The First Presidential Debate: John Kennedy and Richard Nixon
It seems you can't get away from them now a days. The presidential debate.
For many people of a younger age, there's always been presidential debates. Dating back to the 1980 election between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, we have debates every 4 years. We have debates leading into the primaries. We have debates leading into the general election. And then we have debates about the debates. Whew! Where did this all begin.
Well, it began on September 26, 1960.
The Kennedy/Nixon debates are now legendary. This was something new, something totally brand new. And the nation watched.
In the historic video below you'll get a sense of how it was done 'in the old days'.
And by the way, a historic note about the two candidates: They both ultimately achieved the highest office in the land. One, of course, was tragically assassinated just over three years later. The other resigned the office in disgrace about fourteen years later.
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