First Presidential Debate - Nixon Kennedy

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First Presidential Debate - Nixon Kennedy

Daniel Pinna

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10/15/2012

First Presidential Debate - Nixon Kennedy

The first televised United States presidential debate was held in Chicago on September 26th, 1960 between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon. There were a total of four televised debates between these two candidates however the first debate gathered the most attention with upwards of 70 million viewers.

Most Americans believed that Kennedy had won the first presidential debate. Nixon did not prepare well for the televised event. He had campaigned until a few hours before the debate, refused makeup, and was still recovering from a hospital stay, resulting in his appearing ill. In contrast, Kennedy was well rested, prepared and appeared confident and healthy.

While the Kennedy / Nixon presidential debate was the first televised debate, there were previous political debates, most notably the 1858 Senate debates between Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen A. Douglas.

Date & Place: September 26, 1960 at CBS WBBM-TV Studio in Chicago, Illinois United States of America

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John F. Kennedy May 29, 1917 - Nov 22, 1963 Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917, Kennedy came from a politically prominent family and had a privileged upbringing. He attended Harvard University and served in the Navy during World War II, earning the Purple Heart and other honors for his bravery. Kennedy's political career began in 1947 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He went on to serve as a Senator from Massachusetts, where he gained a reputation for his eloquent speeches and his progressive stance on civil rights and social issues. In 1960, Kennedy won the Democratic nomination for president, defeating Richard Nixon in a closely contested election. As president, Kennedy worked to improve the economy, expand social programs, and promote civil rights. He also played a key role in the Cold War, negotiating with the Soviet Union and defusing the Cuban Missile Crisis. Despite his short time in office, Kennedy's legacy is enduring. He inspired a generation with his vision of a more just and equitable society, and his tragic death only served to cement his place in history. Today, JFK is remembered as one of America's greatest presidents, and his accomplishments continue to inspire and shape the nation.

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Richard Milhous Nixon Jan 9, 1913 - Apr 22, 1994 Bronxville, New York

Richard Milhous Nixon was born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California to parents Francis Anthony Nixon (1878-1956) and Hannah Elizabeth Milhous (1885-1967). He was one of five children in his family. Nixon spent his early years on his family's lemon farm and later moved to Whittier, California, where he attended high school and college. Following his undergraduate studies, Nixon received a scholarship to attend Duke University School of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1937. He then began his political career where he rose to prominence as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California in the late 1940s, where he gained national attention for his role in the Alger Hiss case. Nixon then served as Dwight D. Eisenhower's vice president from 1953 to 1961, during which he played a significant role in shaping Cold War policies and handling international crises. After losing the 1960 presidential election to John F. Kennedy, Nixon staged a political comeback, winning the presidency in 1968 and again in 1972. His presidency was marked by significant domestic and foreign policy initiatives, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, desegregation efforts, and diplomatic openings with China and the Soviet Union. However, Nixon's administration was also marred by the Watergate scandal, leading to his resignation in 1974, making him the only U.S. president to resign from office. Despite his resignation, Nixon remained a significant figure in American politics, continuing to influence public discourse through writing, speaking engagements, and international diplomacy until his death in 1994.

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Daniel Pinna

I want to build a place where my son can meet his great-grandparents. My grandmother Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch always wanted to meet her great-grandchildren, but she died just a handful of years before my son's birth. So while she didn't have the opportunity to meet him, at least he will be able to know her. For more information about what we're building see About AncientFaces. For information on the folks who build and support the community see Daniel - Founder & Creator.
My father's side is full blood Sicilian and my mother's side is a combination of Welsh, Scottish, German and a few other European cultures. One of my more colorful (ahem black sheep) family members came over on the Mayflower. He was among the first to be hanged in the New World for a criminal offense he made while onboard the ship.

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Dennis Crotts

I was born in Charlotte, NC in 1955 at the Church A God Campground my father was a ordain and Church of God Circuit minster for the Blue Ridge Mountains and the coast of North Carolina. I was mostly raised by my brother and his wife till I was 5 years old and my father took myself and my sister to Fame, Mississippi to be the local pastor of the church. From 1960 to 1970 we made few trips back to to North Carolina in 1970 due to my father ill health we moved back to Cooleemee, NC and I met my aunts and uncles on both side of the family for the first time. My father passed in 1979 and I moved to California and my mother passed in 2010. My brother and his family still live in Cooleemee, NC and my sister lives in Mississippi not sure were. Since the passing of my father my brother, sister and I do not speak or visit anymore and I now live in Utah. From 1976 to the 1977 I was in the US Air Force stationed in Biloxi, MS and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and was Honorable Discharged after the Vietnam War ended. Was married for a short time and now single with no family of my own.
My parents were Wade Hamilton Crotts and Minnie Sue (Waller) Crotts, have a a brother Wade Elmer Crotts and a sister Darlene (Crotts) Avent. The Crotts and Waller families were mainly from Woodleaf, Cooleemee, Mocksville, Cleveland and Salisbury, NC area. Since I do not remember my grandparents from either side of the family I am not sure were originally they were from have heard rumors Scotland and Ireland not sure of date. All my Aunts and Uncles I knew were land holders, farmers and one owned a dairy outside of Cooleemee and today most of that land is not farmed anymore and the Crotts and Waller families have most passed away. The last time I was there was in 2010 for a few months everyone and everything I once knew and loved about that area was gone.

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