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Monday, October 09, 2006

October 9, 1960: Reviews of the Presidential Debate and a News Roundup

The New York Times today carries reports on the two presidential candidates that include these observations:

"Judging by Friday night's debate, Mr. Nixon has set out to create a much more sober, serious image on television than the hand-waving, jovial grinning figure of the political platform. During the debate, he never allowed a hand to rise in gesture. Only twice in an hour did a smile flicker over his intent, somber face....

"lest [Sen. Kennedy] offend the vast number of voters who still 'like Ike,' he shires away from identifying President Eisenhower personally with these 'failures.' In Friday night's second television debate he found himself compelled to associate Mr. Eisenhower personally with Republican setbacks, but mitigated the criticism by emphasizing that he was more concerned with the future than the past."

After the debate the paper sampled public opinion in 23 cites. From Boston: "A Protestant woman who is an independent said that she would vote for Senator Kennedy because of the attacks on him for his religion. A Republican thought that Mr. Kennedy had the best of the argument but still intended to vote for the vice president. A middle aged spinster said: 'It obviously isn't a debate. They don't have enough time on any issue."

Also on the subject of the debates, an editorial concludes: "These television debates are a new thing in the history of presidential campaigns. They are still experimental, but at this point we believe they are an advance in the technique of democracy."

In other news of this day in 1960:

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev said today that the Soviet Union has no desire for war with the U.S. and hopes to establish better relations.

Khrushchev's appearance on television brought in many hundreds of protests to the New York station that aired the Soviet leader.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said today that the United States and the Soviet Union were very similar nations.

A bomb went off outside the New York Public Library in Manhattan today. Today's blast was eight blocks from the one that occurred last week in Times Square.

In the Congo, deposed Premier Patrice Lumumba stormed through the capital city of Leopoldville announcing he was taking over power.

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the NY Yanks 3-2 to even the World Series, two games apiece.