The Great Debates: John F. Kennedy Vs. Nixon

John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, or better and more simply known as Kennedy and Nixon, competed against each other in the presidential election that took place in 1960. As many people are aware, they debated heavily during their run for president at a time when the need for a compelling leader was desperately needed in the United States. Both these runners were influential people during their time and had their own unique ways of showing it. Kennedy was a young but energetic Massachusetts senator from a very elite family from New England while Nixon was a seasoned lawmaker who was currently serving as the vice president of the United States. On one hand, Nixon had a much greater foreign policy experience and had spent almost eight years as the United States’ second-in-command meanwhile Kennedy’s youth and religious background was considered to be a disadvantage by nearly the entire nation. If it weren’t for their constant debates and opportunity to compete publicly against one another, Kennedy would have had no shot in even remotely winning the presidential election of 1960.

Not only did they contribute to the overall presidential election but they were influential in how people began to view others through the media. The difference between Kennedy and Nixon’s overall appearance and body language was able to speak louder than words. It gave off a sense of professionalism which lead the audience to chose one side over the other. Had Kennedy been less prepared and less physically appealing, his audience may have leaned more towards Nixon and may have changed the world entirely. Physical appearance, body language, and nonverbal cues and messages have become so important in today’s time in age and has been a prominent factor in how the rest of the world makes their decisions, especially when it comes to presidential