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Quiz on the 1960 U.S. Presidential Debates

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In what year did the first televised presidential debates in American history take place?

a)

1960

b)

1956

c)

1964

d)

1972

2.

Who were the two candidates in the first televised presidential debates?

a)

John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon

b)

Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater

c)

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson

d)

Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter

3.

What event heightened fears about communism in the Western Hemisphere during the 1960 election?

a)

The launch of Sputnik

b)

The Cuban Missile Crisis

c)

The rise of Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba

d)

The Berlin Wall construction

4.

What injury did Richard Nixon sustain during his campaign?

a)

A broken arm

b)

A sprained ankle

c)

A bashed knee

d)

A concussion

5.

Where did the first televised presidential debate take place?

a)

New York City

b)

Los Angeles

c)

Washington, D.C.

d)

Chicago

6.

What was the outcome of Nixon's injury before the debate?

a)

He gained weight.

b)

He appeared frail and underweight.

c)

He was unable to attend the debate.

d)

He fully recovered.

7.

What was the public perception of Nixon's appearance during the debate?

a)

He looked energetic and healthy.

b)

He appeared drained and unwell.

c)

He seemed confident and strong.

d)

He looked younger than Kennedy.

8.

What was Kennedy doing in preparation for the first of the "Great Debates"?

a)

Traveling across the country

b)

Practicing with his aides in a hotel

c)

Giving public speeches

d)

Attending a political rally

9.

What was a significant factor in the discrepancy between radio listeners and television viewers' opinions of the debate?

a)

The time of the debate

b)

The location of the debate

c)

Television being a new medium

d)

The debate topics

10.

What was Nixon's mistake during the debates?

a)

He spoke too softly

b)

He looked off to the side

c)

He wore a bright suit

d)

He was too aggressive

11.

How was Kennedy described before the debate?

a)

Pale and tired

b)

Nervous and unprepared

c)

Bronzed and glowing

d)

Angry and frustrated

12.

What did Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley reportedly say about Nixon's appearance?

a)

"He looks like a movie star"

b)

"He seems very confident"

c)

"My God, they’ve embalmed him before he even died"

d)

"He is very charismatic"

13.

What percentage of the popular vote did Kennedy receive?

a)

49.5%

b)

50.5%

c)

49.7%

d)

48.7%

14.

What percentage of voters claimed the debates alone decided their choice?

a)

10%

b)

6%

c)

15%

d)

20%

15.

How many "Great Debates" were there in total?

a)

Two

b)

Three

c)

Four

d)

Five

16.

a benefit given by the government to groups or individuals

(a)  

17.

cheap, tabloid-style newspapers mass-produced

(a)  

18.

a newspaper having pages half the size of those of a standard newspaper, typically popular in style and dominated by headlines, photographs, and sensational stories

(a)  

19.

a brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, conference proceeding, or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject

(a)  

20.

political party system in the United States between roughly 1792 and 1824

(a)  

21.

to approach with a request or plea

(a)