On September 26, 1960, for the first time in U.S. history, a
debate between major party presidential candidates was
broadcast on live television.
The presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic
senator of Massachusetts, and Richard M. Nixon, the vice
president of the United States, met in a Chicago studio to
discuss U.S. domestic matters.
Kennedy emerged the apparent winner from this first of four
televised debates, partly owing to his greater ease before the
camera than Nixon, who, unlike Kennedy, seemed nervous
and declined to wear makeup.