The following coursework deals with the first Kennedy - Nixon debate that was
broadcast live on television, on September 26th1960. In its first part it will concentrate on the question of what constitutes a debate and how it can be contrasted with other types of conversation like discussion or arguement. Especially political speech has always been reproached for ambigious language or persuasive usage to deceive the listener. Thus, the coursework will digress a bit to investigate the matter a bit further before starting to juxtapose the video material of the television debate - important terminology shall be introduced beforehand - and the speeches as such in their raw material.
At the end of the coursework you will find a DVD attached that shows the first television debate of Kennedy and Nixon. As several pictures of this debate are included in this coursework, I will quickly explain how to find them on the DVD.
The DVD contains two chapters with 4 tracks each. The tracks, however, are not as important as the chapters since the counter starts again at 0:00:00 as soon as the second chapter starts. The entire DVD has an approximate running time of 30 minutes, 15 minutes for each chapter. Thus, referring to a specific point in the video material, I simply put down the time-code where to find it, for instance 0:12:23, which means 12 minutes and 23 seconds in the first chapter, while 0:12:23 [2] refers to the same time-code but in the second chapter, as indicated by the number in brackets.
Table of Contents
I Introduction
II What is a debate?
III Political debates and the communication process
IV On the subject of 'persuasive' language
V Setting up a debate on TV
VI Evaluation of the visuals
VII Evaluation of what is audible
VIII Ear vs. Eye – A conclusion
IX Appendix – Opening statements
X References
Objectives & Research Focus
This coursework examines the inaugural 1960 Kennedy-Nixon television debate, analyzing how the medium of television influences political discourse, audience perception, and the performative nature of political communication.
- The distinction between a 'debate' and a 'discussion' in political contexts.
- The impact of visual staging and camera work on candidate perception.
- Discourse analysis of the candidates' opening statements.
- The role of non-verbal cues and personal appearance in voter evaluation.
- The power of television as a tool for political propaganda and persuasion.
Excerpt from the Book
Evaluation of the visuals
Not unanimously agreed on (see Petter-Zimmer:14) is that Kennedy was only voted for President by a narrow margin because of his television debate. The people, who had seen the debate on TV were in favour of Kennedy, the people, however, who had only followed the debate on the radio were in favour of his opponent Nixon. A visual analysis of the video footage (the DVD is included at the end of the coursework), thus, shall be of great importance in order to validate some truth to that unproven fact.
Let us start with the opening master shot, showing the two runners for presidency, John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon on either end of the screen, and the mediator or TV presenter Howard K. Smith between them. Kennedy on the left is sitting very relaxed, with crossed legs and his hands folded, waiting for his turn to start. Nixon, on the other hand, makes a slightly awkward appearance.
His pose looks uncertain and by no means relaxed, with his right foot more shifted to the front than his left leg. His left arm rests on the arm of the chair while his other arm rests on his knee. Kennedy’s way of sitting conveys self-confidence, while Nixon’s evokes thoughts of apprehension and uncertainty.
Summary of Chapters
I Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the first televised Kennedy-Nixon debate and explaining the methodology for referencing the provided video material.
II What is a debate?: Defines the term 'debate' by contrasting it with 'discussion' and examining its function as a formal presentation of opposing positions.
III Political debates and the communication process: Investigates the 'trialogic' nature of TV debates, where politicians address the audience and the public while maintaining the appearance of a discussion.
IV On the subject of 'persuasive' language: Analyzes the function of persuasive language in political contexts, arguing that it is a general function of speech rather than a inherently negative one.
V Setting up a debate on TV: Explains the technical aspects of television production and camera composition and their impact on the viewer's perception of the candidates.
VI Evaluation of the visuals: Conducts a visual analysis of Kennedy and Nixon, identifying key differences in appearance, body language, and stage presence.
VII Evaluation of what is audible: Provides a discourse analysis of the opening statements, examining lexical choices, rhetorical devices, and arguments used by both candidates.
VIII Ear vs. Eye – A conclusion: Concludes that visual presentation played a decisive role in Kennedy's success, noting that TV can overshadow pure rhetorical substance.
IX Appendix – Opening statements: Contains the full transcripts of the opening statements made by John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon.
X References: Lists the academic sources and supplementary materials consulted for this study.
Keywords
Kennedy-Nixon Debate, Political Communication, Television Debate, Rhetoric, Discourse Analysis, Visual Staging, Persuasion, Propaganda, Media Impact, Election Campaign, Body Language, Public Debate, Political Speech, Television Production, American Politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work examines the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon, analyzing how the television medium influenced the public perception of the candidates.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the rhetoric of political debate, the influence of visual staging, the distinction between radio and television audiences, and the power of non-verbal cues.
What is the central research question?
The research explores how the visual medium of television changed the nature of political debate and why Kennedy was perceived as the winner by television viewers while radio listeners leaned toward Nixon.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a combination of visual analysis, focusing on shot composition and candidate body language, and discourse analysis of the opening statements to compare the two candidates.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the definition of debates, the technical setup of televised interviews, a detailed comparative analysis of the candidates' visual appearances, and a deep dive into their opening statements.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include political communication, television debate, rhetoric, discourse analysis, media impact, and campaign performance.
How does the author interpret the candidates' body language?
The author highlights Kennedy's relaxed, self-assured demeanor in contrast to Nixon's tense, awkward appearance, suggesting these visual cues significantly influenced the public's perception of leadership capability.
What is the role of the appendix in this paper?
The appendix provides the original transcripts of the opening statements, serving as the raw data for the discourse analysis conducted in the section "Evaluation of what is audible."
What is the author's final conclusion regarding the debate?
The author concludes that while both candidates were skilled speakers, the medium of television introduced visual elements that favored Kennedy's professional appearance, thereby proving the power of TV in political image-making.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2004, The Kennedy-Nixon Debates - Political Speech on TV, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/46955
