Today in American History 09/26/1969: First Televised Presidential Debate - Nixon and Kennedy

Today in American History, 09/26/1960, John Kennedy and Richard Nixon engaged in the first televised presidential debate in history.  It can be said that television has changed the world, and can be seen as a window into an opiate view of American and world cultures.  Our language and day-to-day activities have been altered because of the technology as we have all been subject to periods of being "couch potatoes" and scheduling our time around what time shows such a "The Andy Griffith Show", the season premier of "The Sopranos" or the finales of shows like "M*A*S*H" or "Seinfeld".  We were all glued to our televisions during events such as the first space shuttle launch, news coverage of the Oklahoma City Bombing and 9/11 and scheduled events such as the Olympics.  And who can argue the impact of television on professional sporting events such as The Super Bowl (go ahead, NFL, sue me).  

Kennedy Nixon Debate, 09/26/1960

With all of those things combined, no one can say that television has not influenced and impacted the lives of everyone in the world in an irreversible and undeniable way.  An argument can be made that it is leading to the downfall of society (see MTV and it's introduction of reality TV as examples) or that it has helped to develop culture and learning (see Sesame Street and PBS as examples).  One of the biggest things that has been influenced (for better or worse) in American is our politics.  And, today in history in 1960, for the first time in history, Americans were able to see and hear their candidates debate on television.  While this was not the first time a President on television -- (President Theodore Roosevelt appeared on television in 1939 at the World's Fair and President Harry Truman gave the first Presidential address in 1947 on television) -- this was the first time two candidates debated and gave the public the opportunity to form an indelible impression of their candidates based on how they looked while they discussed the topics of the day.  The two major party candidates met in Chicago and the broadcast was carried on all the major stations.  This debate is still considered to be the highest rated debate in history based in Nielson's ratings, although it did not reach nearly the number of people the debates reach today.  

Click below to watch the debate:

The debate lasted for one hour and it delivered interesting results.  It was the prevailing opinion that to those who watched it on television, the younger and more charismatic John Kennedy won the debate easily.  While those who listened to the debate on the traditional medium, radio, would have thought that Richard Nixon won.  This alone is a fascinating commentary on the power of television.  Most folks said that in comparison to Kennedy, Nixon seemed nervous and unprepared.  And some said that Nixon's decision to wear make up impacted the public's perception of him.

There were two other televised debates, and Nixon scored much higher in those debates but was still slated as losing them in the eye of the public.  And in this case, it was truly the eye -- and not the ear that mattered -- because in November of 1960 John F. Kennedy won 49.7% of the popular vote and edged Richard Nixon for the Presidency of the United States of America.  While it is the closest popular vote in history (49.7 to 49.6), It is not an uncommon belief that Kennedy's visual power on television was the deciding factor in the election.  It is worth noting that because of the results, in 1964, 1968 and 1972 at least one of the candidates refused to debate on television and as a result, and as only carried on radio.  It was not until 1976 when Jimmy Carter debated Gerald Ford, did the debates return to television and have been televised every election since.

It is worth nothing that the format of the debates is very much in the public eye today, as only Republicans and Democrats are eligible to be included in the debates.  There is a strong movement afoot led by Gary Johnson who seeks to change the rules so that leading alternate party candidates would be allowed to debate on a national stage.

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Bruce holds a degree in Computer Science from Temple University, a Graduate Certificate in Biblical History from Liberty University and is working towards a Masters Degree in American History at American Public University.  He has worked in educational and technology for over 18 years, specializes in building infrastructures for schools that work to support the mission of technology in education in the classroom.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  

Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel -- with a new book, Learn the Basics: Digital Forensics, due soon. 

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American History 101: Battle of Brandywine Creek 09/11/1777

Today September 11th has a specific and well-defined meaning to Americans, and even to many people around the world.  The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania will go down in history as the horrific tragedy to ever occur on this date.  However, it is not the only tragedy that occurred on September 11th in American History.  In 1777 on September 11th in the beautiful Brandywine Valley of Southeaster Pennsylvania, not far from Delaware, General George Washington's army engaged with the British lead by General William Howe in a battle that -- if Howe and Cornwallis had any idea what as going on -- could have been the end of the American Revolution.  As it stood, Washington got luck and the American revolutionaries still lost control over the city of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Campaign of the war.

On September 11th, 1777 the British sailed into Elk Head (now Elkton, MD).  The British initially handled the little resistance they encountered on their march north from Elk Head to Philadelphia, and handled the ragtag Americans with ease.  General Washington had foritified his army just south of Chadds Ford, and the rest behind the Brandywine Creek near Kennet Square.  Washington expected the British to march headlong into the soldiers at Chadds Ford and would then use the soldiers at Brandywine as a second punch into the gut of Howe and his redcoats.  Unfortunately, Howe split his army.  He sent a portion of his army straight into Chadds Ford, just as Washington expected.  But he also sent a portion of the army north, having them cross the Brandywine and circle back towards the Americans on their left flank.  

Washington never saw them coming.

Washington, being a solid field general if not a great tactician at the time, reacted quickly and pushed three divisions to meet Howe's men at what is not the Old Kennett Meeting House and put up a nasty fight.  But even with intense resolve, after several hours Howe's men pushed through the American line and pushed Washington back on his heels.  At the same time the Hessian General Knyphausen sent his troops into Chadds Ford and overwhelmed the Americans who were already exhausted and fighting at a reduced force from successfully defending against Cornwallis' first charge.  As Knyphausen overran the Americans, Howe retreated and circled back to help Knyphausen and Cornwallis.  This would prove to be a fortuitous moment in American history.

This combination caused the main portion of the American Army to retreat northeast towards Philadelphia, leaving General Nathaneal Greene to stand fast and put up enough resistance to allow Washington's army to retreat out of

the fight -- and live to fight another day.  Greene's fortitude and defense, combined with Howe's decision proved to be the factors that saved the American Revolution.  

In the Battle of Brandywine Creek, the Americans lost 300, had 600 wounded and 400 captured.  These numbers were a significant blow to the American cause.  It reduced the efficacy of Washington's army to the point that it could not put up any defense of Philadelphia as the British marched north.  Washington sent couriers north ahead of his army to alert the city that the British were en route and he could not stop them.  At the time, Philadelphia was the capital of the United States -- but it was moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a short time and then to York, Pennsylvania.  

Historians agree that there is little question that had General Howe continued to push, and not circled back, that he could have defeated Washington and the Americans at Brandywine once and for all.  But Howe thought there were another 10,000 men at Brandywine and took his victory and marched north without trying to deliver a death blow.  And if General's Greene and Stirling did not put up a strong defense as Washington retreated, the capital itself might have been captured at this time.  The British took Philadelphia on September 26, 1777.


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Bruce holds a degree in Computer Science from Temple University, a Graduate Certificate in Biblical History from Liberty University and is working towards a Masters Degree in American History at American Public University.  He has worked in educational and technology for over 18 years, specializes in building infrastructures for schools that work to support the mission of technology in education in the classroom.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  

Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel -- with a new book, Learn the Basics: Digital Forensics, due soon. 

Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook! 

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American History 101: The Dred Scott Case

When Dred Scott filed his original law suit in 1846, he was not only suing for his own freedom, but he was reaching out to grasp at the right of freedom for his wife, his children and the for that of black Americans for generations to come.  And at the time, the decision stung as much as any whip that was wielded by any slave owner.

What has since become known as "The Dred Scott Case" began in 1846 as Scott v. Emerson.  Dred Scott had

attempted to purchase his freedom from his owner, Irene Emerson.  When she refused Scott filed a lawsuit to attempt to win his freedom in court.  In previous years, Scott had traveled with Dr. Emerson around the country which included several years in free states and free territories.  During that time he met and married his wife in a civil ceremony before a Justice of the Peace in the free territory of Wisconsin.  This was unusual for a slave, as slave marriages were generally not recognized.  And then while still in a free state, his wife gave birth to two daughters.  In total, Scott and his wife lived in a free state or territory for over two years consecutively.  Scott's lawsuit in 1846 was based on the Missouri legal precedent that held that slaves could be freed under an extended residence in a free state or territory.  And in that situation, when they returned to Missouri (a slave state), they would remain free.  The original case in 1846 was decided against Scott, but was retried because it was found that Mrs. Emerson's testimony regarding the events that occurred during Dr. Scott's travels was here-say.  Dred Scott won the re-trial.  

In 1852, Mrs. Emerson appealed the decision and the higher court threw out the lower courts decision, and the Scott family remained Emerson slaves.  This decision was a landmark case in Missouri because, in essence, the court threw out twenty eight years of legal precedent when it held that because of growing anti-slavery sentiment in free states, Missouri no longer had to defer to the laws of any free state.

Justice Roger B. Taney

And then in 1853, Mrs. Emerson moved to Massachusetts and transferred ownership of the Scott's to her brother, John Sanford.  At the time Sanford was a resident of New York, so when Scott files suit again for his freedom he did so in Federal Court under the diversity of citizenship rules.  Scott lost in federal district court, but appealed to the United States Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court heard and ruled on the case in 1857.  In what was, at the time, a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled against Scott 7-2.  The court found that no one of African ancestry could ever be a citizen of the United States, and as such had no standing to bring a law suit in Federal Court under the diversity of citizenship rules.  But the court did not stop there by just throwing the case out of court.  The court also ruled that the idea that Scott was free because he resided in free states or territories was invalid because the law that allowed this, the Missouri Compromise, was unconstitutional.  And then, after striking down the Missouri Compromise of 1820, it went on to rule that the Ordinance of 1787 (which conferred citizenship to slaves) could not confer citizenship to non-whites in the Northwest territories.  And in addition to that, the court ruled that Scott was considered the private property of Dr. and Mrs. Emerson, and now John Sanford.  And because of this he was considered private property and as such was protected by the Fifth Amendment which held that not property can be taken from its owner without due process.

When Chief Justice Roger B. Taney wrote the majority opinion one can only imagine that he felt he was striking a blow to the anti-slavery movement and the abolition cause.  Instead he incited public outrage and fueled the fire of the abolitionists.  The chasm between the north and south had never been deeper then it was in 1857, just four years before the agitation between states rights, individual rights and the basic differences between the north and south would ignite into one of the greatest tragedies in American history: The Civil War.  One could easily point and claim that the Dred Scott Case was one of the single biggest flames in the fire of the upcoming war.


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Bruce holds a degree in Computer Science from Temple University, a Graduate Certificate in Biblical History from Liberty University and is working towards a Masters Degree in American History at American Public University.  He has worked in educational and technology for over 18 years, specializes in building infrastructures for schools that work to support the mission of technology in education in the classroom.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  

Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel -- with a new book, Learn the Basics: Digital Forensics, due soon. 

Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook!