1960 Debates

There were four presidential debates and no vice presidential debates during the 1960 general election.


Courtesy of ABC News© 1960

GO TO:

September 26, 1960
October 7, 1960
October 13, 1960
October 21, 1960


General Election Presidential Debate

John F. Kennedy (D), United States Senator (MA) and

Richard M. Nixon (R), Vice President

Date:

September 26, 1960

Location:

WBBM-TV, CBS affiliate

City:

Chicago, IL

Time:

9:30-10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Networks: ABC, CBS, NBC

Moderator:

Howard K. Smith, CBS News

Panelists: Sander Vanocur, NBC News; Charles Warren, Mutual News; Stuart Novins, CBS

News:

Bob Fleming, ABC News

Viewership:

66.4 million

Format: Eight minute opening statements; two and a half minute responses to questions; optional rebuttal; three minute closing statements.

Topic:

Domestic issues

Transcript

Video

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General Election Presidential Debate

John F. Kennedy (D), United States Senator (MA) and

Richard M. Nixon (R), Vice President

Date:

October 7, 1960

Location:

WRC-TV, NBC affiliate

City:

Washington, D.C.

Time:

7:30-8:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Networks: ABC, CBS, NBC

Moderator:

Frank McGee, NBC

Panelists: Paul Niven, CBS; Edward P. Morgan, ABC; Alvin Spivak, UPI; Harold R. Levy, Newsday

News:

Bob Fleming, ABC News

Viewership:

61.9 million

Format: No opening or closing statements; each questioned in turn with optional rebuttal.

Transcript

Video

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General Election Presidential Debate

John F. Kennedy (D), United States Senator (MA) and
Richard M. Nixon (R), U.S. Vice President

Date:

October 13, 1960
Location: Split-screen telecast with Nixon and panelists in ABC studio in Los Angeles and Kennedy in ABC studio in New York

Time:

7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Networks: ABC, CBS, NBC

Moderator:

Bill Shadel, ABC

Panelists: Frank McGee, NBC; Charles Van Fremd, CBS; Douglass Cater, Reporter magazine; Roscoe Drummond, New York Herald Tribune

News:

Bob Fleming, ABC News

Viewership:

63.7 million

Format: No opening or closing statements; each questioned in turn with two and a half minutes to answer; one and a half minute rebuttals optional.

Transcript

Video

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General Election Presidential Debate

John F. Kennedy (D), United States Senator (MA) and
Richard M. Nixon (R), U.S. Vice President

Date:

October 21, 1960

Location:

ABC studios

City:

New York City

Time:

10:00-11:00 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Networks: ABC, CBS, NBC

Moderator:

Quincy Howe, ABC News

Panelists:

Frank Singiser, Mutual News; John Edwards, ABC News; Walter Cronkite, CBS News; John Chancellor, NBC News

News:

Bob Fleming, ABC News

Viewership:

60.4 million

Format:

Eight minute opening statements; each questioned in turn with two and a half minutes to answer; one and a half minute rebuttal; three minute closing statements.

Topic:

Foreign affairs

Transcript

Video

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