Televised debates have become an important aspect of every presidential election. The first general election presidential debate was held on September 26, 1960, between Democratic nominee U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon, the Republican nominee.
With an estimated 70 million viewers watching, the first Kennedy-Nixon debate demonstrated the impact of this new medium. During the debate, Nixon looked sickly, underweight and tired. In contrast, Kennedy appeared confident and relaxed. As a result, many of those who watched the debate unfold on television believed that Kennedy had won. For the remaining three debates, Nixon regained his lost weight, wore television makeup and appeared more forceful than his initial appearance .
Kennedy-Nixon Debate
The Kennedy-Nixon debate of 1960 was the first televised presidential debate.
It was not until 1976 that a second series of televised presidential debates was held during the general election campaign season. These debates, between Governor Jimmy Carter, the Democratic nominee, and Republican incumbent President Gerald Ford, also demonstrated their dramatic effect. Ford had already cut into Carter's large lead in the polls, and was generally viewed as having won the first debate on domestic policy. However, in a second debate on foreign policy, Ford made what was widely viewed as a major blunder when he stated, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, and there never will be under a Ford administration. " After this, Ford's momentum stalled, and Carter won a very close election.
Televised debates were a major factor again in 1980. Earlier in the election season, President Carter had a lead over opponent Governor Ronald Reagan. In the debates, with years of experience in front of a camera as an actor, Reagan came across much better than Carter. This would eventually help to propel Reagan to a landslide victory.