Video: 'JFK vs. Nixon - 2nd 1960 debate'

(Friday, October 7, 1960, 7:30-8:30 p.m. EDT; during the 1960 United States presidential election) — The two leading candidates for President of the United States, Senator John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, and Vice President Richard M. Nixon, a Republican, clashed sharply on foreign policy and civil rights in their second televised debate tonight in Washington, D.C. at the television studios of WRC-TV. Continue reading Kennedy, Nixon clash on foreign policy and civil rights in second TV debate 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 7 1960) →

Video: 'George W. Bush and Al Gore 1st Presidential Debate 2000'

(Tuesday, October 3, 2000, 9:00-10:30 p.m. EDT; during the 2000 United States presidential election) — Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush presented starkly different stands on issues ranging from taxes to abortion to oil drilling tonight as Gore repeatedly cast Bush as a friend of the rich and Bush upbraided his rival as a Washington insider with big promises and few accomplishments. Continue reading Bush and Gore stake out differences in first 2000 general election presidential debate 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 2000) →

Video: '1960 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE #1 (JOHN F. KENNEDY VS. RICHARD NIXON) (9/26/60)'

(Monday, September 26, 1960, 8:30 p.m. CDT; during the 1960 United States presidential election) — The two leading candidates for President of the United States, Senator John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, and Vice President Richard M. Nixon, a Republican, participated in the first televised debate between presidential nominees in U.S. history tonight in Chicago at the television studios of WBBM-TV. Continue reading Kennedy and Nixon clash in first televised debate between major party presidential candidates 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 26 1960) →

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: 'Iran-Iraq War Documentary' (7 videos)

(Monday, September 22, 1980; during the Iran–Iraq War) — The Persian Gulf conflict between Iran and Iraq erupted into full-scale war today when Iraqi aircraft bombarded ten airfields in Iran to cripple the Iranian air force on the ground. Continue reading Iraqi aircraft bombard ten airfields in Iran as conflict erupts into full-scale war 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 22 1980) →

Video: '1980 Presidential Candidate Debate: Governor Ronald Reagan and Congressman John Anderson – 9/21/80'

(Sunday, September 21, 1980, 10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT; during the 1980 United States presidential election) — Republican nominee Ronald Reagan and independent candidate John B. Anderson disagreed on abortion, tax cuts, energy, defense and how to revitalize American cities in the first debate of the 1980 presidential campaign tonight at the Baltimore Convention Center but made only intermittent attacks on Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who chose not to participate. Continue reading Reagan, Anderson clash in first 1980 general election presidential debate 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 21 1980) →

Video: 'Fugitive Slave Act & Uncle Tom's Cabin'

(Wednesday, September 18, 1850) — The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, requiring that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate, was signed into law today by U.S. President Millard Fillmore. Continue reading President Fillmore signs act requiring escaped slaves be returned to their owners 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1850) →

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.