The Kennedy YearsRTV 3007 • Intro to Television

KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE, 1960

September 26, 1960

First televised presidential debate

Showed the power of image on television

TV watchers thought that Kennedy won

Radio listeners thought that Nixon won

Clip from debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QazmVHAO0os

KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE, 1960 “Nixon appeared emaciated, unhealthy,

and awkward.He arrived at the studio after a strenuous campaign where he appeared in all 50 states. He had lost 5 pounds and his shirt collar was loose..

He refused to have theatrical makeup applied to his face, but later applied Lazy Shave, a product designed to hide five o’clock shadow. It melted during the debate.

Nixon's gray suit blended in with the background, especially on the era's black and white television screens.”

KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE, 1960 On the other hand, Kennedy

appeared handsome, tanned and confident.

Kennedy took time to rest before the debates and his suit contrasted well against the background.

After the election, Kennedy became a regularly recurring face on television.

Camelot and Documentary

Kennedy was a natural for TV. He made a documentary, Primary, about his run for president His willingness to go on TV inspired TV news organizations to produce more and better documentaries: The Real West showed real life during America’s

westward expansion, in contrast to Bonanzahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2w76xhtWPA

End of the Trail showed the lives of native Americans Sit-In (1960) showed African-American resistance to

segregation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT9gILdTaWo

Biography of a Bookie Joint helped launch Investigative reporting http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/bio-of-a-bookie-joint/

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

January 1, 1959 – Fidel Castro assumes power in Cuba.

January 3, 1961 - the US severs diplomatic ties with Cuba.

April 17, 1961 – Bay of Pigs invasion

August 10, 1962 – Photos show Soviets may have missiles in Cuba

October 14-17 1962 – Photos prove that the Soviets have installed nuclear warheads in Cuba

October 21, 1962 – Photos show that Soviet fighter jets armed with nuclear missiles are assembling in Cuba

The Cuban Missile Crisis

On October 22, 1962, 7pm - President Kennedy addresses the country. The US will blockade Cuba. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W50RNAbmy3M

DEFCON2 Pt 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwz7YAQj-r0 Pt. 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGA-iW0KsAg Pt. 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTFSv_2GHoA Pt.5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Ou0yeBhAY

March Toward Civil Rights on TV

In the early 1960s, Americans saw racial injustice and the demand for civil rights play out in the news and on television

May 1963 – TV captures excessive use of Police force on marchers in Birmingham, ALhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joc3CRL6x4E

June 1963 - Governor George Wallace tries to stop 2 black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WbLGlIzW88

August 28, 1963 – The March on Washingtonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wDU-oYQN04

The Assassination of JFK

November 23, 1963

Walter Cronkite announces the death of John F. Kennedyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PXORQE5-CY

Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president 99 minutes later

Funeral of JFK was televised. Clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuJjaOKITn4