By: Jessica Nam
Thursday, February 14, 2008

On Valentine’s Day, the executive director of the Commission of Presidential Debates, Janet Brown, made a guest appearance on C-SPAN's videoconference between George Mason University, Pace University, and Denver University.

Steve Scully started the conference off with videos of previous debates. Through this, Brown made comments about each of the debates that the CPD participated in. Scully, Brown, and the Universities’ were able to watch debates as far back as in the year 1960 to now. They were able to discuss the importance of presidential debates and the effect it really has on a presidential campaign.   

“I think the overall presentation of the candidates are important and not just their policy,” said Brown.

During the videoconference conversations, Brown talked a great amount of appearance and style. She mentioned the first ever televised debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. She explained the power and impact television had on these presidential debates.

“It was a revolutionary debate,” said Brown. “People came away with different perspectives of the campaign.”

This debate proved that not only was the verbal part of the debate important but so was the appearance.

The power that media had on the presidential debates led up to the importance of appearance and the way candidates presented themselves when they were debating. She explained the process and decision that goes into putting on makeup, the lighting of the room, the background they are standing against, audio problems, and even the size of the podium. All of these factors and more play an important role in the debates because the candidates are constantly in front of the public’s eye.

“Appearance is important that they pay attention to,” said Brown.

The viewers want to see more than just people talking in front of a camera. The whole presentation of the debate is what makes it all the more interesting and sets the mood.

Who would have ever thought that even presidential candidates think about their style?

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