Compare And Contrast Kennedy And Nixon

On the morning of September 26, 1960, presidential candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy sat down for the first of four rounds of debates during their individual presidential campaigns. Kennedy was a comparatively undetermined figure at the time, whereas Nixon was a well-known campaigner with a clear advantage for being a two-time vice-president winner. Set side by side, Kennedy was an inexperienced senator from Massachusetts. It was obvious to see that Kennedy was the underdog in the debate while there were high expectations for Nixon to win the debate comfortably. The debate was being simultaneously aired on radio and television. Upon arriving for the debate, Nixon looked insubstantial and underweight due to his hospital stay earlier that month to treat an infection that had developed in his knee. Compared to the pale and weak-looking Nixon, Kennedy oozed calmness and composure. His skin was glowing in comparison to Nixon’s sweaty face, especially because he had denied to wear make-up beforehand. In addition, Nixon wore a suit jacket that was almost the same color as the stage background, because of this, he blended in and was not well defined. On the other hand, Kennedy wore a dark suit that differentiated well against the background and made him stand out. When Nixon stood up to speak to the studio audience, he

There are people out there that doubt the significance of body language, but this debate is a perfect example of why it should not be underestimated. According to the text, people that study nonverbal behavior use the term immediacy to describe actions that communicate warmth, closeness, friendliness, and involvement with other people. Kennedy effectively performed this while he spoke clearly and straight to the camera. This allowed the viewers to feel a sense of trustworthiness and confidence in him that they did not see in