Morning in America
"Prouder, Stronger, Better", commonly referred to by the name "Morning in America", is a 1984
The phrase "It's morning again in America" is used both as a literal statement (people are shown going to work as they would in the morning), and as a metaphor for renewal.
Details
Full text of the ad:
It's morning again in America. Today more men and women will go to work than ever before in our country's history. With interest rates at about half the record highs of 1980, nearly 2,000 families today will buy new homes, more than at any time in the past four years. This afternoon 6,500 young men and women will be married, and with inflation at less than half of what it was just four years ago, they can look forward with confidence to the future. It's morning again in America, and under the leadership of President Reagan, our country is prouder and stronger and better. Why would we ever want to return to where we were less than four short years ago?
The ad was written and narrated by ad man Hal Riney, who also wrote and narrated Reagan's resonant "Bear in the woods" ad (titled "Bear") as well as his "America's Back" ad. To many, his rich, avuncular voice represented wholesomeness and authenticity.[1] Bernie Vangrin of Hal Riney & Partners was the Art Director of the ad, which was directed and filmed by John Pytka of Levine/Pytka Productions.
Locations
"Morning In America" was filmed in Petaluma, California.[2][3]
Resonance
This advertisement won industry awards and praise from the political and advertising world. Republican strategist Dan Schnur said of Riney's work: "Most political advertising hits viewers over the head, while his work makes just as strong a point but in a less confrontational and a more soothing manner."[4]
Adaptations and references
During
2016 presidential election
During the
In Hillary Clinton's Democratic nomination acceptance speech, referencing Donald Trump’s acceptance speech the previous week, she said: "He's taken the Republican Party a long way from 'Morning in America' to 'Midnight in America.' He wants us to fear the future and fear each other."[11]
2020 presidential election
During the 2020 presidential campaign, The Lincoln Project released the ad "Mourning in America" [12] with themes related to deaths from COVID-19 and the debatable inaction of Pres. Donald Trump; versions featuring specific states were released as "Mourning in Iowa", "Mourning in Florida", "Mourning in Pennsylvania" and "Mourning in Ohio", as well as a version called "Mourning in Republican Party" that laments the party's change of direction.
See also
References
- ^ Jensen, Matt (July 8, 2001). "Reagan outlawing Russia".
- ^ "History of Filming Downtown". webpage. Petaluma Downtown Association. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- ^ "A brief history". Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- ^ "Creating Reagan's image", SFGate
- ^ Ives, Nat. "Hulu's Dark 'Morning in America' Interrupts a Saccharine Super Bowl Ad Roster". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
- ^ Bennett, Anita (2019-02-04). "'The Handmaid's Tale' Trailer Brings Bleak 'Wake Up America' Message to Super Bowl". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
- ^ "Rubio campaign ad 'Morning Again in America' features stock footage of Canada". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ^ Cruz in S.C.: 'We Can Bring Back Morning in America', retrieved 2016-03-17
- ^ Joseph, Cameron. "Cruz: We'll 'bring back morning in America'". The Hill. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ^ "Clinton jabs Trump: 'A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons'". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
- ^ "Mourning in America - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
External links
- Morning in America— video of the original advertisement on YouTube
- CNN AllPolitics Ad Archive — archive of political ads, including "Bear in the Woods" and "Morning in America"
- "Creating Reagan's image" — the story of how Hal Riney developed the ad campaign
- "Reagan's Paid Political Advertisements, Page Two"
- "Morning in America: The Reagan Election" — background of 1984 election
- Review of the book Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan Invented the 1980s
- Ad Age: "Top 100 Advertising Campaigns" — "Morning in America" is 43.
- USA Today: "Voters in Ohio give political ads a thumbs down" uses "Prouder, Stronger, Better" as an expert's example of an ad that strikes a compelling theme.
- 'boards magazine: "Why political TV ads suck so hard" cites "Bear" and "Prouder, Stronger, Better" as examples of effective and significant ads in contrast to recent ads.
- ReaganKnight blog includes compilation of links to 1984 'Morning in America' videos.
- Democrats Need 'Conviction Politics' Advocates "Morning in America" type ads for Democrats in 2008.
- The Living Room Candidate - Commercials - 1984 - Train
- The Daily Beast: "Hulu’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Super Bowl Commercial Screams ‘Wake Up America’"