Richard Johnson - The Average American
Video
A Public Affair - Election '72
This 30 minute television show, was broadcast nationwide over the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) on February 9, 1972 at 7:00pm CST. Moderated by Robert MacNeil and directed by Bob Lissit, it focused on the Richard & Mary Ann Johnson Family of Rolling Meadows. The premise of the show was to determine what a Middle American 'Average' family - too rich for any type of government assistance, but not affluent enough to feel financially comfortable, desired from their political leaders contending in the 1972 Presidential election.
On The Presidential Campaign With Senator George McGovern
This 30 minute television show was broadcast nationwide over the Public Broadcasting (PBS) System on September 20,1972. Moderated by Robert MacNeil and directed by Bob Lissit, It featured the observations of Richard Johnson going on the Presidential Campaign trail with Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. George McGovern for 5 days in September 1972.
From Los Angeles to Albuquerque to Rockford to Iowa, my father experienced first hand what it feels like to be on the campaign trail. The premise of the show was to try and determine if an average voter, leaning towards voting for President Nixon, might be influenced to vote for Senator McGovern, through learning about him directly. Dad had 2 personal interviews with the Senator and the entire show can be seen below.
1976 - Update With The Johnson's
This 5 minute segment was broadcast nationwide on the ABC Network, having been taped over Labor Day Weekend, 1976. Moderated by ABC reporter John Martin, the piece was directed by Bob Lissit- who did the earlier shows for PBS. This segment was included in an ongoing ABC news series about the 1976 Presidential election between President Gerald Ford and Governor Jimmy Carter. This series was hosted by Howard K. Smith, Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters.
1976 - Watching A Presidential Debate
This 5 minute segment was broadcast nationwide on the ABC Network, sometime during the first 2 weeks of October 1976. Moderated by ABC reporter John Martin, the piece was directed by Bob Lissit- who did the earlier shows in 1972 for PBS.
In this segment, the camera records as the Johnson's (Richard, Mary Ann & Rick), along with Pastor Carl and Dorothy Thrun watch a Presidential debate between President Gerald Ford and Democratic presidential nominee Gov. Jimmy Carter. After the debate the parties talk about what they heard and what effect the debate may have on their impending vote.
1976 - On The Eve Of The Presidential Election
This 7 minute segment was broadcast nationwide on the ABC Network, immediately before the Presidential election in early November, 1976. Moderated by ABC reporter John Martin, the piece was directed by Bob Lissit- who did the earlier shows in 1972 for PBS. In this last installment, John Martin asks Richard & Mary Ann who they will vote for.
John also interviews students from the local community college, Harper College, about the results of a neighborhood canvas that they have conducted to see how the precinct intends to vote.