[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I still remember that debate. Everyone who heard it on the radio said NIXON won hands down!

Those who saw it on TV said Kennedy won because Nixon looked “shifty”.

Since that time a Presidential candidate has to be very “photogenic”. Substance be d*mned. Does he look Presidenital?

[knarf]

I confess ... I've never listened nor watched it before ...

and I am amazed at how little has changed.

This could be a present day debate ... except I believe in 1960 ... people (and the media) were really trying to act (if not be .. ) intelligent

[wagglebee]

Since that time a Presidential candidate has to be very “photogenic”. Substance be d*mned. Does he look Presidenital?

Exactly. And since then we've had exactly ONE president who was any good (Reagan) and that's only because he was photogenic and charismatic.

Of course the 1964 election didn't actually follow the photogenic theme. In that one there were two ugly guys and the press assured us that one wouldn't get America into a war in Vietnam (even though the escalation had already begun) and that one would start World War III.