Mr. Schmidt goes to Bonn

Inspired by his first trips to the United States, Schmidt uses modern media options earlier than other politicians to promote himself to a wider audience. The promotional film stresses Schmidt’s local roots and the rhetorical talents of the young Bundestag member, who focuses mainly on transport and defence issues. The election ad is produced by Gyula Trebitsch, a friend of Schmidt’s and a Holocaust survivor, and is shown using projectors and mobile screens at busy stations on the local public transport network. In 1953, Schmidt only just made it into Parliament on the SPD state list. He subsequently twice wins the constituency seat for »Hamburg VIII« (Barmbek, Dulsberg, Uhlenhorst and Winterhude): in 1957 with 44.1 % and in 1961 with 46.9 % of all votes cast.