On at the present time, September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon have their first televised debate

Norman Ray

International Courant

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American political and broadcasting historical past unfolded on at the present time in historical past, September 26, 1960, when Vice President Richard Nixon, a Republican from California, and Senator John F. Kennedy, a Democrat from Massachusetts, debated on tv earlier than a nationwide viewers.

The nation’s first televised presidential debate was held in Chicago and aired on CBS. The candidates confronted off on tv three extra instances that yr earlier than the November 8, 1960, election.

In response to the Nationwide Structure Heart, the occasions “modified the way in which presidential campaigns have been carried out, as the facility of tv introduced elections into American dwelling rooms.”

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“The controversy (on September 26, 1960) was watched stay by 70 million Individuals and turned politics into an digital spectator sport,” the identical supply stated.

“It additionally gave many potential voters the possibility to see actual presidential candidates in a stay surroundings for the primary time, as potential leaders.”

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On this debate two political powers confronted one another.

Tv display screen footage of the presidential debates between Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy, with the latter making some extent. (Getty Photographs)

Nixon was one of the vital fashionable politicians in American historical past till his presidency and status have been destroyed by the Watergate scandal in 1974.

He was Dwight Eisenhower’s working mate when the GOP simply defeated Democratic challengers within the 1952 and 1956 elections (profitable 80 of a potential 96 states).

Nixon himself additionally received main victories on the poll in 1968 and 1972 (in 81 of the 100 states).

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JFK was a World Struggle II hero and essentially the most charismatic determine of the rising Kennedy political dynasty.

He proved to be Nixon’s biggest opponent and handed the vp his solely main nationwide defeat, the 1960 presidential election.

Kennedy obtained 49.7% of the vote, in comparison with 49.6% for Nixon.

The margin of victory was surprisingly small.

Kennedy received 49.7% of the vote, in comparison with Nixon’s 49.6%.

The Republicans received extra states, 26 of the 48, however Kennedy received the all-important electoral vote 303-219.

Senator John F. Kennedy, Don Hewitt of CBS Information and Vice President Richard M. Nixon through the first televised presidential debate on September 26, 1960. (CBS Photograph Archive/Getty Photographs)

In response to many political consultants, tv could have been the decisive consider Kennedy’s victory.

Kennedy’s radiant smile beamed on the black-and-white tv, and viewers typically thought he appeared extra comfortable.

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Nixon had suffered a knee damage throughout his marketing campaign in August, which turned contaminated and left him hospitalized.

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He “turned frail two weeks later, pale and 45 kilos underweight,” Historical past.com experiences.

He had additionally been affected by the flu simply earlier than the talk, had re-injured his knee on the way in which to the studio and refused to put on TV make-up.

A tv {photograph}, broadcast in Might 1977, of U.S. presidential candidates John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) and Richard Nixon (1913-1994) in a tv studio in Chicago throughout their debate on September 26, 1960. The stay broadcast was the primary televised debate between two U.S. presidential candidates. (Ernst Haas/Hulton Archive/Getty Photographs)

Nixon wiped sweat from his brow through the broadcast.

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The impact was dramatic: the vp seemed sick and weak, whereas the senator seemed very important and wholesome.

“They each made skillful arguments and introduced strikingly comparable agendas,” writes Historical past.com.

Vice President Nixon seemed sickly and weak; Senator Kennedy seemed energetic and wholesome.

“Whereas most radio listeners thought-about the primary debate a draw or declared Nixon the winner, the Massachusetts senator received by a big margin among the many 70 million tv viewers,” the identical supply stated.

In 1964, 1968, and 1972, no presidential debates have been televised.

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President Lyndon B. Johnson refused to debate in 1964 (he received that election over GOP candidate Barry Goldwater) — whereas Nixon additionally refused to debate in each the 1968 and 1972 elections, in keeping with Historical past.com

The debates didn’t resume till 1976, when President Gerald Ford agreed to a debate with Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.

On at the present time, September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon have their first televised debate

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