When Was the First Televised Debate?

The first televised presidential debate wasn’t the famous Kennedy-Nixon showdown of 1960. It actually happened four years earlier, on November 4, 1956. While Adlai Stevenson challenged incumbent Dwight Eisenhower for the presidency, the candidates themselves didn’t debate. Instead, two prominent women stood in: Eleanor Roosevelt for the Democrats and Senator Margaret Chase Smith for the Republicans.

The First Televised Debate: A Surprising Matchup

The 1956 debate, a groundbreaking moment in political history, aired on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” This marked the program’s first female guest. The choice of Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady and Democratic icon, was expected. However, Senator Smith’s selection as the Republican representative was a testament to her rising political stature. By then, she was a respected figure in her second Senate term, known for challenging Senator Joe McCarthy and serving on the Armed Services Committee.

The Pioneers of Political Television

Both women were powerful figures in their own right. Roosevelt, a seasoned political activist, was instrumental in Stevenson’s nomination. Smith, a rising star in the Republican party, had garnered national attention for her principled stances and political acumen. Their participation in the first televised debate underscored their influence and the evolving role of women in American politics.

Debate Strategies and Styles: A Contrast in Approach

Recognizing the power of television, Smith meticulously planned her appearance, opting for a style that contrasted with Roosevelt’s. She focused on concise answers and a controlled delivery throughout the debate, which primarily centered on foreign policy. However, Smith strategically reserved her most forceful arguments for a two-minute closing statement, a condition she insisted upon.

A Defining Moment and Its Aftermath

Smith’s powerful closing remarks, delivered with unexpected intensity, reportedly surprised and upset Roosevelt, who refused a post-debate handshake. Public reaction to the debate was mixed. However, it solidified Smith’s image as a knowledgeable and articulate politician comfortable with the emerging medium of television.

A Legacy of Televised Debates

The 1956 debate set the stage for future televised political confrontations. By 1960, when Kennedy and Nixon faced off in their famous debates, televised political discourse was no longer a novelty. Interestingly, Smith herself participated in one of the first televised senatorial debates during her re-election campaign in 1960, making her a true pioneer of the televised political debate. The 1956 debate, featuring Roosevelt and Smith, serves as a reminder that the history of televised political debates is richer and more complex than often remembered.