• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Mission Statement
  • Commenter Rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Account Access
The Moderate Voice

The Moderate Voice

An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Media
  • Inspiration and Living
  • Economy
  • International
  • Movie Reviews

Poll: Most Americans want to end lifetime Supreme Court appointments but nix expanded court.

Poll: Most Americans want to end lifetime Supreme Court appointments but nix expanded court.

Posted on April 18, 2021
GOP Struggling To Harm Biden

GOP Struggling To Harm Biden

Posted on April 17, 2021
Vaccination rates break down along party lines

Vaccination rates break down along party lines

Posted on April 17, 2021
Are mass shootings an American epidemic?

Are mass shootings an American epidemic?

Posted on April 16, 2021
Another US mass shooting leaves eight dead in Indianapolis

Another US mass shooting leaves eight dead in Indianapolis

Posted on April 16, 2021
… and the Oscar goes to … Are they kidding?

… and the Oscar goes to … Are they kidding?

Posted on April 16, 2021
Afghanistan: It’s Done. No More. 3.0  (UPDATE)

Afghanistan: It’s Done. No More. 3.0 (UPDATE)

Posted on April 15, 2021
U.S. imposes wide array of sanctions on Russia for ‘malign’ actions

U.S. imposes wide array of sanctions on Russia for ‘malign’ actions

Posted on April 15, 2021
Minnesota officer who shot Black man after traffic stop charged with manslaughter

Minnesota officer who shot Black man after traffic stop charged with manslaughter

Posted on April 14, 2021
‘Time to end the forever war’: Biden to start U.S. Afghanistan pullout on May 1

‘Time to end the forever war’: Biden to start U.S. Afghanistan pullout on May 1

Posted on April 14, 2021
U.S. calls for pause to J&J COVID-19 vaccine over rare blood clots

U.S. calls for pause to J&J COVID-19 vaccine over rare blood clots

Posted on April 13, 2021
Biden walks tightrope with bipartisan talks on $2 trillion infrastructure bill

Biden walks tightrope with bipartisan talks on $2 trillion infrastructure bill

Posted on April 12, 2021
Entitled

Entitled

Posted on April 12, 2021
Thank You, Sir, May I Have Another? (UPDATED)

Thank You, Sir, May I Have Another? (UPDATED)

Posted on April 11, 2021
Will Bunch: If GOP, Mitch McConnell really wants ‘woke’ corporations out of politics, here’s how

Will Bunch: If GOP, Mitch McConnell really wants ‘woke’ corporations out of politics, here’s how

Posted on April 9, 2021
Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, dies aged 99

Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, dies aged 99

Posted on April 9, 2021
You are here: Home / Media / On This Day In History: The Kennedy-Nixon Debates

On This Day In History: The Kennedy-Nixon Debates

September 26, 2012 by KATHY GILL, Technology Policy Analyst Leave a Comment

John F Kennedy and Richard M Nixon
John F Kennedy and Richard M Nixon
As we prepare for the first debate between President Obama and challenger Romney, it’s worthwhile to note that on Sept. 26, 1960 politics entered the television age.

On that date, about 70 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch Sen. John Kennedy, 43, (D-MA) and Vice President Richard Nixon, 47, (R-CA) in the first televised presidential debate. It was the first of four debates and focused on domestic issues.

In 1960, 88% of American households had televisions, mostly black-and-white sets. In 1950 it had been only one household in 10.

Nixon had been in the hospital for two weeks and was pale and thin; Kennedy had been campaigning in California and was tan. Americans who watched the debate gve the nod to Kennedy; those who listened on the radio gave the nod to Nixon.

Although many assert that Nixon would have won the election had he not been judged the loser by the TV audience, research isn’t quite so definitive:

The televised Great Debates had a significant impact on voters in 1960, on national elections since, and, indeed, on our concerns for democracy itself. The impact on the election of 1960 was significant, albeit subtle. Commentators broadly agree that the first debate accelerated Democratic support for Kennedy. In hindsight, however, it seems the debates were not, as once thought, the turning-point in the election. Rather than encouraging viewers to change their vote, the debates appear to have simply solidified prior allegiances. In short, many would argue that Kennedy would have won the election with or without the Great Debates.

Yet voters in 1960 did vote with the Great Debates in mind. At election time, more than half of all voters reported that the Great Debates had influenced their opinion; 6% reported that their vote was the result of the debates alone. Thus, regardless of whether the debates changed the election result, voters pointed to the debates as a significant reason for electing Kennedy. ~ Museum of Broadcast Television

It would be 16 years before there was another Presidential debate in the U.S., although other western democracies would soon follow the precedent of 1960. Since 1988, the debates have been run by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The location of that first debate: WBBM-TV, CBS affiliate in Chicago. The format: Eight minute opening statements; two and a half minute responses to questions; optional rebuttal; three minute closing statements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Xn4ipHiwE
  • Archive of American Television
  • Commission on Presidential Debates
  • Museum of Broadcast Television
  • Time
  • Video, ABC archive
Avatar
KATHY GILL, Technology Policy Analyst

Known for gnawing at complex questions like a terrier with a bone. Digital evangelist, writer, teacher. Transplanted Southerner; teach newbies to ride motorcycles! @kegill, wiredpen.com

wiredpen.com

Filed Under: Media, Politics Tagged With: American history, History

Primary Sidebar

Donate to TMV

The TMV Feed

 Subscribe in a reader

Archives

Categories

The Latest

Most Commented Posts (7 or so days)

Copyright 1998 - 2020 The Moderate Voice. Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in