05-05-2008, 09:56 PM
There's a lot of interesting trivia about that debate.
Nixon was at a disadvantage, he'd injured his knee, and was in pain, and pale-looking. And he perhaps underestimating Kennedy's (false) healthful appearance, and oddly declined to be made up to compensate for his unfavorable skin tone and heavy-looking beard shadow. Thinking makeup might be equally unflattering, but in a different way, he didn't accept make up. Or felt that it's just unmanly to accept an offer of makeup. TV was still a fairly new medium. He would learn how to manipulate the power of television as his career matured, but on this occasion, he made cosmetic decisions that he no doubt later regretted.
Kennedy, on the other hand, and been boating or something, and was sporting a tan. Also, JFK was jacked up on cotosteroids, for Addison's disease. (plus numerous other medications, he was in very poor physical health) People on steroids have a characteristic facial changes (refer to photos of him as a young senator, his face was thin and drawn) steroids makes a person's face slightly red and puffy, the appearance of a healthy glow is artificially enhanced. Plus, Kennedy just had more attractive facial features, and a natural grace on TV that Nixon didn't.
Nixon was at a disadvantage, he'd injured his knee, and was in pain, and pale-looking. And he perhaps underestimating Kennedy's (false) healthful appearance, and oddly declined to be made up to compensate for his unfavorable skin tone and heavy-looking beard shadow. Thinking makeup might be equally unflattering, but in a different way, he didn't accept make up. Or felt that it's just unmanly to accept an offer of makeup. TV was still a fairly new medium. He would learn how to manipulate the power of television as his career matured, but on this occasion, he made cosmetic decisions that he no doubt later regretted.
Kennedy, on the other hand, and been boating or something, and was sporting a tan. Also, JFK was jacked up on cotosteroids, for Addison's disease. (plus numerous other medications, he was in very poor physical health) People on steroids have a characteristic facial changes (refer to photos of him as a young senator, his face was thin and drawn) steroids makes a person's face slightly red and puffy, the appearance of a healthy glow is artificially enhanced. Plus, Kennedy just had more attractive facial features, and a natural grace on TV that Nixon didn't.