The Great Debate
As part of our coverage of Election 2008, VoterRadio.com brings you momentous presidential debates of the past half-century, in their entirety.
The Great Debate: Kennedy vs. Nixon (Sep. 26, 1960)
It was the first meeting of Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon in the campaign of 1960 and the first televised presidential debate in U.S. history. A media savvy, tanned Kennedy wowed the television audience, especially compared to a sickly Nixon, who refused makeup and was still recovering from an injury sustained while campaigning in North Carolina.
Most radio listeners -- oblivious to the cosmetic disparity between the two contenders -- said Nixon won the night. But Kennedy went on to win the White House and the era of modern presidential debates was born.
