RTV 3007 • Intro to Television The Kennedy Years RTV 3007 • Intro to Television

KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE, 1960 September 26, 1960 First televised presidential debate Showed the power of image on television TV watchers thought that Kennedy won Radio listeners thought that Nixon won Clip from debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QazmVHAO0os

KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE, 1960 “Nixon appeared emaciated, unhealthy, and awkward. He arrived at the studio after a strenuous campaign where he appeared in all 50 states. He had lost 5 pounds and his shirt collar was loose.. He refused to have theatrical makeup applied to his face, but later applied Lazy Shave, a product designed to hide five o’clock shadow. It melted during the debate. Nixon's gray suit blended in with the background, especially on the era's black and white television screens.”

KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE, 1960 On the other hand, Kennedy appeared handsome, tanned and confident. Kennedy took time to rest before the debates and his suit contrasted well against the background. After the election, Kennedy became a regularly recurring face on television.

Camelot and Documentary Kennedy was a natural for TV. He made a documentary, Primary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLkT7z0C5Bc), about his run for president. His willingness to go on TV inspired TV news to produce more and better documentaries: The Real West showed real life during America’s westward expansion, in contrast to Bonanza End of the Trail showed the lives of native Americans Biography of a Bookie Joint helped launch Investigative reporting http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/bio-of-a-bookie-joint/ Sit-In (1960) showed African-American resistance to segregation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT9gILdTaWo

THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS January 1, 1959 – Fidel Castro assumes power in Cuba. January 3, 1961 - the US severs diplomatic ties with Cuba. April 17, 1961 – Bay of Pigs invasion August 10, 1962 – Photos show Soviets may have missiles in Cuba October 14-17 1962 – Photos prove that the Soviets have installed nuclear warheads in Cuba October 21, 1962 – Photos show that Soviet fighter jets armed with nuclear missiles are assembling in Cuba

The Cuban Missile Crisis On October 22, 1962, 7pm - President Kennedy addresses the country. The US will blockade Cuba. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W50RNAbmy3M  DEFCON2 Pt 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwz7YAQj-r0 Pt. 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTFSv_2GHoA Pt.5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Ou0yeBhAY Pt6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi5fjchszLM

March Toward Civil Rights on TV In the early 1960s, Americans saw racial injustice and the demand for civil rights play out in the news and on television May 1963 – The Children’s March on Birmingham, AL: http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/civil-rights-movement- birmingham-campaign TV captures excessive use of Police force on marchers in Birmingham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joc3CRL6x4E June 1963 - Governor George Wallace tries to stop 2 black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WbLGlIzW88 August 28, 1963 – The March on Washington http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wDU-oYQN04 The Sixties: A Long March to Freedom: https://vimeo.com/113176619

The Assassination of JFK November 23, 1963 Walter Cronkite announces the death of John F. Kennedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PXORQE5-CY Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president 99 minutes later Funeral of JFK was televised. Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuJjaOKITn4