#presidential debates

Today in History: The First Televised Presidential Debate

During the 1960 Presidential campaign, JFK challenged Nixon to a series of debates before a live television audience.  Knowing that he was the front-runner, Nixon’s advisers cautioned him against accepting. Nixon was confident of his debating skills though and agreed. Approximately 70 million Americans watched on the night of September 26. JFK spoke directly to the cameras and the national audience. Nixon, in traditional debating style, appeared to be responding to JFK.

Studies would later show that of the four million voters who made up their minds as a result of the debates, three million voted for Kennedy. Nixon seemed much more poised and relaxed in the three subsequent debates, but it was the first encounter that reshaped the election.

Here’s a clip of what television viewers saw during the first Kennedy-Nixon debate in Chicago on this day in 1960. You can watch the full debate from the JFK Library!

What pre-television President would you most like to see speak?

Future presidential debates p.3

With the 2020 Democratic presidential debates in full swing, gun violence prevention experts want moderators of upcoming debates to ask candidates fact-based questions about firearm policy. 

In the past, gun safety platforms have failed to break through during both primary and general presidential debates. In this election cycle, moderator Chuck Todd did bring up gun safety during the first democratic presidential primary debate on June 26, but he adopted a right-wing talking point that strengthening gun laws would require confiscation of people’s privately owned firearms, serving as an example of how not to question the candidates about their platforms. 

Media Matters asked several gun safety experts how they’d like to see future debate moderators tackle questions about gun policy—here are some of their responses.