American Presidents Timeline Shaping the Nation & the Presidency C-SPAN in the Classroom
Career Paths to the Presidency
American Presidents Timeline Quiz
Additional C-SPAN Resources American Presidents American Writers Booknotes
Shaping the Nation and the Presidency
1960 First Televised Presidential Debate

1803
The Louisiana Purchase

1838-1839
The Trail of Tears

1850
The Fugitive Slave Law

1863
Gettysburg Address &
Emancipation Proclamation

1933
18th Amendment Repealed

1960
First Televised Presidential
Debate

1964
Civil Rights Act

1991
Persian Gulf

Make the connection between Presidents Kennedy and Nixon and the first televised presidential debate.

John F. Kennedy
from American Presidents

Watch Clip

 John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon participated in the first live, televised debate as a part of the campaign of 1960. Those who watched the telecast thought Kennedy had won, largely because he looked calm, physically in control, and attractive, whereas Nixon had a 5 o'clock shadow and appeared nervous. Those who listened to the debate on the radio thought Nixon had won.

Ayn Rand
from American Writers

Watch Clip

 Because of its ability to reach so many people, television had an impact on American culture-even more so than writers like Ayn Rand could. It was a way of connecting one part of the country to the other, thus minimizing cultural and regional differences. Television was an avenue for bringing the nation together.
Twenty Years of Public Affairs Programming. Created by America's Cable Companies.