The Power of the Magazine Cover: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Successful American leaders have always understood, respected — and sometimes feared — the power of the media in shaping and shifting public opinions and perceptions. For more than a hundred years, magazine publishers and politicians have had a symbiotic relationship. From Lincoln to Kennedy and beyond, an American president’s appearance on a magazine cover has generated increased sales and readership for the publication and heightened public awareness of the president’s platform and policies.

On Monday, March 25, the Museum presented The Power of the Magazine Cover: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow with Dr. Samir Husni. Known as Mr. Magazine™ and regarded as one of the nation’s foremost experts on print journalism, Dr. Husni took us on a journey through the history of American magazines, including the role magazine covers played in cementing the enduring mystique and legacy of President Kennedy. Perhaps the most photographed American president in history, President Kennedy appeared on magazine covers throughout his lifetime and over the past fifty-five years since his death.

This special program included admission to the Museum’s temporary exhibit 55 Years, an installation of magazine covers featuring President Kennedy from 1963 to 2018. While President Kennedy’s image and influence have continued to be the focus of magazine articles over the years, 55 Years visually conveys how the symbolic memorialization of the 35th president has evolved over time. View this program on YouTube.