Saturday, July 6, 2024

                                                 The Post-Journal

     Remembering The Nixon-Kennedy                         Debate

JUL 6, 2024

ROLLAND KIDDER 

One advantage of being old is that you have a long memory. I still remember the first televised Presidential debate in 1960 between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy.

There were some policy issues debated like the United States’ reaction to Chinese bombardment of two small islands, Quemoy and Matsu, off the coast of China. Should the United States go to war to protect these islands controlled by the Chinese Nationalist Government on Taiwan? There were also exchanges as to the economy and the general direction of the country at that time.

But, what was concluded from that first TV debate had nothing to do with the substance of the debate–it was that John F. Kennedy had more energy in the debate and Vice President Nixon looked tired and haggard. Commentaries afterward did not focus on the issues debated but on how the candidates looked and spoke. The general consensus was that Senator Kennedy had won that debate.

Fast forward to June 27, 2024, and a similar conclusion was rendered. People will not remember the issues that were discussed in the Presidential debate or of how many lies and distortions were voiced. They will remember that Donald Trump was “on top of his game,” was on the attack–and President Biden spoke softly, often mumbling his responses. It was not a good night for Joe Biden.

The independent voter, generally, after the debate, and wishing for a better result, was probably asking: “Why didn’t the Democrats come up with a younger, more energetic candidate?”

The answer to that, of course, is because of the power of the Presidency. It is almost impossible in our political system for a national political party to oppose its incumbent President. We have also seen how the “power of incumbency” is even hard to battle if the candidate is a once-defeated President. Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and a host of other Republicans found it impossible to dislodge Donald Trump.

What now can the Democrats do? Unfortunately, because of the political primary election system, the delegates to the Democratic Convention are locked into supporting the candidate they supported in the primary – Joe Biden. The only way that they could really desert him is if he releases them and allows for an “open convention.”

In short, we are captive of a system in choosing our Presidents which puts us in a political straitjacket. The old days of open conventions where candidates were chosen freely by the delegates is no more. Primary elections have displaced the discretion and candidate selection process of the old convention days.

As of this writing, the Republicans, or at least the MAGA Republicans, are having an early victory lap. It is still a long time until November, but Joe Biden and Donald Trump won’t change much over that time. If the election were held today, Donald Trump would likely be elected the next President of the United States.

The best hope for Democrats is that Joe Biden, for the good of the country and for the sake of his party, leaves the race and allows the Democratic Convention nominate a candidate from a younger generation.


(Rolland Kidder is a former New York state Assemblyman and was a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1980 and 1992.)

 

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