Sunday 22 November 2015

Television and the Kennedy presidency

April 3, 1960: Sen. John F. Kennedy, Democratic presidential nominee, sits next to a playback of his televised appearance in Milwaukee, Wis. for the Wisconsin presidential primary two days later.
April 3, 1960: Sen. John F. Kennedy, Democratic presidential nominee, sits next to a playback of his televised appearance in Milwaukee, Wis. for the Wisconsin presidential primary two days later.

Sept. 26, 1960: Moderator Howard K. Smith sits between Sen. John Kennedy, left, and Vice President Richard Nixon as they appear on television studio monitor set during their debate in Chicago. The Kennedy image, the "mystique" that attracts tourists and historians alike, did not begin with his presidency and is in no danger of ending 50 years after his death. The multimedia story began in childhood with newsreels and newspaper coverage of the smiling Kennedy brood, and it continued with books, photographs, movies and finally television, notably the telegenic JFK's presidential debates with Nixon.
Sept. 26, 1960: Moderator Howard K. Smith sits between Sen. John Kennedy, left, and Vice President Richard Nixon as they appear on television studio monitor set during their debate in Chicago. The Kennedy image, the "mystique" that attracts tourists and historians alike, did not begin with his presidency and is in no danger of ending 50 years after his death. The multimedia story began in childhood with newsreels and newspaper coverage of the smiling Kennedy brood, and it continued with books, photographs, movies and finally television, notably the telegenic JFK's presidential debates with Nixon.
Sept. 26, 1960: Jacqueline Kennedy tunes in the television in her home in Hyannis Port, Mass., just before her husband John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon were to enter into a nationally telecast debate. Mrs. Kennedy was also host to a group of Democratic officials and friends at a TV watching party.
Sept. 26, 1960: Jacqueline Kennedy tunes in the television in her home in Hyannis Port, Mass., just before her husband John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon were to enter into a nationally telecast debate. Mrs. Kennedy was also host to a group of Democratic officials and friends at a TV watching party.
Oct. 21, 1960: Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. John F. Kennedy, center left, and Republican candidate, Vice President Richard Nixon, stand in a television studio during their presidential debate in New York. Polls found those who listened on radio awarded Nixon the debate victory. Those watching on TV gave Kennedy the nod.
Oct. 21, 1960: Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. John F. Kennedy, center left, and Republican candidate, Vice President Richard Nixon, stand in a television studio during their presidential debate in New York. Polls found those who listened on radio awarded Nixon the debate victory. Those watching on TV gave Kennedy the nod.
Jan. 25, 1961: President John F. Kennedy talks to reporters in Washington, Jan. 25, 1961, in his first press conference as Chief Executive. The press conference was televised live nationally, making this another first for any U.S. president. The history-making event took place in the new State Department auditorium.
Jan. 25, 1961: President John F. Kennedy talks to reporters in Washington, Jan. 25, 1961, in his first press conference as Chief Executive. The press conference was televised live nationally, making this another first for any U.S. president. The history-making event took place in the new State Department auditorium.
Jan. 25, 1961: This is how President John F. Kennedy appeared during the first live televised presidential press conference in history. Photo was made off a screen in New York as the president spoke in Washington.
Jan. 25, 1961: This is how President John F. Kennedy appeared during the first live televised presidential press conference in history. Photo was made off a screen in New York as the president spoke in Washington.
Jan. 15, 1962: First lady Jacqueline Kennedy also became at home on television. Here, she checks the table setting of the White House gold service in the state dining room as she conducts a tour of the newly-restored White House for television cameras in Washington to be aired the month afterwards. More than 80 million Americans tuned in.
Jan. 15, 1962: First lady Jacqueline Kennedy also became at home on television. Here, she checks the table setting of the White House gold service in the state dining room as she conducts a tour of the newly-restored White House for television cameras in Washington to be aired the month afterwards. More than 80 million Americans tuned in.
Oct. 24, 1962: President John F. Kennedy speaks during a televised speech to the nation about the strategic blockade of Cuba, and his warning to the Soviet Union about missile sanctions, during the Cuban missile crisis.
Oct. 24, 1962: President John F. Kennedy speaks during a televised speech to the nation about the strategic blockade of Cuba, and his warning to the Soviet Union about missile sanctions, during the Cuban missile crisis.
July 3, 1963: President John F. Kennedy stands at the lectern behind a production slate board during a television taping at the White House.
July 3, 1963: President John F. Kennedy stands at the lectern behind a production slate board during a television taping at the White House.
Sept. 2, 1963: In this photo provided by CBS, President John Kennedy talks with Walter Cronkite during a taped television interview at the President's summer home at Hyannis Port, Ma.The Labor Day weekend interview inaugurated the first half-hour network national nightly news broadcast. Two-and-a-half months later, Cronkite would announce Kennedy's death to a stunned nation.
Sept. 2, 1963: In this photo provided by CBS, President John Kennedy talks with Walter Cronkite during a taped television interview at the President's summer home at Hyannis Port, Ma.The Labor Day weekend interview inaugurated the first half-hour network national nightly news broadcast. Two-and-a-half months later, Cronkite would announce Kennedy's death to a stunned nation.
July 26, 1963: President John F. Kennedy sits behind microphones at his desk in Washington after finishing his radio-television broadcast to the nation on the nuclear test ban agreement initialed by negotiators in Moscow.
July 26, 1963: President John F. Kennedy sits behind microphones at his desk in Washington after finishing his radio-television broadcast to the nation on the nuclear test ban agreement initialed by negotiators in Moscow.
Nov. 22, 1963: President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, arrive at Love Field airport in Dallas, as a television camera, above, follows them. More than a dozen new documentary and information specials are among the crop of TV commemorations pegged to this half-century mark of a weekend when, as viewers will be reminded again and again, everything changed.
Nov. 22, 1963: President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, arrive at Love Field airport in Dallas, as a television camera, above, follows them. More than a dozen new documentary and information specials are among the crop of TV commemorations pegged to this half-century mark of a weekend when, as viewers will be reminded again and again, everything changed.
Nov. 22, 1963: People line the street as the hearse bearing the body of slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy drives past a television truck as it leaves Parkland Hospital in Dallas, to be flown to Washington.
Nov. 22, 1963: People line the street as the hearse bearing the body of slain U.S. President John F. Kennedy drives past a television truck as it leaves Parkland Hospital in Dallas, to be flown to Washington.
Nov. 24, 1963: Dallas: Lee Harvey Oswald, suspected assassin of President John F. Kennedy, reacts as Dallas night club owner Jack Ruby, foreground, shoots at him from point-blank range in a corridor of Dallas police headquarters. At left is Detective Jim Leavelle. Leavelle wanted to secretly take Oswald out the side door of Dallas police headquarters on that day forty-five years ago. His boss wanted to keep a promise to reporters. So Leavelle handcuffed himself to President Kennedy's assassin, stepped into a crowded basement and became an accidental part of history.
Nov. 24, 1963: Dallas: Lee Harvey Oswald, suspected assassin of President John F. Kennedy, reacts as Dallas night club owner Jack Ruby, foreground, shoots at him from point-blank range in a corridor of Dallas police headquarters. At left is Detective Jim Leavelle. Leavelle wanted to secretly take Oswald out the side door of Dallas police headquarters on that day forty-five years ago. His boss wanted to keep a promise to reporters. So Leavelle handcuffed himself to President Kennedy's assassin, stepped into a crowded basement and became an accidental part of history.
Nov. 25, 1963: The funeral procession of President John F. Kennedy enters Arlington Cemetery in Washington. The President's funeral was televised around the world, thanks to Telstar satellites which had been launched relatively recently.
Nov. 25, 1963: The funeral procession of President John F. Kennedy enters Arlington Cemetery in Washington. The President's funeral was televised around the world, thanks to Telstar satellites which had been launched relatively recently.