On the evening of September 26, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard
Nixon squared off before an audience (studio, radio, and television) of some 70 million
Americans. This was the first nationally televised Presidential debate. Two-thirds of the
nation’s adult population watched as these two made their case for why they should be
chosen as the leader of the free world. Senator Kennedy presented himself with grace and
dignity as did Vice President Nixon. The Senator appealed to the needs and passions of the
American people. The Vice President, thanks a less than superior makeup artist appeared as the ‘undead.’ The only thing that kept him from looking like some garish creature from a
The universal horror film was where he sweated profusely. As if someone had left the faucet
dripping all evening.