26 September 1960: Kennedy & Nixon clash in TV debate

More than 60 million Americans tuned in to watch the first-ever televised debate between the two candidates running for the White House. Republican candidate Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John F Kennedy, the Democratic candidate, appeared in a studio in Chicago, Illinois, for the first of a series of four debates. The first "Great Debate" centred on domestic issues. Each candidate was given eight minutes to make an opening speech. There followed a series of questions from a panel of correspondents, then each man was allowed three minutes and twenty seconds for a final statement. Among television viewers, Mr Kennedy was regarded the outright winner of the first debate. He appeared tanned, confident and well-rested after campaigning in California. By contrast, his opponent had recently spent two weeks in hospital for a serious knee operation and still looked underweight with a pallid complexion. He refused any make-up to improve his colour.