Nixon's Unfortunate Appearance

Nixon looked tired and sickly during the debate, even the New York Times mentioned “how drawn and weary the Vice President had looked.” The Democratic chairman of Utah echoed this saying, “Nixon did not look well, seemed much thinner after his illness.” It is important to note, however, that while Nixon’s appearance was talked about, it was being discussed separately from the outcome of the debate.

In a 2010 Time Magazine article, Northeastern University media historian Alan Schroeder said, “You couldn't wipe away the image people had seared in their brains from the first debate.” And, “Before the television debates, most Americans didn't even see the candidates — they read about them, they saw photos of them…This allowed the public to judge candidates on a completely different basis.” However, a close look at articles and interviews from the time shows that the majority of voters and the media were discussing the ideas and substance of the debate.