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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Nov. 4, 1960
Professors Praise 'Great' Debates
By Wil Linkugel and Frank E. X. Dance Assistant Professors of Speech
Sixty million Americans viewe each of the Nixon-Kennedy debates. This total of 240 million is more than seven times the population of the United States during the famed Lincoln-Douglas encounters. We feel that the magnitude of exposure implicated by these numbers is one of the weightiest arguments in favor of the Great Debates.
At the beginning of this campaign Nixon was a household word due to the increased importance of the vice presidency, while Kennedy was known to a small segment of Democratic partisans. Three months after the conventions, the names, faces, and personalities of both candidates are known to the great majority of the electorate.
THIS ENLIGHTENMENT of the electorate is of vast importance in the American system of free elections. In order to vote intelligently one must know for whom he is voting. In previous elections, Democrats heard Democrats; Republicans heard Republicans. In 1960, in order for a Democrat to hear his party's spokesman he also heard the opposition. One result of this novel exposure was an electorate forced to come face to face with some of the major issues of our times.
Some critics have complained that the key issues dealt with by the candidates in these debates were chosen more for their dramatic value than for their importance in national and world affairs. Issues such as Quemoy and Matsu, international communism, the future of Cuba, and agricultural parity, although dramatic, are anything but trivial.
THESE QUESTIONS, together with a cover revelation of the candidates' comparative maturity, were given four hours exposure to the public eye. This is an invaluable contribution. On the other hand, time was wasted discussing nasty language in the White House and the possible "eye for an eye" policy of the future president in event of enemy provocation. These questions, which must have seemed trivial to all listeners, were raised not by the candidates but by the panel, and were pursued not by the speakers, but by the questioners. This is not necessarily the fault of the debate concept. There is nothing inherent in debating which calls for questions submitted by a panel of newsmen.
GREATER THEMATIC unity in the debates would have produced more adequate consideration of major issues, such as civil rights, labor, and medical care for the aged—which received but a glancing blow. It is to be presumed that all viewers would like to have seen a more thorough handling of these important matters.
A research team at Yale University has been examining the critical elements in persuasion. One of the findings of this group is that the first argument presented seems to have an advantage in the minds of the hearers due to its prime position. Looking at each debate in this series as a portion of a total persuasive position we might refer to the first debate as argument number one.
We feel that Senator Kennedy presented his strongest and most appealing image in this first encounter, while Vice President Nixon presented his firmest and most dynamic image in the last debate. This developing change was noticeable throughout the series, but Kennedy's primacy remained a great advantage.
RECAPITULATION of the debates.
First debate — Sept. 6. Kennedy wins in his best showing.
Second debate - Oct. 7. Kennedy held on to win this debate but Nixon improved.
Third debate — Oct. 13. Kennedy again wins on the strength of his logical acuity as Nixon reverted to emotionalism.
Fourth debate - Oct. 21. Nixon wins in his best performance. Kennedy lacked the assurance in this final debate that showed in the preceding ones.
Based on the preceding recapitulation and boxscore, it is our judgment that Sen. Kennedy gained stature, popularity, and votes, besides winning the Great Debates. Perhaps this explains the collapse of the projected fifth debate.
SOME QUESTIONS we need to be answered by those planning future series of great debates are as follows:
1. Is the panel format, as used in this series of debates, the best choice for such debates?
2. Should there be greater concentration of a single theme for each debate in the series?
3. Would it not be beneficial to have printed transcripts of the debates made available immediately following the television appearance?
4. Does this type of communicative interplay highlight the nonessential qualities in future presidents?
5. What are the ethical dimensions involved in the building of a presidential image?
ONE OF THE MOST important criterion for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Great Debates on the political campaign of 1960 will be revealed to the American public sometime on November 9.
Rather than usurp the prerogatives of the vote counters we would like to turn our attention to the effect of the Great Debate approach on future campaigns. It is our contention that future presidential candidates will find themselves under tremendous public pressure to meet in the television forum. It is our hope that the American public will make sure that the candidates accede to their wish.
Official Bulletin
Items for the Official Bulletin must oe brought to the public relations office, 231 Strong, before 9:30 a.m. on the day of publication, or public mailman to The Daily Kansan. Notices should include name, place, date, and time of function.
American Society of Tool and Manufacturing Engineers' Industrial Tour of Sheffield Steel Plant C. C. Mac Leaving Steel Plant 5:45 a.m. Magnificent sign Roster in Fowler for reservations!
TODAY
Jewish Religious Services will be held at the Danforth Chapel, starting at 7 p.m.
Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. 7:30 p.m. BM 829 Mississippi. Bible study and information for following study. Call VI 2-0292 for more information or a ride.
Catholic Services. 8 and 10 a.m. Fraser
cafeteria. Facebook, coffee social
at Union following 10.00 mass.
Lutheran Student Association. 10 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church. Coffee hour
discussion on "A Christian and His
World."
Episcopal Evening Prayer. 9:30 p.m.
Danforth Chapel.
Westminster Sunday Worship 11 a.m.
Patton's section is "Key Word of Life." Patton's
section is "Key Word of Life."
SUNDAY
Lutheran Students Association, 5:15 p.m. Cottonwood Room, Student Union. Mission Heard The 20th Century Soateres Going Head to Head "Mr. Charles Adami will be the leader."
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play this one to the hilt. Some of the 11 men in the plane in the dream were not starters but 10 minutes before game time, he called the team together, gave them the starting lineup, the first play and told them what had happened in his dream.
THE BIG BARN
Two weeks later, Nebraska's overpowering Cornhuskers, perennial scourges of the league, came to Lawrence. The Huskers rolled up a 20-0 halftime lead and all but blew Kansas off the field.
Phog's dream came true as on the first play Harley Little rambled around left end for 85 yards and a touchdown. Not an Iowa State player touched him as he weaved through the entire team. Kansas fans went wild. The Jayhawks went on to win 7-0 and started the rebirth of a new era.
But in the second half, after one of Coach Allen's famed talks, Kansas came out with vengeance. The final score was 20-20 and the greatest tie in KU history.
KU Stadium, Spirit End to Fancy Vision
Kansas had done the impossible and the school was aflame. On the following Monday morning at a great mass meeting the students pledged $160,000 to a World War Memorial Stadium. This was the needed impetus.
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LAWRENCE and Kansas City University backers matched the students' $160,000 and the stadium fund drive was off to a fast start.
A few weeks later, at the end of the season, a school holiday was granted for the purpose of razing the old athletic plant. The men of the University, some 2,000 strong donned overalls and jackets and with axes and hammers razed the wooden bleachers.
Bulletin
Donald K. Alderson, dean of men, broke up a tar and feather party held at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house for the pledge class president at noon.
The tar and feather party was held in retaliation for the pledge class walk-out.
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