Click on the link here for Audio Player: Oct. 24, 1960 – Eyewitness To History – 1960 Election
With the third Debate over the previous night, October 24th was the home stretch for the 1960 Presidential Campaign. As a recap of the race to the White House, CBS News ran a documentary on where the John F. Kennedy/Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon/Henry Cabot Lodge campaigns stood in the final days before the election.
It’s a fascinating contrast to the 2012 Political season. One that gives some indication elections weren’t always the way they are now.
And that’s not a good thing.
So if you were around on this day in 1960, this is what you’d undoubtedly be hearing via mainstream media.
And even that was different.
Editors note: As was pointed out to me by one of my trusted and eagle-eyed readers, I made the grave mistake of taking the recording date on the tape box at face value. It said the date was October 24, 1960 – as my friend pointed out, the actual broadcast date was October 14th, 1960. My apologies to readers/listeners who thought this was the right date, but it was in fact, ten days earlier. Sorry for the screw-up.
Related articles
- 1960: First televised presidential debate (cbsnews.com)
- Kennedy and Nixon in 1960: Debates That Changed the Game (life.time.com)
- 7 Things You May Not Know About U.S. Presidential Debates (history.com)
- Nixon Admits 1960 Debate Prep Was ‘Totally Wrong’ (abcnews.go.com)
- 1960: First Televised Presidential Debate (wibw.com)
- Photos: The first televised debates (cnn.com)
- Watch the full Kennedy-Nixon debate from 1960 – UPI.com (blog) (upi.com)
