KENNEDY-NIXON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES OPEN IN CHICAGO
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On September 26, 1960, the first televised debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice-President Richard M. Nixon during the presidential campaign of 1960 took place at a local CBS television studio here in the Windy City.
The first debate between the two major party candidates was the turning point in the campaign resulting in a narrow victory for the young senator from Massachusetts. Although there were three more debates, it was the first that had the greatest impact.
On the 50th anniversary of the opening debate, Kayla Webley of Time Magazine published an article titled "How the Nixon-Kennedy Debate Changed the World." Ms. Webley wrote...
"On the morning of September 26, 1960, John F. Kennedy was a relatively unknown senator from Massachusetts. He was young and Catholic....and facing off against an incumbent. But by the end of the evening, he was a star."
