“During my teenage years, I slowly began to realize that really fine politicians were good performers. They knew how to communicate their feelings. If they did it well, my parents liked them, trusted them, and would vote for them. Later, when we sat in front of the new thing called television, we talked about people’s expressions and whether they were telling the truth or not. Television was a platform from which anyone able to ‘come across’ might take a position and be influential and effective. Daddy said the days of decisions made in smoke-filled rooms were over. A person who could make a clear and decisive point on television was a natural influencer, and he or she didn’t necessarily need to know anything about politics. He predicted political campaigns would shift their focus to the TV screen, and politicians would be called upon to succeed as performers.”
Shirley MacLaine, My Lucky Stars
Shirley MacLaine, My Lucky Stars
 "My Lucky Stars" |  President John F. Kennedy Greeting Shirley MacLaine |
Note: John F. Kennedy was the exception to Shirley MacLaine's rule. Exceedingly telegenic, he was also a bibliophile and a canny practitioner of politics. How seldom a politician has all of those attributes, and how fortunate a country is when such a person makes his way to the presidency.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
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