– Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
Within a few minutes of the Biden v. Trump US Presidential Debate Live, on 27th June,2024 at 21.00 ET ( 06.30 IST) at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta,Georgia, it was clear to any dispassionate observer/watcher, that the incumbent POTUS who showed up was ‘ile,tired and lacking in mental acuity’ to hold the most powerful office in the world. Biden presented a painful picture to his devoted. It was Donald J Trump who won by default despite the ‘obvious bluster and bravado full of alternate facts a.k.a. lies’. A poor advertisement for a proud nation as oldest democracy.
US declared itself free on July, 1776. The first U.S. Presidential elections was held on 15th Dec,1788. The most famous exchanges called Lincoln-Douglas, between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas between August 21, 1858 – October 15, 1858, were a cluster of seven debates in the 1858 Illinois senatorial campaign, are talked of, even today.
While the concept of televised political debates is commonplace today, their origin can be traced back to a single, groundbreaking event: the 1950 Senate race in Massachusetts between Democratic Congressman John F. Kennedy and Republican Congressman Richard Nixon. There is, however, a common misconception – their first encounter wasn’t on September 27th, 1950, but rather on September 21st.
This historic debate, broadcasted on radio and the relatively new medium of television, marked a turning point in American politics. It offered voters an unprecedented opportunity to see and hear the candidates directly, rather than relying solely on speeches and printed media. An interesting trivia is that the same Kennedy had passed 1000% as political donation from his father to Nixon, nine years earlier, appreciating his ‘anti-communist’ commitment.
The 1950s were a period of immense political and social change. The Cold War was intensifying, and anxieties about communism were rampant. The September 21st debate, aired on WBZ-TV in Boston, was a local affair. Neither candidate expected a large audience.The format was simple: both men delivered opening statements, then responded to questions posed by a moderator. While the debate lacked the intense back-and-forth of today’s televised encounters, it was groundbreaking in its use of the new medium.
The impact of the televised debate was significant. While viewership numbers were modest by today’s standards, the debate captured the national imagination. People who wouldn’t normally attend political rallies now had a front-row seat to the political process. Kennedy, with his youthful appearance and confident delivery, was seen as performing better on television than the sweating and somewhat nervous Nixon.
This initial success of televised debates paved the way for their increased use in future elections. The Kennedy-Nixon debates of 1960, which were viewed by millions nationally, are considered a landmark moment in American political history.
The 1950 Kennedy-Nixon debate holds historical significance for several reasons. It marked the dawn of televised political debates, forever altering the way voters engage with candidates. It showcased the power of television to shape public perception, a factor that continues to influence elections today. Finally, it highlighted the importance of a candidate’s personal image and communication skills in the television age.
While not the first debate between the two politicians, the September 21st, 1950 encounter stands as a testament to the evolving landscape of American politics. It ushered in a new era of political communication, one that continues to shape our democratic process.
American democracy is strange, unique and peculiar. The candidate who wins the POtuS election may not win the popular vote. The constitutionally mandated Electoral College beast, put in by the framers in 18th century, clinches the candidate. The latest candidate to succeed this route was Donald J Trump who best Hilary Clinton in Nov,2016, via the Electoral College, despite trailing by 3 million votes in popular stakes, by winning the ‘few critical swing States ‘, among the 50 States.
Now, age has become a huge issue in the oncoming Nov 2024. The challengers are the oldest candidates ever. Josef Biden is 81 years and Donald J Trump is 78 years. not far behind. Rupee Murdock backed Wall Street Journal, with an obvious GOP/Trump slant had recently written al story- which went viral, declaring that “behind closed doors,” President Joe Biden had shown “signs of slipping.” The story questioned Biden’s mental acuity, playing into a GOP-propelled narrative that the 81-year-old president lacks the fitness to hold the nation’s highest office. The report, “ Most of those who said Biden performed poorly were Republicans, but some Democrats said that he showed his age in several of the exchanges”, was questioned as ‘slanted and exaggerated’.
However, Josef R Biden proved the contents to be no far off the truth and reality. Even as the debate commences, the Democratic campaign managers , in a leak on social media said that ‘Biden was running a nasty cold’. It was clear that Bidrnvteam was covering up for the candidate who showed up on the debate stage.
Biden was ‘nervous and lacking in focus’, he ‘looked lost’, ‘was inchorrnt and worse’. Biden could not take Trump who was ‘galloping with lies’ as one of the CNN debate rules was that ‘there would be no fact-checking in real time’. Result: Trump trumped Biden fair and square.
The debate has had serious consequence that donors and aides associated in Biden campaign are meeting to persuade Biden to ‘withdrawn from the race’. He alone can decide. The timeline was short but sufficient, ahead of Aug 19,2024, Democratic Party Convention in Chicago.
This too is one facet of the oldest democracy which fascinates, in its multiple variants capturing the famed and apt quote from Winston Churchill, “ Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’
Would Biden pave the way for a younger Democratic nominee?
