The Presidential Debate That Entered America’s Living Rooms
On September 26, 1960, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon took part in the first televised debate between U.S. presidential candidates.
On September 26, 1960, presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon debated on television. Americans could watch the two candidates respond to each other from their homes.
Politics on television
The broadcast introduced a new way for voters to experience a presidential campaign. The candidates' words could be heard, while their appearance and manner could also be seen.
Why it matters
The debate became a landmark in the history of American political communication and showed how television could bring a national campaign directly into people's homes.