This Day in History:, First Kennedy-Nixon Debate . September 26, 1960. The debate between the two major party presidential candidates was the first to be televised in U.S. history. The presidential hopefuls met in Chicago to discuss U.S. domestic affairs. Nixon declined to wear makeup. He came across as nervous to television viewers. Kennedy’s charisma helped him to rise as the apparent winner. Weeks after the debates, Kennedy won the popular vote by one of the narrowest margins in U.S. presidential election history. Televised presidential debates have been conducted for every campaign since 1976
