its people who really do so much of the contact of the voters and I hope the hours of all these were all this work is being adequately represented know how about it? Do you have a section set aside for the volunteers and the people who do all the legwork and he's in these campaigns. It's very true that the volunteer working for campaign is absolutely indispensable. Unfortunately, the campaigns did not produce material highlighting their volunteers and highlighting the role of the volunteer. We are limited to two items have been produced by campaigns in and so unfortunately, we have not gotten into that aspect of it because of the lack of suitable materials to exhibit That's something that we should consider. One of the things that we do have in the exhibitor. What we call a TalkBack station where our visitors can write down their fit their memories. Do they remember listen to fireside chat or do they remember working on a campaign? So that is one way that we could get at that but that's a real good point. Go ahead. Yeah. I got a question regarding the to Elmer Anderson's that have been governor of I guess it's been said that the best the best name you can have when running for office in Minnesota is Anderson cuz it's all of them but for you if you got about 10% right there I seem to remember I'm only 40 here. So I just seem to remember that there was some some controversy back in the Anderson rolvaag election that there were a number of people that protested the results of that thing because they in fact. That they were voting for the previous Elmer excuse. Yeah, the previous Elmer Anderson, I guess it was just on the ballot is simply Elmer Anderson it cuz I know there was an Elmer L and A C Elmer and I'm just wanted to exhibit addresses that at all. There was a CL Moore Anderson. Who is the governor of Minnesota in the early 1950s and then Elmer L Andersen. Did you say I'm not I do not recall any controversy about the similar. Between their names C Helmer had been retired by the voters in 1954. So he was not around to cause any confusion at that time. Loni Anderson still in Minnesota History Wendell Anderson. We have a good section on Wendell Anderson section that aren't naftalin did for his Minnesota. Governor's series about how good Wendell Anderson was on TV and what what a polished performer he was on TV doing TV commercials and so forth or is that blogging another exhibit some place where he's holding up the fish on Time Magazine cover Twin City area number if you'd like to join our conversation today about how campaigns with local campaigns have changed in the state of Minnesota to 276 thousand or you can reach us toll-free 1-800 242-2828 and get back to the phone calls in a minute, but you brought along another sample here. We were talking about two presidential candidates who have come by. Compassion passed through Minnesota one time or another I remember what is there a famous story about Truman coming through in a whistle-stop campaign. Am I thinking about another person a long time ago in the 48 campaign of significant visit to Minnesota made a very famous Whistle Stop campaign in 1948 worth Whistle Stop tour at the end of the 1948 presidential campaign, which is in a widely credited with helping him gain an upset Victory. I'm not aware that any of the appearances in Minnesota where we're historic we had we had JFK he was here are Nexen any of those people in more recent times. Minnesota has sometimes been taken for granted Special by Democratic candidates because they felt it was they were guaranteed victory. So I'd be very surprised if if Johnson is showed up in the 1964 campaign for instance because with Humphrey on the ballot running as his vice presidential candidate, I think he would have taken the state for granted last we have I would you have a clip of right when he was on the campaign Trail. What's this all about? This is when Eisenhower was here. He was speaking at Carleton College at a youth for I Cali in 19. Excuse me. I'm sorry you for Ike rally in 1952? You are sitting at the feet of instructors who have no other desire than to serve you and their example gives you another of the lessons that you must have deserved your satisfaction in life. Believe me is not going to come from the numbers of dollars you turn over to your children when it comes your turn to pass on such it's going to come from this a Consciousness that you have done your part in the sense of doing that part for others. The threat in the world that we called communism. Has its. I did basic tenant this stop free government has failed. free government cannot use the resources of a great complex Nation such as ours to the benefit of all Free government must be supplanted by Direction and the Communists say we give that direction in our doctors and they established what they called the dictatorship of the proletariat. If you can when it comes your turn to sit on the back porch and rock in contemplation rather than be running down the street to your job in the morning. If you can say I have done by cooperation by my desire to help others, what kind of ism attempts to do by force? Then I would have done my part. Dwight Eisenhower's speaking at to Carleton College Laird Memorial Stadium in 1952. I guess that was broadcast over wcal in Northfield at the time the use for bike rally pretty well here in Minnesota. He was widely seen as Uncle figure a grandfather figure and I think that clip really shows that he is reassuring type of family appeal there. When his advice to the college students at Northfield another interesting thing about that was again lately emphasis on the the fight against communism leave a strong Eddie communism of that are out which seems well it's hard price was for younger people to understand what that was like when it was a big-time a big thing at that time. It's becoming a piece of ancient history. Now, will you resend that are you forget bit since the kennedy-nixon debates four of them the last rerun foreign policy. The first one was supposed to be on domestic policy, but Kennedy started out. With his opening statement saying that the reason we had to solve our domestic problems is so we could be strong against the Russians. Very overwhelming theme we have to Fox hear from the Minnesota Historical Society who are working on a an exhibit called on the campaign Trail. It opens at the History Center on October 15th Senate races. The way political campaigns have changed over the years of this is primary election day, and we thought that was a good way to spend the spend the day. Let's talk about campaigns and how things have changed like to join the conversation. Let me give me the phone number. It's 227-6000 in the Twin Cities to 276 thousand. If you're calling from outside the Twin Cities, you can reach us toll-free at 1 802-422-2828 and I get a reminder that extensive election night coverage begins at 8 tonight on the FM news station Tom from St. Paul is on the line with a question or comment. Tom it's my impression that over the past half dozen years or so in Minnesota campaigns that they've become a little bit more ugly that the negative attacking has become increasingly across-the-board local elections all the way up to the gubernatorial elections. And first you agree with that and secondly, why do you think that is a little bit about mudslinging at least at the national level before but what about the state politics is that got a little nastier and Andre sometimes I think that it appears to be so I'm not sure if you could prove that in any way and as we said there have been my thing in the past one thing that makes it appear more negative is that it's coming on TV and images and images are more powerful emotionally than words are it's one of the themes of our exhibit here and we show some Mondale pieces in the 1984 campaign friends since that are really scary. You know when you have an image on TV He has much more emotional impact suddenly appear to us to be more mudslinging than it than it was in the print area, but it may not actually be so as far as the content is the effect the emotional effect know I would imagine I don't know much about computers, but I would think as time goes on and we become more interactive and so on campaigns would be able to tailor their message not only to a group of people but to individual people could they not I mean just find out what kind of roughly like a like a marketer would well you you make this much money and you like this that and the other thing and pretty soon you could you could hole in that message right in hi. I'm Harold and I'm like you're both because I'm this that and the other thing but it is that plausible leaving. We may be standing on the threshold of major changes in political campaigning the use of computer to do the same thing as direct mail or you would Taylor the pitch to individual We talked in the exhibit about increasing amount of individual Choice. That's the theme for the last section of video section and people now have the the choice really to either totally withdraw from the campaign or to become totally immersed in it. And you can follow C-SPAN and in other medium completely immersed or you can watch the Home Shopping Channel and totally with dry. Where is the network here? I thought you were likely to at least watch Network news and to get some information about the campaign page part of it of the exhibit that one of the reasons there are so many people who aren't so interested in politics as they apparently were in the past is because I haven't other outlets now they can get away from it basically and ignore it if they choose to politics has to compete with other forces in American life with entertainment options with sports. With the increasing preoccupation of people with the family and personal activities politics. He is part of a broader picture and in maybe it has increased difficulty competing with those other attractions development. We were considering having a television where you could choose what you wanted to watch you could watch convention. You could watch a sporting event. You could watch don't you can't you buy things shopping on television or whatever bad if I don't have a TV for the point is we're going to have the way to communicate to the visitor all the competing interests all the you know, all the things going on. And do you make a choice to watch a convention or not? Hello. Go ahead. Hello. Yes. Go ahead sir. I have a two-part question for your visitors. Will there be a graph or graphs that will display historic Trends in the percentage each year of minnesotans and American population that have registered to vote. And also what percentage of those registered voters actually turn out for the general elections. Registered versus General first of all you had to do you track a drink in the exhibit. They leave the voter turnout. We have not attracted voter turnout partly limitations of space and the theme Here is the interaction between a campaign and a voter and we have not tracked voter apathy and terms of refusal to turn out for for elections. Let me ask you this down through down through the state history have the candidates and the parties in general said much about to about apathy about people's lack of interest if they if they regularly given those get-out-the-vote kind of speeches or historically is it just been assumed that everybody about so there be no reason to give a speech like that. I think it was Lincoln the head of the story about the Man, who was asked why he didn't vote and he said that I never thought it only encourages them on the part of campaigns realizing that even though they've done their pretty persuasive work that if they can't get the devoted to the polls actually cast a ballot and that is so wasted and useless. There's good stories from territorial days in St. Paul here where they would be rounding up voters at the last minute going around the different saloons until higher than drowning of your body that could possibly get to the polls on Election Day. I think it was what led to our so-called blue laws for a long time is only the last couple of years that you could buy a drink on Election Day and I think the point of that law was to prevent that kind of shenanigans. I don't know that it did any good actually, but at this as the blank of it, I like the influence of outside organizations that the try to effect an election and Define candidates positions. And if so has the number of these organizations been increasing or have they always been there. The exhibit does not cover outside organization that focuses on a campaign itself and how the campaign presents the candidate partly that is because of the nature of the collection they were dealing with this is a collection driven exhibit where we're trying to get out to the public on display the very rich collection of items at the store beside it does have now it's business second part probably has been a great increase in interest group organization. So forth trying to influence campaigns hundred years ago of the parties, the political parties would have handled the almost all of the the propaganda and information dissemination in a campaign based on the way that I know this is a general tough question to answer but based on the way campaigns have changed over the years you suppose. It's easier or more difficult to be a candidate these days. I think it's more difficult. You just have to be skilled in so many different areas in percent yourself. Well, I think it's more challenging probably the case you as far as demands on your knowledge and your expertise now as far as physically and I was riding around in a Buckboard wagon 10 years ago for days on end. Was it an ordeal physical ordeal that today's candidate doesn't have to put up with to a crowd at one end of the state. You can pitch at a certain way. And then if you're in another part of the state, you can change your message a little but like he's indicated when you're on television or on radio. A lot of people are hearing what you're saying at the same time. You got to stick with your promises. We're just about out of time and I want to leave a little time right at the end to play that song again because I truly enjoy at the one you brought along. Tell us a very briefly again though. When is the exhibit open? Where is it going to be? So on so forth. It's at the Minnesota History Center, which is located at 345 Kellogg Boulevard West. That's the corner of Kellogg and John Ireland admission is free. It opens, October 15th Saturday in the hours on Saturday are from 10 to 5. The hours are on Sunday are from noon to 5 Museum hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are from 10 to 5. And we're also open Thursday evening Sun till 9 interactive elements. That sounds like it's play the radio and so on. Lot to do there. Thanks for coming by really appreciate it. Thank Celeste. Abruzzini who is the curator of the exhibit at the on the campaign Trail at the History Center and Steve kielar content expert like to thank all of you who've been listening during the hour reminder that that the primary begins. So I'll the primary voting is already underway. What am I telling about pools are open till 8 tonight are primary election night coverage begins on the FM news station at 2:48 tonight. We'll get going full-bore at 9, and we hope you'll be able to join us this evening for full coverage. Of course with Zak tomorrow here on midday will be joined by analysts a Time Warner and Sarah stage will be picking through the bones of the election today. So we hope you'll be able to join us tomorrow. But in the meanwhile make sure you join us tonight. And as we March away hear a plea to the from from history here. Don't pass the buck get if your a box of the party or candidate of your choice. Your dollars are as important as your boat. So back your man with all you can give more more than ever before to be sure. That was the time to come to the aid of your body. I'm John Raby and today on all things considered Catherine winner takes us to one of the fire camps that train Minnesota firefighters who went West this summer will also talk of the Minnesota judge who traveled East. He's 12 Aeneid witness a trial supposed Greek spies and get perspective on the American justice system. It's 77 degrees at the FM news station kalw FM. 91.1 Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The time is 1