Fifty-six years ago *tonight* Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy debated U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon in the first-ever American televised debate of presidential candidates. This was the first of four Kennedy-Nixon debates moderated by journalist and anchorman Howard K. Smith. Eachsession dealt with an established topic, such as domestic affairs, and utilized a debating format. We're talking about respectful, intelligent interfacing, folks, not a name-calling social media debacle. We sat glued to CBS, NBC or ABC on our tube-filled, green-hued Magnavox black and white tv and didn't see Jackie Kennedy's red blood stained pink suit until Life magazine arrived. Think you remember the debates of 1960? Click here.>>> http://deadline.com/2016/09/kennedy-nixon-presidential-debate-look-back-1201825632/ ******** In Westchester County public 6th grade we were blessed with a teacher named Maryann Onoff. Before the presidential primaries, we were assigned to choose a candidate and write a report about him. At the time, I started on the winning-est St. Pat's Girls' CYO basketball team (6th to 12th grades), so spent most of my time with Catholic school kids. A candidate? No doubt. KENNEDY! (Yup, I still have it. A+) We'd ride our bikes singing, "K-E-double N-E-Deeee-Y" in unison to the tune of the ole "Harrigan" song by George M Cohan. In May of 1960, I sent a homemade birthday card to JFK, replete with my own inspirational poem. Then, every day I'd ride my bike up to the string of rural mailboxes that lined the main road, checking for a response. Finally, just days after the 4th of July, Kennedy's letter arrived thanking me for my 11 year old's words of wisdom. Talk about a happy dance! They were simpler times. Castro and Khruschev were America's enemies. Folks flew the stars and stripes and stood for the national anthem. Dad worked in the city; Mom worked at home. Whites were washed in hot water, colored clothes in warm. Sunday dinners were in the dining room with tablecloths, Mom's "good" dishes, and relatives laden with luscious NYC bakery goodies boxed then tied up in red and white string. So tonight, on NBC, American presidential hopefuls will vie for our votes. Perhaps divine intervention will prevail and tonight's debate will be as dignified as 1960's September 26th model. Barb [email protected]