When is the Televised Debate? The First Televised Presidential Debate

The 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate is often cited as the first nationally televised presidential debate. However, the first televised debate actually occurred four years earlier, in 1956. While not between the presidential candidates themselves, this groundbreaking event featured two prominent women: Eleanor Roosevelt, representing the Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson, and Senator Margaret Chase Smith, representing the incumbent Republican President Dwight Eisenhower. This debate took place on November 4, 1956, on the CBS program Face the Nation.

By 1956, both women were highly respected figures. Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady and a Democratic Party icon, had been instrumental in securing Stevenson’s nomination. Margaret Chase Smith was a seasoned politician in her second Senate term, known for challenging Senator Joe McCarthy and serving on the Armed Services Committee. Both women frequently appeared on lists of America’s most admired women and had established media presences. The Republican National Committee strategically chose Smith to debate Roosevelt due to her political stature and reputation.

The 1956 debate marked the first time a woman appeared on Face the Nation. Recognizing the significance of the event, Smith meticulously prepared. She insisted on a two-minute closing statement, strategically chose her wardrobe and hairstyle to contrast with Roosevelt, and planned a composed and articulate demeanor. Understanding the power of television, she aimed to project an image of knowledge and authority.

The debate primarily focused on foreign policy issues. Smith’s strategy was to remain poised and concise, allowing the more loquacious Roosevelt to dominate the initial exchanges. However, Smith delivered a powerful and pointed closing statement that covered numerous key issues. She shifted from a reserved tone to a more forceful delivery, surprising Roosevelt and leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

Public reaction to the debate was varied. However, it solidified Margaret Chase Smith’s image as an informed, articulate, and media-savvy politician. This experience proved invaluable. In 1960, when she ran for reelection to the Senate, Smith participated in one of the first televised senatorial debates, making her a veteran of televised political debates even before the famous Kennedy-Nixon encounters.