Highest Rated Presidential Debates

1) Nixon vs Kennedy (1960) (1 of 5)

1) Nixon vs Kennedy (1960) (1 of 5)

The highest rated presidential debate ever, the October 13 encounter between Democratic Presidential Nominee John F Kennedy and Republican Vice President Richard Nixon was the highest rated Presidential debate at 61%. Kennedy was up and running, looking his usual confident self while Nixon who had just recovered from an illness went on air without make up.

For the TV audiences, the way Nixon looked and Kennedy’s punches meant that the man affectionately known as JFK won the debate and the Presidential elections which followed.