As the campaign for presidency comes to its final few months, the two candidates enter into the debates. Issues are discussed, past histories are questioned, and future proposals are stated. Following the debates as history has illustrated it is in fact not what words were exchanged, but rather how each candidate appeared and performed.
The first televised Presidential Debate was arguably the deciding factor in the outcome of the Presidential race. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon met on September 26, 1960, Richard Nixon was recovering from a knee injury and not in the healthiest of states and he refused to have make-up applied for the televised debate. Kennedy on the other hand was fit, tan, and looked very healthy. During the course of the debate Kennedy was able to remain relaxed and articulate while Nixon appeared nervous as beads of sweat were visible to the viewers who watched on Television.
According to an article by the Museum of Broadcast and Communication, “In substance, the candidates were much more evenly matched. Indeed, those who heard the first debate on the radio pronounced Nixon the winner. But the 70 million who watched television saw a candidate still sickly and obviously discomforted by Kennedy's smooth delivery and charisma.”
Just last night Barack Obama and John McCain met in Mississippi for their first of four debates. Much as in the debates almost 70 years ago between Kennedy and Nixon, viewers were looking to these two candidates to see which performed as a leader with charisma and grace. As the two candidates attempted to played to the emotions of the American people one stood out as the leader in the debate. As many polls showed Obama coming out as the winner.
According to a New York Times article published September 27,2008 the debate showed interesting sides of both candidates. McCain continually repeated himself as though he had forgotten that he had used the same line in a previous argument. McCain repeatedly argued that Mr. Obama, who is 47, was not ready for the job: “I’m afraid Senator Obama doesn’t understand” and “What Senator Obama doesn’t seem to understand” and “Senator Obama still doesn’t understand.” In addition McCain was fidgety and shifty while Obama was speaking.
Obama on the other hand was poised and calm being sure to look presidential and maybe sometimes to serious. As Obama has been criticized as not having enough experience he made sure to appear as presidential as possible. In one point in his speech he seemed to embody the role, “I reserve the right as president of the United States to — to meet with anybody at a time and place of my choosing if I think it’s going to keep America safe.”
Soon we shall see if history will repeat itself, and whether televised debates play as much of a role in the election process as they did in the very beginning.
