Television: Goldfish Bowl

In Philadelphia last week, the television camera was more important than a good political slogan—and more frightening than a powerful political enemy. Never had a national convention been so continuously and fully mirrored. Thanks to TV, about ten million spectators along the Eastern seaboard actually saw the convention in action. In scattered communities across the U.S., five million others saw telefilm versions while the news was still warm—three to 24 hours after it happened. It was far & away the biggest gallery television had ever had.*

Radio flashed the convention news to most...