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2 Robert W. Sarnoff — Statement
It seems scarcely necessary to dwell on the contribution made by the debates in i960. The keen public interest in the encounters between the Presidential candidates was demonstrated by the fact that they attracted 120,000,000 different Americans — far larger audiences than either candidate drew in total individual appearances. And they gave each of the two candidates an equal opportunity to speak directly to his opponent’s adherents — a circumstance unique in politics and uniquely valuable to voters in a democratic society.
The limited suspension in i960 not only made these debates possible, but it enabled the Democratic and Republican candidates for President and Vice President to appear in other programs. For example, their appearances on the NBC television network during the i960 campaign totalled 10 1/2 hours, apart from appearances in paid political programs. If the candidates had been paying time and program charges for these 10 1/2 hours of network presentations, the bill would have come to about $1,700,000. This compares with the $1,000,000 which the major parties spent for all the paid political broadcasts on the NBC television network in i960. Making time available for nationwide appearances by the candidates without cost to them was not the purpose of the equal time suspension; but it was a by-product benefit, added to the primary advantage the public gained.
In favoring the Resolution before you, which relates only to
Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, I would suggest a
revision in its language, so that the suspension is not confined to
appearances by "nominees" for those offices. This was the language used
in the i960 suspension, which became effective after the candidates
had been nominated. Under those circumstances, the reference to
"nominees" was adequate. Now, however, the reference could properly be
broadened to include not only "nominees" for the office of President
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