how well did nixon perform in the 1960 debates?

Answer 1

Trick question.

Nixon was actually better prepared for the debate portion of it than Kennedy was and, if you listened to the radio, was a clear winner.

HOWEVER, the camera did him in. Between losing too much weight too fast (so his clothes hung on him), sweating like a stuck pig and a make up artist who put the wrong make up on to cover the persistant five-o'clock shadow (which he sweated through anyway), Nixon looked terrible.

Kennedy, tanned, well-groomed and looking energetic, clobbered him.

If you see the kinoscopes of it, you'll see Nixon looks pained. It was later learned that he banged his knee on a car door about an hour before the debate.

Answer 2

That First answer was very wrong. Nixon lost the election to Senator John F. Kennedy! Now at the time, Vice President Nixon was not too bad during the debates but John F. Kennedy did look much better and younger, answer each question stronger than did V.P. Nixon. Nixon did also happen to have a Cold at the time of the Debates so he did not look as well on the T.V. as John F. Kennedy did. Kennedy's looks, the way he did answer each question and answered the question by saying how to change instead of saying what might be done did not help Nixon in these debates and that is why J.F.K. was elected President.

Answer 3

I am currently reading a biography of the Kennedys called An American Drama.

In it, the authors say that Nixon went in as the more experienced "performer," having used tv to save his vice presidency. But that tv and its audience had changed over the intervening years and that Nixon's voice was deeper, and Kennedy's had that sort of nasal twang. Kennedy appeared more nervous but also appeared more "cool" and precise and Nixon struggled w/some of his responses. Kennedy's "stage persona" was in perfect control and Nixon's "private one" came across as edgy,nervous and sweating.

Seventy million viewers saw JFK up close for the first time and were struck by his "star quality."

Hope this helps you! This is all in reference to the first of the four debates.

Answer 4

I remember that election very well because it was the first time I could vote. Nixon REALLY SUCKED... and badly at that. Kennedy made him look like a stumbling fool. Nixon lost the election because of the debates... no doubt about it.

Answer 5

It was said that if you listened to the debate on the radio you would say he won. But he was just getting over a cold so he looked a little bad if you watched on television.

Answer 6

actually he lost the presidency then . . he won it years later.

he did ok in the debate, but tv was new then and everyone saw him with a one day beard, and he looked gruff, so they didn't vote for him.

just the gossip i've heard - hopefully someone will have a better source.

Answer 7

He did poorly and Kennedy won the election.

Answer 8

He sweat a lot and he had a 5-o'clock shadow. That distracted most people and they did not hear his message as well.

Answer 9

ithelped him win he was normally good at debate issues.

Answer 10

pretty good. I mean he won the presidency didn't he?