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Does a Politician Have to Be a Good Actor?
Collection StructureFiring Line broadcast records > Episode guide > Does a Politician Have to Be a Good Actor?
Item Title Does a Politician Have to Be a Good Actor?
Guest Moore, Roger
Host Buckley, William F., Jr. (1925-2008)
Date CreatedFebruary 22, 1990
Description

In the age of television, would aspiring politicians be well advised to take a screen test? This relaxed conversation between two old friends may not tell us much we couldn't have guessed, but they say it so well. RM: "There are a number of tricks you

learn in acting. You should look people in the eye. Your eyes should never waver, because the minute you look away, even if you look away to think, you've broken attention--attention and tension -- You have to look straight in the eye, and at the same time the wavering of the eye can appear to be a lie." WFB: "It usually is, I suppose, with a politician, isn't it?" ... WFB: "What about Reagan?" RM: "The Great Communicator." WFB: "Why?" RM: "His ability in closeup. He came, maybe, with a natural ability ... but I think those years of experience of talking to cameras paid off. There is an honesty and a sincerity, and an ability not to do things that nerves otherwise might do."

Language(s)
Country of Origin
Place RecordedRougemont, Switzerland
DimensionsDuration: 30 minutes
FormatText
Medium television programs
Aspect Ratio
4:3
Color
color
Soundtrack
sound
Hoover IDProgram S0857
Record Number80040.1102
NotesVideo not currently available for purchase.
RightsCopyright held by Stanford University. This copy is provided for educational and research purposes only. No publication, further reproduction, or reuse of copies, beyond fair use, may be made without the express written permission of the Hoover Institution Library & Archives on behalf of Stanford University.
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