--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Modern presidential debating only started…" description: "\"Modern presidential debating only started with Richard Nixon and John F.Kennedy in 1960, although the proximity of that to the Lincoln-Douglas centenni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/allen-c-guelzo-17586_1960s_modern-presidential-debating-only-starte_1945442.jpg" --- # Modern presidential debating only started with Richard… ![“Modern presidential debating only started with Richard Nixon and John F.Kennedy in 1960, although the proximity of that to the Lincoln-Douglas centennial is more than accidental. The reason is, I think, the medium. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were talking, but the talking was in terms…” quote by Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/allen-c-guelzo-17586_1960s_modern-presidential-debating-only-starte_1945442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/allen-c-guelzo-17586_1960s_modern-presidential-debating-only-starte_1945442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d8/allen-c-guelzo-17586_1960s_modern-presidential-debating-only-starte_1945442.jpg) > “Modern presidential debating only started with Richard Nixon and John F.Kennedy in 1960, although the proximity of that to the Lincoln-Douglas centennial is more than accidental. The reason is, I think, the medium. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were talking, but the talking was in terms of logic, development, and reasoning. Television, as a medium, resists those qualities in speaking - it favors quick cuts, one-liners, and talking points. I think the modern debates are largely the prisoners of the televised medium” [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Television reshaped political debates, prioritizing sound bites over deep reasoning, limiting nuanced discourse. **In simple terms:** TV makes debates shallow. Key Takeaway Focus on substance over style. Themes media influence political communication debate format technology impact Mood critical analytical contemplative Type observational historical When to use this quote - campaign speeches - news panels - town hall meetings - online livestreams Key Concepts public opinion media theory political strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can modern media foster deeper political dialogue? - What formats preserve logical argumentation? A Different Perspective Television can also amplify diverse voices when used creatively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Prisoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisoner/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I suspect, too, that the modern debates represent the effort of candidates with widely-varying constituencies and special interests to please to tip the hat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/i-suspect-too-that-the-modern-debates-represent-the-effort-of/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [We shouldn't be debating whether to deal with the current code by allowing it to be extended or not. We should have a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-portman/we-shouldn-t-be-debating-whether-to-deal-with-the-current-code-by/) [Rob Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-portman/) > [If it gets to a situation where it turns into a debate, look, the person that I'm debating is the person that is writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-earnest/if-it-gets-to-a-situation-where-it-turns-into-a-debate-look-the/) [Josh Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-earnest/) > [When I'm debating others, whether it's Eleanor Clift or Bob Beckel, you're still in a fierce debate mode, but you're also on best behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/when-i-m-debating-others-whether-it-s-eleanor-clift-or-bob-beckel-you/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [Don't tell me you'll still be in power by then without free elections! Replyting to Nikita Khrushchev's invitation to attend his 90th birthday celebrations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nixon/don-t-tell-me-you-ll-still-be-in-power-by-then-without-free-elections/) [Richard Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nixon/) > [It's important to learn how to have conversations with other people where it's not debating but discussing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/it-s-important-to-learn-how-to-have-conversations-with-other-people/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it. Joseph Joubert I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-brierley/it-is-better-to-debate-a-question-without-settling-it-than-to-settle/) Justin Brierley > [Debating clubs among boys are very useful, not only as affording pleasant meetings and interesting discussions, but also as serving for training grounds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/debating-clubs-among-boys-are-very-useful-not-only-as-affording/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [The essence and foundation of House of Commons debating is formal conversation. The set speech, the harangue addressed to constituents, or to the wider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-essence-and-foundation-of-house-of-commons-debating-is-formal/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“Pause your opinions, debating and absolute knowing for long enough to conceive gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/pause-your-opinions-debating-and-absolute-knowing-for-long-enough-to/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I actually prepared Vice President Biden for his debate in the last election. I played Sarah Palin. It's a little tough debating a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-granholm/i-actually-prepared-vice-president-biden-for-his-debate-in-the-last/) [Jennifer Granholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-granholm/) > [We don't always agree on stuff, but when it's time to blow the whistle and start the game, we're not still debating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wagoner/we-don-t-always-agree-on-stuff-but-when-it-s-time-to-blow-the-whistle/) [Rick Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wagoner/) > [Beating up on public schools is not just our nation's favorite blood sport, but also a favorite conversational entertainment of the well-off - like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-tsing-loh/beating-up-on-public-schools-is-not-just-our-nation-s-favorite-blood/) [Sandra Tsing Loh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-tsing-loh/) > [We learn not for life but for the debating-room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/we-learn-not-for-life-but-for-the-debating-room/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I felt that politics was one place where I could possibly have a career in arguing, debating, and getting to write papers. I almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/i-felt-that-politics-was-one-place-where-i-could-possibly-have-a/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) ## More by Allen C. Guelzo > [Remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Whig far longer than he was a Republican. As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Abraham Lincoln would have been happy to have solved the slavery problem by compensation - in fact, drew up a gradual, compensated emancipation plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/abraham-lincoln-would-have-been-happy-to-have-solved-the-slavery/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [I suppose I've been interested in Abraham Lincoln for almost as long as I can remember. My first Lincoln book was the Classics Illustrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/i-suppose-i-ve-been-interested-in-abraham-lincoln-for-almost-as-long/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [The one who pursues revenge should dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-one-who-pursues-revenge-should-dig-two-graves/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Patriotism without criticism has no head; criticism without patriotism has no heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/patriotism-without-criticism-has-no-head-criticism-without-patriotism/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“Men who are industrious, and sober, and honest in the pursuit of their own interests should after a while accumulate capital, and after that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/men-who-are-industrious-and-sober-and-honest-in-the-pursuit-of-their/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-question-is-simply-this-can-a-negro-whose-ancestors-were-imported/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“have got Lee just where I want him; he must fight me on my own ground.” So he waited to see what would happen—which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/have-got-lee-just-where-i-want-him-he-must-fight-me-on-my-own-ground/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“On the side of the Union,” Lincoln said, it is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/on-the-side-of-the-union-lincoln-said-it-is-a-struggle-for/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [Corporations did not achieve the scale we normally associate with them until the 1880s; but it's still hard to imagine that Abraham Lincoln would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/corporations-did-not-achieve-the-scale-we-normally-associate-with/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“It seems only human nature to hang the label irrational on what we do not understand, since it is easy for us to assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/it-seems-only-human-nature-to-hang-the-label-irrational-on-what-we-do/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“Lincoln was “the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely who in no single instance reminded me of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/lincoln-was-the-first-great-man-that-i-talked-with-in-the-united/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“And so Jefferson wrote the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which organized the new territories of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin so that slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/and-so-jefferson-wrote-the-northwest-ordinance-of-1787-which/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [“The struggle of the Union and Confederate economies to supply and support their armies thus became a reflection of the prewar antagonism between liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-struggle-of-the-union-and-confederate-economies-to-supply-and/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [It is possible to have pardon without forgiveness-a murderer can be pardoned by the governor, but that does not mean the victim's family has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/it-is-possible-to-have-pardon-without-forgiveness-a-murderer-can-be/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) [Explore all 36 Allen C. Guelzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) ## More 1960s quotes > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-likely-to-disappear-in-a/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [ \[In the 1960s\]...you could take LSD but you couldn't wear a pantsuit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsey-johnson/in-the-1960s-you-could-take-lsd-but-you-couldn-t-wear-a-pantsuit/) [Betsey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsey-johnson/) > [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [I think the general anxiety of the 1960s - '70s spawned our interest in the living dead. When people worry about the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-think-the-general-anxiety-of-the-1960s-70s-spawned-our-interest-in/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“A friend once told me a story about a former Black Panther leader in a Midwest community who in the 1960s had his phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-j-rodr-guez/a-friend-once-told-me-a-story-about-a-former-black-panther-leader-in/) [Luis J. Rodríguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-j-rodr-guez/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [Under the system that we now have to nominate presidential candidates, for instance, I would prefer that we have a system that is closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/under-the-system-that-we-now-have-to-nominate-presidential-candidates/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [My son Bill, who came to me in 1960-he was 14 then, quoted the old parable to me: "It is not by their words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/my-son-bill-who-came-to-me-in-1960-he-was-14-then-quoted-the-old/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [There is a book called San Francisco Tape Music Centre:1960s Counterculture and the Avant-Garde and this book describes everything that you want to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/there-is-a-book-called-san-francisco-tape-music-centre-1960s/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [Much of the art of the 1960s, from body art to video and direct performance, was concerned with similar issues. And then there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valie-export/much-of-the-art-of-the-1960s-from-body-art-to-video-and-direct/) [Valie Export](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valie-export/) > [I went through college in the 1960s without having any idea that I was going to have to make a living. When I graduated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-prose/i-went-through-college-in-the-1960s-without-having-any-idea-that-i/) [Francine Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-prose/) > [“At the beginning of a decade when everything was beginning to seem possible, nothing seemed impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/at-the-beginning-of-a-decade-when-everything-was-beginning-to-seem/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) Browse all 486 1960s quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Modern presidential debating only started with Richard Nixon and John F.Kennedy in 1960, although the proximity of that to the Lincoln-Douglas centennial is more than accidental. The reason is, I think, the medium. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were talking, but the talking was in terms of logic, development, and reasoning. 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