JFK and Richard Nixon Held the First Virtual Presidential Debate 60 Years Ago

From Town & Country

Virtual debates have been a hot topic in recent days, since the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that the presidential debate scheduled for October 15 would be held virtually due to continuing concerns over safety during the coronavirus pandemic; particularly in the wake of incumbent Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this month. While the Biden camp reportedly agreed to the virtual meeting, Trump told Fox Business, "I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate, that’s not what debating is all about. You sit behind a computer and do a debate, it’s ridiculous."

In lieu of the scheduled debate, ABC will host a town hall with Joe Biden, moderated by George Stephanopoulos—as of yet, there have been no changes announced for the final debate scheduled for October 22 at Belmont University in Nashville.

While Trump may have been opposed to the virtual format, it actually wouldn't have been the first time that the presidential candidates held a remote debate. In fact, 60 years ago today, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon broke that ground with a presidential debate held from opposite sides of the country.

On October 13, 1960, the two nominees—JFK then a senator for Massachusetts and Nixon the Vice President—took to ABC television studios on opposite coasts, apparently due to scheduling issues related to their respective campaign trails.

"Now, like the last meeting, the subjects to be discussed will be suggested by questions from a panel of correspondents. Unlike the first two programs, however, the two candidates will not be sharing the same platform," said ABC News anchor and debate moderator Bill Shadel, broadcasting his introduction to the evening from Chicago. "In New York, the Democratic presidential nominee, Senator John F. Kennedy. Separated by 3,000 miles in a Los Angeles studio, the Republican presidential nominee, Vice President Richard M. Nixon, now joined for tonight's discussion by a network of electronic facilities which permits each candidate to see and hear the other."

For the debate, the candidates were introduced in split-screen and then took questions and debated with one another via remote setups that allowed them to react in real time. The following day, the New York Times extolled the technical virtues of the debate, saying that, "The switching among Mr. Nixon in Los Angeles, Mr. Kennedy in New York, and a news panel in still a third studio ran off without a single hitch and the sound was flawless."

According to Nielsen household TV ratings, the virtual debate proved to be a huge hit with viewers, drawing 61% of all U.S. households and topping the list of most-watched debates prior to 2008.

You Might Also Like

• 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion

• What Your Favorite Champagne Brand Says About You

• Beauty Gurus Share Their Makeup Secrets for Older Women