The Influence of Television on Political Dynamics: A Case Study of Biden’s 2024 Withdrawal

The Impact of Television on Politics: A Historical Perspective

From the moment television sets made their way into American homes, media critics expressed concerns about the medium’s potential to dominate the political landscape. Those fears were quickly validated. The first significant example came in 1960 when Richard M. Nixon faced off against the charismatic John F. Kennedy. Nixon’s shaky demeanor and visible sweat during their televised debate contrasted sharply with Kennedy’s confident appearance, leading to a pivotal moment in electoral history—Nixon lost, particularly among viewers who saw the debate rather than just listening to it on the radio.

Fast forward to the 1984 election, where Ronald Reagan’s quick wit and charm helped him secure a second term, prompting Neil Postman to observe that in the era of television, debates had transformed into mere spectacles akin to boxing matches. Yet, we have never seen a president deliver such a self-inflicted knockout blow until now.

On a fateful Sunday, President Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, marking the end of a rapid decline that began with a disjointed debate against Donald J. Trump in late June. Biden chose to reveal his decision on X, formerly known as Twitter, evoking memories of Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1968 television announcement or the moment Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency fifty years prior. However, this particular unraveling was not precipitated by a foreign conflict or a political scandal; it stemmed from a disastrous television performance—a mere two hours that reshaped the trajectory of political history.

At 81 years old, Biden had already faced skepticism regarding his age, energy, and mental sharpness before the debate. His subsequent attempts to recover through speeches, interviews, and a press conference fell flat. While Biden played a role in his own fate, the relentless march of time was equally unforgiving. Yet, it was this singular, alarming moment on prime-time television that crystallized the deeper issues at play.

Although Biden and his supporters argued that 14 million people supported him in the primary elections, a staggering 51.3 million viewers witnessed his faculties falter live on air—an experience further amplified as clips of the debate circulated widely across social media platforms.

In today’s world, the relentless cycle of digital media undoubtedly exacerbated the situation; perhaps a president from the pre-Twitter era could have weathered such a storm. However, in an age dominated by TikTok and instant content sharing, it is television that still possesses the power to unify a vast audience around a single moment—an unmissable, everybody-saw-it spectacle that can trigger an avalanche of public opinion.