The 1960 presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon had a significant impact on public perception and the election outcome. A few key points:
  • The first debate, held on September 26, 1960, was a turning point. Kennedy appeared poised and confident on television, while Nixon looked sweaty and uncomfortable under the studio lights. This contrast in appearance helped Kennedy narrow Nixon's lead in the polls[1][2][4].
  • It's estimated that nearly 100 million Americans tuned into one or more of the four debates, a massive audience at the time[1]. The debates demonstrated the power of television in shaping public opinion.
  • Polls showed that those who listened to the debates on radio thought Nixon had won, while those who watched on TV favored Kennedy. Kennedy's youthful, telegenic appearance gave him an advantage[4].
  • The debates transformed American politics, shaping the behavior of leaders and candidates for decades to come. They set a precedent for the inclusion of debates in all subsequent presidential elections[1][2].
  • However, the debates also marked a shift away from substantive policy discussions. Candidates became more focused on image and personality rather than the issues[4].
So in summary, the 1960 debates captivated the public, boosted Kennedy's campaign, and forever changed the role of television in presidential politics. But they also ushered in an era of style over substance in campaigns.
Sources [1] Equal Time and the Kennedy-Nixon Debates - College of Liberal Arts https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/history/debate/kennedynixon/index.html [2] 1960 United States presidential debates - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_United_States_presidential_debates [3] CPD: 1960 Debates https://www.debates.org/debate-history/1960-debates/ [4] Scholarly Analysis of the KennedyNixon Debates https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/history/debate/kennedynixon/kennedynixonscholarly.html [5] How the Kennedy-Nixon debate changed the world of politics https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-debate-that-changed-the-world-of-politics
Okay, now I understand perfectly.
Nixon apparently won the debate, so the people who only heard them talk on the radio believed that Nixon won because he seemed to have a better way with words, and Kennedy on the TV screen looked better and more composed, which gave him power in front of the viewers.
This shows us once again that a good image is worth more than anything you say sometimes. I suppose that the women here were the most affected in terms of their bias for Kennedy's "good image."
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