Video: 'Howdy Doody Show September 24, 1960 Full Last Episode'

(Saturday, September 24, 1960, 10:00-11:00 a.m. EDT) — Clarabell the Clown, who had used pantomime and honking horns to communicate for 13 years on Howdy Doody but had never spoken, surprised his audience today by saying, “Goodbye, kids” on the final episode of the American children’s television series featuring host Buffalo Bob Smith. Continue reading ‘Clarabell’s Big Surprise’ revealed on ‘Howdy Doody’ series finale 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 24 1960) →

Video: 'The Primary Source: JFK's 1960 Speech'

(Monday, September 12, 1960, 9:00 p.m. CDT; during the 1960 United States presidential election) — Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, bluntly told a group of 300 Protestant clergymen meeting tonight at Rice Hotel in Houston that he would resign the presidency if holding it ever required violating his conscience or the national interest. Continue reading ‘I am not the Catholic candidate for President’: JFK addresses ‘religious issue’ head on 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1960) →

Video: 'IFP:135 F-12-1M Eisenhower on Nixon - JFK Campaign Spot'

(Wednesday, August 24, 1960, 10:30-11:00 a.m. EDT; during the 1960 United States presidential election) — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had long been ambivalent about Vice President (and now GOP presidential nominee) Richard Nixon, held a televised press conference today in which a reporter, Charles Mohr of Time, mentioned Nixon’s claims that he had been a valuable administration insider and adviser.

Mohr asked Eisenhower if he could give an example of a major idea of Nixon’s that he had heeded. Eisenhower responded with the flip comment, “If you give me a week, I might think of one.”

Although both Eisenhower and Nixon later claimed that he was merely joking with the reporter, the remark hurt Nixon, as it undercut his claims of having greater decision-making experience than Nixon’s Democratic opponent, Senator John F. Kennedy.

The remark proved so damaging to Nixon that the Democrats turned Eisenhower’s statement into a television commercial.