Prior to the 1952 primary New Hampshire citizens elected delegates to the party conventions.  They did not cast direct votes for presidential candidates.  This changed in 1952.  The new system was described as a “preferential presidential contest.”

The election was held prior to the advent of television in this part of New England.  It would be several years before the three networks began broadcasting from Burlington, VT, Manchester, NH, and Portland, ME.   Up until 1954 only a small number of citizens of any of these three states could pick up a snowy television signal from a Boston channel.   Of all the photographs that were taken by Lisa Larsen and Alfred Eisenstaedt during their assignment in New Hampshire only one photograph actually shows a moving picture camera.  Media coverage of the campaign was filtered through print reporters and still photographers.  There were a few instances when the candidates or their surrogates had direct access to radio.  Several Larsen photographs show Governor Adams, head of the ‘Eisenhower for President’ campaign, being interviewed in a studio at a radio station. Another series of her images was taken during a Taft campaign event, apparently broadcast by Manchester’s WMUR radio.