A Clip From The Televised Nixon/Kennedy Debates

It's obvious here why these debates really gave Kennedy the edge. He is confident, speaks with a stronger voice, and of course is generally more attractive. Nixon also seems somewhat uneasy, especially at the beginning where his eyes dart back and forth and he replies to Kennedy's first statement with "no comment".

One important part of this clip, I think, is when Nixon talks about executive power and how advisors should play a part only when the president asks for their opinions. Obviously, this belief can be seen in his presidency, where he made himself the center of control based on his lack of trust in others.

The other important part of this video is when Kennedy speaks of the power of America in the context of the world. At this point in time, the arms race with the Soviet Union is in full swing, and Kennedy basically says that one of his goals is to make America more advanced than any other country.