In 2007, long-shot Democratic candidate Mike Gravel released one of the strangest ads in political history.

In partnership with NBC

The Rock: Political Ads That Changed the Game

Producer: Matthew Spolar
Editor: John MacGibbon
“It was an unedited sequence of Gravel staring into the camera, turning, walking to the side of a small lake and throwing a rock into the water. The “Rock” ad prompted a storm of media coverage and went viral. This series of mini documentaries on ads that changed the political landscape was created in partnership with NBC News.
Transcript
 

More Like This

Why Supreme Court Confirmations Have Become So Bitter

Why Supreme Court Confirmations Have Become So Bitter

The defeat of Robert Bork’s nomination to the Supreme Court in 1987 changed the way justices are confirmed today.

Presidents v. Press: How the Pentagon Papers Leak Set Up First Amendment Showdowns

Presidents v. Press: How the Pentagon Papers Leak Set Up First Amendment Showdowns

Efforts to clamp down on White House leaks to the press follow a pattern that was set during the Nixon era after the publication of the Pentagon Papers.

Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

Both parties play the redistricting game, redrawing electoral boundaries to lock down power. Are you a teacher? Check out our teaching resources for this video.

How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan

How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan

Officials who drove the decades-long war in Afghanistan look back on the strategic mistakes and misjudgments that led to a 20-year quagmire. For teachers: This video is part of a collection of resources including four short films, each accompanied by a lesson plan and student activity.