A Trip Down Debate Memory Lane

Presidential debates give the candidates a chance to spell out their plans to the public.  But sometimes, it’s one or two sentences that get all the attention – maybe even a look or a gesture.  Back in 1960, when the first televised general election debate aired, voters who watched it focused on Richard Nixon’s appearance, not his words.  The mayor of Chicago said Nixon looked “embalmed”.  That debate helped sink Nixon’s chances in November as voters opted for the healthier, more dynamic-looking Senator John Kennedy.  That's just one in a string of memorable debate moments that have helped shape presidential contests for the past half century.