Ronald Reagan-Conservative Talk Radio Icon

WI Reagan had gone into radio broadcasting instead of acting? With his oratory skills, could he have convinced Americans to vote for, say, Barry Goldwater in 1964? And what might his impact on future Republican politics have been?
 
The surge of conservative talk radios alleged power not having begun in earnest until, at earliest, the late 1970s (not claiming it didn't exist at all before that), I don't think such a host would have had as much of an impact on an election in 1964. (Provided we do not assume that his popularity would single handedly bring about the rise of talk radio's cultural significance in the early 1960s...I do not believe it would have.)

A few other things that should be kept in mind...

Assuming Reagan would have entered radio in your universe at the same time he entered movies in ours, (which would have been the late 1930s), it must be recalled that not only did the concept of the "talk show" as we know it now not really exist that early, but that Reagan at the time was not Conservative. He was a Democrat. (Who campaign for Harry S. Truman a bit.)

As mentioned, had he entered radio, he would have most likley done so as either a newsman, or perhaps as a radio dramatist, and not, as mentioned, a talk show host as we understand the term now.

And radio or not, keep in mind that essentially, even after he left Hollywood and became a politician, Reagan was still, essentially, a performer. There is no need to get into a philosophical debate as to the merits of his presidency, but suffice to say that most people would argue it was his presentation, as much as anything else, that inspired the confidence that he inspired in so many. Conservative, yes, but wonkish, not really. So I imagine his appeal, even had he chosen radio, (which was just beginning its slow decline in the late 1930s), would have remained intact only so long as he sought to use the radio for entertaining, as opposed to discussing or informing.

Which leads to my next point...could he have parlayed radio entertainment fame into more solid radio news/talk influence? The answer is, perhaps, though as I said, radio was starting to make it way out...and I think fewer people would have given a second life to a former radio entertainer, than were willing to give a second life to a former movie entertainer...(as movies still remained in their Golden Age, and hence were tops in most peoples mind.)

All of this is by way of saying that I believe movies were the medium that was required to open the doors that Reagen needed open...and that without them, his "oratory skills" you mentioned, would either have not been noticed by many, or would not have even been present.

At long last in conclusion, I would deduce, that if Reagan had chosen to go totally radio instead of movies at the start of his career, (a rare choice by that point), his appeal would have been limited, not enhanced by the medium. And whether or not he switched to the then infant state of the talk show format by the time the 1960's rolled around, I do not think he would have been a national figure. I would say he may have been a somewhat popular regional California figure who would have been seen as not going many places, and certainly without sufficient influence to swing anything in Goldwater's favor in 1964.

(Plus, it would have taken more than just one voice to convince America to swing toward Goldwater in '64...the Johnson nuclear bomb ad, and the notion of "In your guts, you know he's nuts", would have been hard to turn away, by late October of 1964, no matter what.)
 
It is worth noting that in the 1960's there were a number of Conservative radio hosts on the air. Further, Reagan owed part of his rise to power to a record produced for the AMA entitled "Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine", in an attempt to defeat Medicare.

http://www.larrydewitt.net/Essays/Reagan.htm

The main problem would be less, the role of Reagan than the lack of laarge radio networks, IMHO.
 
It is worth noting that in the 1960's there were a number of Conservative radio hosts on the air. Further, Reagan owed part of his rise to power to a record produced for the AMA entitled "Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine", in an attempt to defeat Medicare.

http://www.larrydewitt.net/Essays/Reagan.htm

The main problem would be less, the role of Reagan than the lack of laarge radio networks, IMHO.

I can see it, Ronald Reagan had his start in radio. The 1960's, one conservative that comes to mind was Joe Pyne although Bob Grant was around then (and still pops up occasionally). Not a talkshow host but generally conservative was the late newscaster Paul Harvey.
 
I can see it, Ronald Reagan had his start in radio. The 1960's, one conservative that comes to mind was Joe Pyne although Bob Grant was around then (and still pops up occasionally). Not a talkshow host but generally conservative was the late newscaster Paul Harvey.

Clearly you saw the portion of my post which pointed out I was not denying the existence of conservative radio personalities at that point? Only their massive influence over a wide audience. (which even today is probably declining.)

I stand by the notion, therefore, that a conservative radio personality at that time would not have enough influence to swing that particular election..when even Limbaugh and his ilk could not swing our most recent election.
 
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