Influence. It’s a commodity sold by politicians. Bought by lobbyists. Peddled by advertisers. Succumbed to by consumers. And, perhaps most fruitful, when achieved by national heroes and, less obviously but certainly intentionally, professional public relations counsellors.
Edward L. Bernays, the father of contemporary public relations, was the most influential influencer of all-time. For nearly eight decades, Bernays (1891-1995) counselled multiple U.S. presidents, several foreign countries, major industries, renowned artists … his uncle Sigmund Freud — to achieve the goal of influencing the public’s behavior and actions to support his clients’ interests.
Bernays’ remarkable client roster also included a national hero, the “Great Bambino” himself, Babe Ruth.
While becoming the best baseball player of all-time, Babe Ruth revolutionized the product affiliation model for athletes, explains author Jane Leavy in her new bestseller The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created (2018, HarperCollins). Among his many deals, Ruth signed on to represent A.G. Spalding & Bros, the sporting goods manufacturer. His full line of baseball equipment came with instructional manuals and, as Leavy describes, “‘Babe Ruth’s Questions and Answers Booklet,’ produced by none other than Edward Bernays, making a brief foray into sports promotion.”
Collaboration between the two most influential individuals in their respective fields should come as little surprise. They were contemporaries, both working in New York. Still, credit Leavy with bringing to light this famed teaming of Ruthian might and Bernays’ brainpower, which no doubt made as much histrionics as history.
Nice story, I know that your connection to both these figures is strong, surprised you never shared that before. You must have piles of this stuff stored up.
Imagine the possibilities if they were both working together today.
Noted conspirator Jerome Corsi, author of “Where’s the Birth Certificate?”, states he mentored under Bernays. Let’s see him attempt to theorize his potential prison sentence.
Yep, so disappointing for the wacko and proven liar Corsi to claim any connection to Bernays, an honorable champion of the public interest. It is wise to be skeptical of any association Corsi claims to have had with Bernays or traditional public relations, for that matter.