Evening star., 1960-07-31

Senator Kennedy has chal-
lenged Vice President Nixon
to a television debate. It
would seem that now is the
time to add a new dimension
to our Presidential campaigns
by providing opportunities
for candidates to debate the
issues of the campaign be-
fore the American people in
the tradition of the Lincoln
Douglas debate.
Certainly in times like
these the mass media of COM
munication such as radio and
television should not be used
merely to "sell" a candidate
according to the Madison
Avenue method. Such meth
DDS not only underrate the
intelligence of the American
people, but they contain in
herent dangers should the
time ever come when men of
selfish interest may use them
to subvert democratic pro-
ceSseS by marketing a man
as one would a new product.
OF course, in themselves,
methods Of presenting a IA
vorable picture of a candi-
date to as many people as
possible are legitimate and
defensible. The point I wish
to make is that there is need
for a systematic balancing of
this procedure by a plan
which will require the candi-
dates to confront each other
on the same platform, or the
same program, before as large
an audience as physical IA
cilitieS and mass communi-
cation media will permit for
the purpose of seriously de-
batting the issues of the day.
Such a system would be ed
ucational, first, in that it
would serve to acquaint the
voting populace with the fun
damental issues facing the
nation, and secondly, in that
the position of each candi-
date on these issues will be
made clear. Voters, particu-
larly independents, would be
given a more rational basis
for choosing one candidate,
or party, over the other.
Osborn T. SmallwOOd,
Member Of the Committee
on the 1860 Presidential
Campaign Speech Asso-
citation Of America, East
ern Forensic Association.
Jack is nimble and Jack is
quick;
Can papa's jack finesse the
trick?
Angus Sinclair.
Congratulations on your
nomination, Mr.. Nixon! Now
all you need is a campaign
slogan. We suggest mix on
Kennedy"
We have been following
your career from the time
you were president of your
college student body and you
have Travelled far-although
not far enough to suit some
people.
However, in your climb to
fame, you have created in
the public mind an image of
a cold, calculating politician:
and voters don't warm UP
to cold, calculating politi-
clans.
You are too perfect-you
never make a wrong move
and some Of them have been
about as subtle as a So
toupee. Now voters have
their faults and weaknesses
and they take a dim view Of
anyone who doesn't share
them.
So our advice to you is to
humanize yourself. Just for
once do something foolish or
indiscreet. OF course, don't
overdo it. Don't go around
slapping gangSters on the
back or engage in street
brawls with drunks.
Take a lesson from the
Truman Dewey campaign.
Dewey may have had the
brains and qualifications, but
he had all the warmth of a
letter from the Internal
Revenue Service wanting to
know the secret of your
great success in being able
to spend $4,000 a year on a
$4,000 income. Truman had
his faults, but at least he
was a sport.
And for the love of Mike
go buy yourself a hat. You
are gettirg too old to be the
collegiate type. You shpuld