Introduction

It was 1960, and Republican Vice President Richard Nixon stood at the podium, appearing drained and sweaty, while his opponent, Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy (JFK), looked as if he had been ready for this moment, the United States’ first televised presidential debate, his whole life. When asked which candidate did better, Nixon’s running mate, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, who had watched the debate on television, said he thought JFK did a better job. In contrast, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, who was running on the Democratic ticket with JFK, listened to the debate on the radio and deemed Nixon the winner. Did Senator Kennedy’s good looks and confidence “win” the televised debate over a pale, overtired Nixon? Did the fact that the debate was televised change the outcome of the election? While academics have been unable to definitively answer these questions, one thing is sure: television changed politics that evening in 1960, and as an institution, the media continues to influence how people understand government, candidates, and policies.