The two men on the screen could not know what was to come in their lives, and what was to happen to a nation as elections went electric. Donaldson (history, Xavier U.) concentrates wisely on the political developments and the fine points of the first media-driven presidential election campaign, when both Kennedy and Nixon were feeling their way across a political and journalistic minefield. He covers the debates, of course, but also carefully examines the marketing of the candidates, the political and electoral fallout of campaign events, and the reasons why those haunting images are etched deep into every campaign since. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

The "modern Republicanism" of Eisenhower and The GOP split in the fifties -- The Democrats endure the Eisenhower years -- Kennedy and the liberals -- The Democrats slug it out in the primary season -- Waiting for Nixon -- The conventions -- Campaign one -- The great debates -- Campaign two -- Epilogue and analysis.