Momentous vintage matte-finish 11 x 11 behind-the-scenes photo of the first-ever televised presidential debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon, signed and inscribed in the lower border in blue ballpoint to ABC's president, "For Oliver Treyz—with very warm regards, John Kennedy, 1960," and in fountain pen, "To Oliver Treyz—with every good wish, from Dick Nixon.” Matted to an overall size of 13.75 x 13.75. In fine condition, with very slight fading to Nixon's handwriting.
Held in Chicago's WBBM-TV studios on September 26, 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard Nixon became the first presidential candidates to enter into a televised debate. Moderated by journalist Howard K. Smith, the first of the four debates ran for 59 minutes and covered issues such as education, health care, labor, the economy, and the Cold War. Radio listeners thought Nixon’s answers to be more substantive, but the handsome, well-prepped Kennedy used the camera to full advantage.
A few days before the event, Kennedy met with debate producer and director Don Hewitt to go over the ground rules: where he would stand and sit, the time allotted for each answer, whether or not he could interrupt. As a result, Kennedy delivered a calm, deliberate performance while a drawn Nixon, still convalescing from a recent two-week hospital stay, underestimated the importance of the night—an estimated 70 million people watched the debate. Kennedy's measured answers and natural on-air charisma are often credited for his eventual presidential victory.
As president of ABC, Oliver Treyz played a key role in the organization of the Kennedy–Nixon debate series. In early 1960, he, along with NBC President Frank Stanton, testified before Congress to urge them to suspend Section 315(a) of the Federal Communications Act of 1934, which enforced an 'equal-time clause' between all political candidates. Congress suspended that clause in August 1960, allowing a televised debate between just the Democratic and Republican candidates to move forward. While the inaugural debate was by CBS, it was the first in a series of four: NBC hosted the second debate between Kennedy and Nixon, and Treyz's ABC presented the last two.
This is the just the second dual-signed Kennedy-Nixon photo we have ever offered, and it is augmented by the monumental significance of its content—a portrayal of one of the 'most significant, groundbreaking American campaign events of the twentieth century,' presented to one of its principal contributors (see: 'The First Debate over the Debates' by John W. Self).
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