SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — The first televised presidential debate was held on Sept. 26, 1960. Despite three later debates between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, this initial debate seemed to have the most impact and left an indelible imprint on all subsequent debates in the last 64 years. On that memorable night, Nixon was seen as sweaty with a shadow of a beard. He looked pale and exhausted. Kennedy looked handsome and youthful, by comparison, with a light-hearted presence juxtaposed to the rather glum Nixon.
That first debate perhaps set the tone for what history marked as a magical, though short-lived presidential era. JFK was a president who brought positivity, intelligence, grace, wit, and humor to the Oval Office.
Kennedy was known to enjoy the hit Broadway musical, “Camelot.” He was partial to the lyric: “Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.” It was after JFK was assassinated that his wife Jackie anointed the Kennedy presidency itself as Camelot. The label was a way to cast JFK into historical memory as emblematic of a new era in our body politic that brought hope, positivity, and optimism.
When Kennedy famously said in his Inaugural Address, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” he was seeking to ignite public activism new to the politics of the country. He wanted a presidency that would impact the human spirit. Indeed, the magical aura of Camelot went beyond power politics to embody cultural appreciation, humor, and selflessness, and elevate our standing in the world.
From the moment Kamala Harris first appeared at the Democratic National Convention, she exuded the kind of magnetic brightness that JFK embodied. She and Ted Walz talked from the outset of a campaign that was infused with joy. Harris’ broad smiles and her ability to laugh freely even as she also addressed serious concerns was a reminder that politics can be used to lift spirits and energize hope.
This year’s DNC also evoked some of the Kennedy capacity to bring music, diverse culture and even celebrity into the political realm, which the Harris campaign has continued to incorporate.
Some may regard the inclusion of celebrities in a campaign as reflecting elitism. However, celebrities also embody style, vitality, and affirmation, which energize a sense of possibility and remind us that we can aspire to something greater. They also can enhance our sense of unity of purpose and our standing in the larger world.
The late Colin Powell wrote about his 13 Rules of Leadership in his autobiography, “It Worked for Me.” The last rule is: “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”
Barry Gordon is a retired psychologist and writer living in Shaker Heights. He is a Harvard graduate and a frequent contributor to the Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com.Barry Gordon
Gen. Powell believed that perpetual optimism was a powerful booster of our efforts and could be achieved by: inspiring people; taking of care of people; and building confidence and trust with them. These are qualities that Kamala Harris embodies in her speeches, but more importantly, in her interactions with the public and in her professional efforts throughout her public service career. Watch how she greets people; listen to what she focuses on in her speeches.
The MAGA movement, which purports to want to make America great again, may sound optimistic, but that version of optimism is wrapped in a dystopian view of an America they believe is a failing country. The negativity embedded in this outlook is intended to convince us that only one man can bring about the change we need. It is self-serving and self-aggrandizing for that man. It is time instead to embrace a positive and compassionate vision for a new era in politics. It is time to again ask ourselves what we can do for our country.
Barry Gordon is a retired psychologist and writer living in Shaker Heights and a frequent contributor to The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com.
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