In August 1960, most polls showed Richard Nixon with a slim lead over John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential race, and many political prognosticators regarded Nixon as the favorite to win.

However, Nixon experienced bad luck throughout the fall campaign. Eisenhower, who had long been ambivalent about Nixon, held a televised press conference during which reporter Charles Mohr of Time magazine mentioned Nixon’s claims that he had been a valuable administration insider and adviser. The reporter asked Eisenhower if he could give an example of an idea of Nixon’s that he had heeded. Eisenhower replied with the flip comment, “If you give me a week, I might think of one.”

Although both Eisenhower and Nixon later claimed the president was merely joking with the reporter, the remark hurt Nixon. It undercut his claims of having more decision-making experience than Kennedy. The comment proved so damaging to Nixon that the Democrats turned Eisenhower’s statement into a television commercial:

Every Republican politician wants you to believe that Richard Nixon is, quote, “experienced.” They even want you to believe that he has actually been making decisions in the White House. But listen to the man who should know best, the President of the United States. A reporter recently asked President Eisenhower this question about Nixon’s experience.

“I just wondered if you could give us an example of a major idea of his that you had adopted in that role as the decider and final…”

“If you give me a week, I might think of one. I don’t remember.” (laughs)

At the same press conference, President Eisenhower said, “No one can make a decision except me.”
And as for any major ideas from Mr. Nixon, “If you give me a week, I might think of one. I don’t remember.”

President Eisenhower could not remember, but the voters will remember. For real leadership in the 60’s, help elect Senator John F. Kennedy for President.

That was one of the first television “attack” ads, which today are the clear majority of political advertising. But the turning point of the campaign came with the four Kennedy-Nixon debates, the first presidential debates ever. They were also the first held on television and thus attracted enormous attention. By this point, approximately 90 percent of U.S. homes had a television, and an estimated 70 million people watched the first debate.