Skip to content
ChicagoTalks ChicagoTalks

Journalism and creative work from Chicago's next generation of storytellers

  • About us
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Arts and Culture
  • Submit Your Story
  • Wanderer
ChicagoTalks
ChicagoTalks

Journalism and creative work from Chicago's next generation of storytellers

panelist photos

50 Years Since the Kennedy-Nixon Debate and It’s Still News

Chicago Talks, September 24, 2010
panelist photos
panelists photos

The Museum of Broadcast Communications sponsors some interesting events, whether you are a viewer, a student, or a part of modern media. Mark you calendar for Sunday, Sept. 26th when Bill Kurtis, Ald. Ed Burke in his capacity as a Chicago historian, Newton Minow, who helped arrange the debate, and newsman Sander Vanocur, who covered the original debate, come out for an evening full of media, politics and insights to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy-Nixon debate.

The day will mark 50 years since the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, which took place at Chicago’s WBBM-Television.

The panel will take place on at 3 p.m. at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Blvd. There is a charge, and you can get tickets and more information at The Museum of Broadcast Communications site.

There is no question that American political and broadcasting history was made in Chicago 50 years ago. This was the moment when politics and television met and forever changed the face of political campaigns. When a relatively unknown Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy met Vice President Richard Nixon on TV for the first time, live and in real time, campaigning for office and television as a dominant mass media intersected, fused and transformed our mediasphere. The debate became the turning point in the historic 1960 campaign. There will be rare, behind-the-scenes footage of the debate and first-person reflections from both Kennedy and Nixon about the debate, as well as the fascinating viewpoints of insiders to this moment in American political and media history.

Related articles by Zemanta
  • High-wrinkle TV (politico.com)
  • Watergate puts Nixon library, National Archives at odds (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Editor's Choice What's Up BroadcastChicagoHistoryJohn F KennedyMuseum of Broadcast CommunicationsRichard NixonTelevisionUnited States

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Opinion

  • Chicago’s influential music scene doesn’t get the respect it deserves 
    by Zoey Hill-Hernandez
  • Lost in translation: ‘I would see everyone else writing while I just stared blankly at my paper’
    by Cynthia Alaniz
  • ‘It felt like something was gnawing at my heart’; Columbia student copes with illness of a lifetime
    by Morgan Bruner
Read More

Arts and Culture

  • 23 years later, Mazzy Star’s masterpiece album still casts a spell
    by Triniti Waxman
  • Queer Chicago designer finds niche dressing drag performers
    by Seng Xiong
  • From dorm room to mainstage, Phat Dragon built a comedy cult following 
    by Ava Simone Forster
  • Great Ideas of Humanity exhibit showcases famous quotes made visual 
    by Sh'Mara Chism
Read More

Feature

  • Hairstylist helps clients embrace their own beauty, rather than copy someone else’s 
  • Care for Real food pantry serves North Siders as need grows 
  • Cuddle Bunny: Where visitors can chill out with a furry friend 
Read More

Submit Your Story
  • Home
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit Your Story
Log in
©2026 ChicagoTalks | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes