nation’s first televised debate between two presidential candidates
Kennedy – proposed the debates and Nixon – accepted
Richard Nixon – arrived tired and ill at ease; still recovering from a knee injury that had slowed his campaign and left him pale and weak
makeup experts offered to hide Nixon’s heavy beard and soften his prominent jowls, but the GOP candidate declined
let an aide apply a light coat of Max Factor’s “Lazy Shave” a pancake cosmetic
John Kennedy – tanned and rested, wore very light makeup and changed from a gray to a dark blue suit better adapted to the intense television lighting
would have a viewing audience estimated at 77 million
ground rules limited the first debate to domestic issues, Kennedy argued that foreign and domestic policy were inseparable
Kennedy – radiated confidence and self-assurance – used a flow of statistics and details to create the image of a man deeply knowledgeable about all aspects of government
televised debates were only one of many factors influencing the outcome of the 1960 election
Kennedy won because he took full advantage of all his opportunities
Kennedy – promised to stimulate the lagging economy and carry forward long-overdue reforms in education, health care, and civil rights under the banner of the “New Frontier”
renewed commitment to the Cold War, vowing he would lead the nation to victory over the Soviet Union
won over African American voters by helping to secure the release of Martin Luther King Jr.
