You gotta poll with it!
QUESTION Celebrity endorsements were a feature of the General Election. Is there a history of this in politics?
Celebrity involvement in politics had its advent in the U.S.
in 1918, Woodrow Wilson invited Hollywood stars Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr, Charlie Chaplin and Marie Dressler to sell liberty bonds.
in 1920, Al Jolson led a delegation of broadway entertainers to Warren Harding’s home town of Marion, Ohio, to endorse the republican candidate.
in the 1932 campaign, republican teddy roosevelt received the backing of film stars including Stan laurel, Oliver Hardy and Katharine Hepburn.
Democrat Franklin D. roosevelt had such a close relationship with the film industry that the Hollywood Democratic Committee was formed to support him.
Stars including Humphrey bogart, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland endorsed him as President.
in 1944, the committee ran a national radio broadcast narrated by Humphrey bogart: ‘ Personally, i am voting for Franklin D. roosevelt because i believe he is one of the world’s greatest humanitarians: because he’s leading our fight against the enemies of a free world.’
John F. Kennedy was closely connected with the rat Pack. During the 1960 Democratic National Convention, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Nat King Cole took part in events to promote JFK.
in 1981, a real-life celebrity, actor ronald reagan, became U.S. President.
Democrats bill Clinton and barack Obama basked in the glow of celebrity endorsements. However, when businessman and reality TV star Donald trump became U.S. President it was much to the opprobrium of Hollywood liberals. in austere britain, celebrity endorsements took longer to catch on. labour’s Harold Wilson was the first true populist.
He made a great show of puffing on a pipe, wearing his trademark Gannex raincoat, supporting his football team Huddersfield town and insisting on brown sauce on his food.
in 1965, he put forward the beatles for Mbes, which many saw as a cynical attempt to gain favour with younger voters. Wilson basked in england’s 1966 World Cup win, joining Alf ramsey and the players at their official banquet.
Margaret thatcher appeared on Desert island Discs, the Jimmy young Show, Wogan and the children’s TV show Saturday Superstore, where she was interviewed by John Craven.
Her big-name supporters included Peter Sellers, Frederick Forsyth, Michael Winner, Henry Cooper, barbara Windsor, Petula Clark, bobby Moore, Phil Collins, lulu and eric Morecambe.
Her most embarrassing endorsement came from comedian Kenny everett, who told a 1983 Conservative youth rally: ‘let’s bomb russia! . . . let’s kick Michael Foot’s stick away!’
labour’s Neil Kinnock appeared in a tracey Ullman video, but it was tony blair who embraced celebrity culture to the full. His Cool britannia reception in Downing Street in 1997 saw him fawning over Noel Gallagher from Oasis, Vivienne Westwood, Mick Hucknall, ben elton, ross Kemp and eddie izzard.
Marcus Ladd, London SW16.
QUESTION Are there any countries where divorce is illegal?
THE last states to forbid divorce were mostly roman Catholic. the process of change began in 1970 when italy legalised divorce, despite strong opposition from the Vatican.
this was followed by brazil in 1977, Spain in 1981, Argentina in 1987, ireland in 1997, Chile in 2004 and Malta in 2011.
Only two states have not legalised divorce: Vatican City and the Philippines. in the city state within italy, which is home to just 450 citizens, most of whom are celibate priests, laws against divorce are an ideological gesture.
in the Philippines, around 80 per cent of the population is roman Catholic. Common grounds for divorce in other countries, such as domestic violence and adultery, can result only in a legal separation, which prevents remarriage. However, the country’s 11 per cent Muslim minority is allowed to divorce in accordance with Sharia law.
Liv Pritchard, Stourbridge, W. Mids.
QUESTION Where is the longest flight of steps in the world? And where is the longest escalator?
THE world’s longest staircase runs alongside the Niesen funicular railway near bern, Switzerland, which scales the Niesen mountain. there are 11,674 steps stretching 2.11 miles with a vertical gain of 1.03 miles.
the staircase is open once a year to competitors in the Niesenlauf, a gruelling annual race to the top. the rest of the time it can be used only by workmen.
the longest individual escalator in the world is at the Park Pobedy station on the Arbatsko- Pokrovskaya line in Moscow. At 413 ft, it is made up of 740 steps and takes three minutes to ride.
the Central-Mid-levels escalator in Hong Kong is the longest system in the world. it’s not a single continuous escalator, but a series of 20, plus three moving walkways connected by footbridges stretching 2,600 ft.
in britain, the tallest staircase is at the Cruachan power station in Argyll & bute. it climbs 1,063 ft and is made up of 1,420 steps. the 72 ft escalator at Heathrow terminal 5 is the country’s longest.
A. Bingham, Malvern, Worcs.
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