Description:

JOHN F. KENNEDY AND RICHARD NIXON DEBATE SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH
An excessively rare signed presidential election piece, a period 10.75 x 10.75 in. (sight) studio photograph of the election-determining first-ever televised presidential debate between Senator JOHN F. KENNEDY and Vice President RICHARD M. NIXON, inscribed and signed in the white bottom margin by both: 'For Oliver Treyz - with very warm regards John Kennedy 1960' in blue ink, and in slightly faded ink: 'To Oliver Treyz with every good wish from Dick Nixon'. The photo depicts Kennedy at left as he responds to Nixon at far right, with moderator Howard K. Smith seated between the two candidates. News cameras, microphones and spotlights are visible throughout. OLIVER TREYZ (1918-1988) was a key figure in the debate as well. Treyz was president of ABC and in early 1960 he and NBC president Frank Stanton testified before Congress to waive the 'equal time clause' to allow a Democrat/Republican series of debates. They succeeded, and the three major networks aired a total of four such encounters. This debate was held in Chicago's WBBM-TV studios on September 26, 1960 and Democrat Kennedy and Republican Nixon became the first presidential candidates to engage in a televised debate. The first of the four debates, it ran for 59 minutes. An estimated 70 million people viewed the event, watching a calm and well-prepared Kennedy face off against Nixon who was running a high fever, sweating profusely, and sporting a 'five o'clock shadow'. Nixon's poll numbers suffered mightily as a result, probably costing him the election. Nixon's inscription and signature are a bit faded but entirely legible, Kennedy's is fine. The photo, itself in superb condition, is set in its original beige cloth-covered mat.

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December 6, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000