Lesson Plan: Political Debates: What the Unforgettable Moments Reveal
Grades 9-12
The first presidential debate in 1960 was a creation of the television age, and it quickly entered its founding lore. Those who saw the debate on TV allegedly favored the handsome, well made-up Kennedy. Radio listeners, on the other hand, thought Nixon had won. Evidence supporting this story is a dubious mix of anecdote, assumptions and a debunked survey, but the narrative continues to shape how we understand debates today. Since 1960, political debates have been a crucial part of presidential elections.
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