Since the first nationally televised presidential debate in 1960 between Kennedy and Nixon, voters have been judging candidates not only on substance, but also on delivery and appearance.

FORBES: The Post-Debate Debate

Television's political use, first in the 1950s and in subsequent decades, involved coverage of national party conventions (beginning in 1952), TV presidential campaign commercials (beginning with Eisenhower), presidential candidate debates (the Nixon-Kennedy debate was the first to be televised in 1960), and live presidential press conferences and speeches (Kennedy was first to do this from 1960-1963).

CNN: Understanding The Role of the Media

The televised debate is traditionally a high point in France's presidential election campaign, offering voters the only chance to see the candidates up close and trading barbs around a table.

WSJ: Hollande and Sarkozy, Presidential Candidates, Spar in France