John F Kennedy

By Alan Fisher in Europe on April 24th, 2010
Picture from AFP

It was about time Britain had televised debates for those seeking the country's top political job. The USA staged their first Presidential debate in 1960, the brainchild of TV producer Don Hewitt. The clash between John F Kennedy and Richard M Nixon was historic and ended with a clear win for the more telegenic Massachusetts senator, even if those listening on radio gave the win to Nixon.

Many European countries have had them for some time. And as one commentator remarked ""Even Iran has them". Perhaps he meant "I can't believe Britain doesn't".

There were long negotiations to bring the leaders of the UK's three main parties to the podium. Everything was discussed and eventually seventy three rules for how the proceedings would be conducted and filmed were agreed.

There was an expectation the debates would be important, but no-one really thought they'd be the "game changer" they turned out to be.

By Rob Reynolds in Americas on July 17th, 2009

The grainy footage still makes me gasp with astonishment.

The famous black-and-white images of a spindly lunar module setting down on the Moon on July 20th, 1969, represent the improbable trajectory from dream to the reality that was Apollo 11.

It leaves one wondering, even today: How did humans travel so far, in so frail a ship, through such a still, stark void?

An estimated 600 million people watched the live television broadcast of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon that day.

They huddled around flickering TV sets in living rooms and public squares, in offices and schoolrooms. 

I was 12 in 1969, but the memory is vivid.

I remember being allowed to stay up late for the occasion, and the cheering and excitement.

For a kid, it was a marvel to think that “we” - humanity, not just America - had achieved the seemingly impossible.

Al Jazeera Live

What's Hot


Recent Comments

This work is licensed under Creative Commons. Please read our attribution policy.