“When we note the bare knuckled television fights of both candidates on the same stage, discussing the same issues, it is much like the pugilistic
contests in which the victor’s hand is raised in a decision of victory.”

“Both candidates are always screaming about making their position clear, but often they don’t”

[reactions to the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960]

“What we saw was not impressive. It did not inspire confidence…one also realized that these two men were one step away from the presidency because they were very wealthy, were willing contestants in the dehumanizing game of politics, and were able handlers of the mass media.”

[reaction to the Carter-Ford debates in 1976]

“The name of the game is now “image-building” and opinion shaping by way of the electronic media”

“Election-year Presidential politics being what they are, have never been noted for their coming to grips with the real, people oriented, bread and
butter issues.”

[reactions to the Reagan-Carter debates in 1980]

“Perhaps there is too much of an image problem involved in a televised debate”

[reaction to the Reagan-Mondale debates in 1984]

“The November 8th election is here, and Americans are going to the voting booth to choose our next president. But, this election has been unlike any
other.  Former Presidents are calling it a “farce” and a “joke.” The American people seem to be uninterested.”

[reaction to the Bush-Dukakis debates in 1988]

Do these statements ring a bell?  Do they echo the same statements being bandied about this election year?  It appears that for at least the past 56 years, since the first televised presidential debate in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, the American public has not found much confidence in what they were seeing.  So if you’re feeling downhearted about the slinging happening in the 2016 election, perusing our newspaper collection will let you know that it is nothing new.  One thing we can all probably agree on is the editorial comment from the October 15, 1960 issue of The Carolina Times from Durham as early voting starts up today in North Carolina.

“Talk about the election is great.  But a vote in the election is even better”