Trivia: Who faced JFK in the first televised presidential debate?
Dwight Eisenhower
Richard Nixon
Ronald Reagan
George H.W. Bush
The correct answer is Richard Nixon
So why is this answer correct? : On September 26, 1960, John F. Kennedy went up against Richard Nixon in the first-ever televised presidential debate. Kennedy’s charismatic presence on camera helped him come out ahead of Nixon, who refused to wear makeup and appeared visibly sweaty. Though Nixon fared better in future debates, this moment in TV history turned the early tides in favor of Kennedy, who went on to win the presidency.