The Evolution of Presidential Campaigning: Contrasting Early Practices with Modern Trends

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Former President Donald Trump often tells reporters outside the New York courtroom where he is being tried for falsifying business records that he would prefer to be with voters.

"They're trying to prevent me from going out on the campaign trail," he mentioned on Tuesday, hinting that the trial is being used as part of a conspiracy to interfere with the election, even though there is no proof.

Just like last week, Trump expressed his desire to be campaigning in battleground states.

"We're here at the courthouse instead of being in any of the 10 states where I'd rather be right now," he told the TV cameras that broadcasted his words nationwide.

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Donald Trump has made promises in his campaign for a second term. President Joe Biden, on the other hand, has been including trips to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Florida in his schedule. Trump decided not to campaign when court was out of session on Wednesday, but he will be appearing in New Jersey this weekend.

Both major candidates clearly see the importance of campaigning, which involves being on the trail and engaging directly with voters.

It's surprising to learn that early American presidents did not engage in any personal campaigning. They believed that it was beneath their dignity and the prestige of the office they held.

I had a chat with Brendan Doherty, who is a political science professor at the United States Naval Academy. He is also the author of the books "The Rise of the President’s Permanent Campaign" and "Fundraiser in Chief: Presidents and the Politics of Campaign Cash." We discussed why early presidents avoided campaigning and how this eventually led to the concept of the permanent campaign.

Our conversation took place over email, and you can find it below:

In the early days of the United States, presidents did not personally campaign for office. It was considered inappropriate to actively seek the presidency. However, this did not mean candidates did not find ways to connect with voters.

WOLF: How did these early non-campaigning presidents get their message out?

DOHERTY: Early presidential candidates may not have campaigned actively, but their supporters helped spread the word on their behalf.

Newspapers in the early republic were openly biased, with articles that either praised or criticized candidates. Although candidates did not attend political conventions back in the 1800s, their supporters advocated for them in ways that influenced news coverage.

By the late 1800s, some presidential candidates conducted "front porch campaigns." These campaigns involved speaking to supporters at or near their homes, with newspapers covering their speeches and spreading their messages nationwide.

WOLF: Can you share some important events that led to the development of the current campaigning model?

DOHERTY: In 1866, President Andrew Johnson changed the game by actively campaigning in the midterm elections. His tour to deliver multiple speeches, known as the Swing around the Circle, faced backlash for his campaigning approach and the use of controversial language.

Two years later, Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives for delivering campaign speeches that brought Congress into disrepute.

In 1896, Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan toured the country campaigning, while Republican William McKinley won the election with a front porch campaign.

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt made history by being the first presidential candidate to attend a convention in person to officially accept his nomination.

In 1948, Harry Truman embarked on a unique campaign strategy by traveling across the country, giving speeches from the back of a train. This innovative approach became known as his whistle-stop campaign.

President Harry S. Truman speaking during his whistle-stop campaign in 1948.

President Harry S. Truman speaking during his whistle-stop campaign in 1948.

George Skadding/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

WOLF: Who was, in your view, the best natural campaigner who ran for president? What did they do differently?

DOHERTY: When it comes to standout campaigners, two names that stand out are John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

Kennedy made a bold move by actively participating in the primary elections in 1960. This was uncommon at the time, as many top candidates avoided active campaigning during the nomination process. Kennedy's goal was to prove to party leaders that a Catholic candidate could indeed win the presidency. This was crucial, especially since the last Catholic nominee had suffered a massive defeat against Herbert Hoover in 1928.

Kennedy was known for his charm and eloquence while campaigning. His victories in the Wisconsin and West Virginia primaries played a key role in securing his party's nomination and ultimately the presidency.

Reagan utilized his background as an actor and his humor to run a successful presidential campaign. His ability to connect with audiences through his voice, timing, and storytelling earned him high praise.

Reagan believed that being an actor was good preparation for being president. When people questioned this, he would argue that he didn't see how someone could be a good president without having been an actor.

President Ronald Reagan is seen waving from the back of his limousine to a group of people on the street. This moment captures his journey to a campaign stop in Fairfield, Connecticut on October 26, 1984. The image showcases his friendly interaction with the public as he travels to his destination.

WOLF: Is active campaigning really effective in a country with over 335 million people? A candidate can only meet a limited number of voters. Additionally, most people already have a preferred political party. So, what is the actual impact of sending a candidate on the campaign trail?

DOHERTY: Even though presidential candidates can only reach a small portion of the American population, especially in the key battleground states that determine the election outcome, their campaign efforts can generate significant media coverage. This media attention serves as a multiplier in spreading their message to a wider audience.

Studies in political science have found that local news coverage tends to be more positive towards presidents and presidential candidates compared to national news coverage. This is why candidates focus on campaigning in local areas, as they hope that local media outlets will help spread their campaign messages.

Despite the challenges of capturing and maintaining the public's attention in today's diverse media environment, presidential hopefuls continue to make efforts to do so.

WOLF: The current system is different from candidates who don't campaign, as presidents are constantly campaigning even while governing. This constant campaigning can be seen as a problem. How can this issue of the permanent campaign be addressed?

DOHERTY: Presidents in modern times are always campaigning for themselves and their party members. They raise funds for their campaigns and visit important states for elections.

In the past, presidents used to avoid looking like they were campaigning too soon after taking office. However, this has changed.

During his third year in office, Ronald Reagan declined to reveal if he would run for another term. He explained that he didn't want all his actions as president to be viewed solely from a political perspective.

Donald Trump took a different approach by setting up his reelection campaign committee on the same day he became president in 2017. He even hosted his first reelection fundraiser in June of his first year in office, less than six months after taking office.

When presidents start campaigning so early in their term, it is because of the way our electoral system works. However, campaigning takes up a lot of the president's limited time. This time could be better spent on the important duties they were elected to fulfill.

Unfortunately, there aren't any obvious solutions to prevent a president from focusing on reelection during their time in office.

On a related note, with advancements in transportation and technology making it easier for candidates to connect with voters, where do you think campaign strategies will go from here?

Technological advancements have made it easier for candidates to reach out to the American people. From the radio to television, the internet, and now social media, they have more ways to connect with voters.

These advancements have also allowed campaigns to target specific groups of voters in key states. Instead of broadcasting general messages, campaigns now focus on reaching out to potential persuadable voters with messages that resonate with the issues they care about.

I believe that as technology continues to advance, campaigns will be able to use online tracking to create detailed profiles of voters. This will enable them to personalize messages even more effectively to connect with their target audience.

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the historical evolution of presidential campaigning in the United States, highlighting the shift from the early days when candidates refrained from active campaigning to the present-day "permanent campaign" model. It explores the reasons behind this change, including the influence of media coverage and the desire to connect with voters in key battleground states.

The article also raises concerns about the potential drawbacks of constant campaigning, such as the diversion of presidential time and energy from other important duties. It suggests that the current electoral system, which encourages early campaigning, may contribute to this problem. Furthermore, the advancement of technology has made it easier for candidates to target specific voter groups and personalize their messages, potentially leading to even more sophisticated and data-driven campaign strategies in the future.