1960: Kennedy-Nixon Televised Debate

First Televised Presidential Debate – Richard M. Nixon and John F Kennedy faced each other in this event leading up to the 1960 US Presidential Election.  The impact of these debates is still a lively subject among historians, political scientists, and communication experts, as there is significant consensus among most contemporary observers and those looking back at the debate that had the debate not been televised, Nixon may well have won it and possibly taken the 1960 election.

However, in spite of having a stronger command of the subject matter and possibly winning “on points,” Nixon simply looked horrible on camera – he was visibly sweating, his suit looked approximately the same color as his skin, and his facial expressions were sometimes unflattering while Kennedy came off polished, poised, and camera-ready.  Nixon’s presence was so poor that Chicago mayor Richard Daley was quoted as saying “My god, they’ve embalmed him before he even died.”

While the contenders had three other debates, there wasn’t another Presidential candidate debate until 1976, after which they became standard in every Presidential election.  Until 1984, these debates were sponsored by the League of Women Voters and broadcast on traditional, terrestrial television.  Among other things, this made them subject to the FCC’s equal time rule, ensuring that independent and third-party candidates had access.  In 1985 the Democratic and Republican parties came together to create The Commission on Presidential Debates (Wikipedia) which has since sponsored and hosted the debates, giving the two major parties significant control over the content…and the candidates allowed to participate.