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What happened on October 21st?
Television broadcasting changes the game
Matthew Jones
October 21, 2024
1960 Kennedy-Nixon Final Debate Shifts US Politics
On October 21, 1960, in their fourth and last televised debate before the US presidential election, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off on key issues, such as the Cold War, civil rights, and the economy. With over 70 million viewers, the debate marked a turning point in political campaigning, highlighting the growing influence of television in shaping public perception and voter opinions. Kennedy’s confident performance contrasted with Nixon’s more subdued appearance, influencing the election’s outcome and altering American politics.
This photo shows the Kennedy-Nixon debate held in New York on October 21, 1960, at ABC in New York and was the last of the four debates.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on October 21:
1964 ─ The My Fair Lady musical film debuted with a world premiere and captivated audiences with its adaptation of the beloved stage production.
1959 ─ The Guggenheim Museum opened in New York City. It revolutionized modern art with its unique architecture and collection.
1940 ─ Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls hit shelves and became a defining work of American literature.
1907 ─ Lehár’s The Merry Widow brought Operetta to New York City, charming audiences with its wit and elegance.
1805 ─ At the Battle of Trafalgar, British naval forces under Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet, shifting naval dominance in Europe.
1797 ─ The US Navy's frigate Constitution was launched in Boston. It became a key moment in American naval history and earned its legendary nickname "Old Ironsides."
1520 ─ Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Strait of Magellan, demonstrating a new route for global circumnavigation and altering the course of exploration.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On October 21, we’re singing to:
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772) ─ British poet and critic known for works like “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and his profound impact on Romantic literature.
Ursula K. Le Guin (1929) ─ Influential author whose science fiction and fantasy novels, such as The Left Hand of Darkness, explore themes of gender, society, and human nature.
Alfred Nobel (1833) ─ Swedish inventor and industrialist, best known for establishing the Nobel Prizes and inventing dynamite.
Kim Kardashian (1980) ─ Television personality and entrepreneur who transformed reality TV fame into a global business empire.
🪦Who Died Today?
On October 21, we’re saying goodbye to:
Horatio Nelson (1805) ─ British naval commander famed for his leadership at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he secured a victory but lost his life.
Jack Kerouac (1969) ─ American writer and central figure of the Beat Generation, celebrated for his novel On the Road, which became a defining work of postwar counterculture.
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