These televised debates between Vice-president Richard Nixon and Senator John Kennedy in 1960 changed forever the form and content of national elections in the United States. For the first time a candidate's attractiveness on television was the ammunition for a political attack. Nixon's poor makeup — an aide plastered his face to cover up his naturally heavy beard — made him appear washed out compared to the youthful, tan-faced Kennedy. Many commentators have claimed that Nixon lost the election because of his appearance. Indeed, Kennedy used the vice-president's appearance as campaign fodder throughout the rest of the election. At a campaign stop in New Mexico, Kennedy responded to Nixon's claims that the senator was a barefaced liar: Two days ago, the Republican candidate, Mr. Nixon, quoted me as having said that the Republicans had always opposed Social Security, and in that wonderful choice of...