President ial debate between kennedy and nixon. Heres a picture of them that shows really the problem. The very first televised president ial debate was between these two men in 1960. The idea did not come from the candidates or the political parties, it came from the networks. Kennedy quickly accepted. Nixon, against the advice of many, also accepted. That now widely thought 1960 seven debate was a disaster for nixon, who had been sick, who had eight no effort to cover up his 5 00 shadow, and who looked bad compared to the tan and rested jack kennedy. As you can see in these photographs, nixon is wiping sweat from his face. Those who heard the debate on radio thought nixon had won. Those who saw it on tv had thought kennedy had won. The first president ial Campaign Debate show the incredible impact of television and added a new requirement to president ial candidates. That they be telegenic. 16 years passed between the first and second debate in 1976, when president gerald ford agreed