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'''Presidential Debates''' are hearings where two Presidential opponents appear together and are asked questions about their political views.  The first official Presidential Debate was between [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Richard Nixon]] in 1960.  The most recent Presidential Debate was between Senator [[John McCain]] and Senator [[Barrack Obama]] on September 26, 2008.  The only gap is from 1964 to 1972 because both [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and [[Richard Nixon]] did not accept debates during that time.

'''Presidential Debates''' are hearings where two Presidential opponents appear together and are asked questions about their political views.  The first official Presidential Debate was between [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Richard Nixon]] in 1960.  The most recent Presidential Debate was between Senator [[John McCain]] and Senator [[Barrack Obama]] on October 15, 2008.  The only gap is from 1964 to 1972 because both [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and [[Richard Nixon]] did not accept debates during that time.

==[[United States presidential election, 1960|1960 election]]==

==[[United States presidential election, 1960|1960 election]]==

==[[United States presidential election, 1976|1976 election]]==

==[[United States presidential election, 1976|1976 election]]==

The 1976 presidential election was another close race and the second which had both candidates agree to a debate since 1960 (both [[Lyndon Johnson|Johnson]] and [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] didn't agree to any debates.)  The election was concerned with the Watergate scandal, in which Nixon had a part.  There were three debates that took place with [[Gerald Ford|Ford]] and [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] and one with [[Walter Mondale|Mondale]] and [[Bob Dole|Dole]].  The first debate occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Ford seemed to do better than Carter and started to gain in the poles.  The second debate happened in San Fransisco, California at which Ford made the fatal mistake of saying most eastern European countries weren't under Soviet control.  Then the one and only Vice Presidential debate took place in Houston, Texas.  Mondale gained a little bit of headway against Dole in the debate.  The third and last Presidential debate took place in Williamsburg, Virginia and neither candidate scored a high victory, making a "rubber match."  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, Jimmy Carter]], by Linda R. Wade, Children's Press, 1989.  </ref>

The 1976 presidential election was another close race and the second which had both candidates agree to a debate since 1960 (both [[Lyndon Johnson|Johnson]] and [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] didn't agree to any debates.)  The election was concerned with the Watergate scandal, in which Nixon had a part.  There were three debates that took place with [[Gerald Ford|Ford]] and [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] and one with [[Walter Mondale|Mondale]] and [[Bob Dole|Dole]].  The first debate occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Ford seemed to do better than Carter and started to gain in the poles.  The second debate happened in San Fransisco, California at which Ford made the fatal mistake of saying most eastern European countries weren't under Soviet control.  Then the one and only Vice Presidential debate took place in Houston, Texas.  Mondale gained a little bit of headway against Dole in the debate.  The third and last Presidential debate took place in Williamsburg, Virginia and neither candidate scored a high victory, making a "rubber match."  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, Jimmy Carter]], by Linda R. Wade, Children's Press, 1989.  </ref> Carter triumphed over Ford in a close election.

==[[United States presidential election, 1980|1980 election]]==

==[[United States presidential election, 1980|1980 election]]==

By 1980 President [[Jimmy Carter]] was nominated by the Democrats, while [[Ronald Reagan]], Governor of California, was nominated by the Republicans.  Some who were not satisfied with the primaries results chose Illinois Congressman [[John Anderson]].  [[Ronald Reagan]], who was a skilled debater, managed to appear in two debates in 1980, the first in Baltimore, the second in Cleveland.  One against Anderson and one against Carter.  Carter apparently didn't want to debate against Anderson.  The final debate between Carter and Reagan made Reagan look better than Carter.  Carter appeared uncertain and made the mistake of saying that he asked his 12 year old daughter, Amy, for advice on [[Nuclear weapons|nuclear armament]] policy.  Reagan however looked energized and confident.  He made the famous quote near the end, {{Cquote|Next Tuesday [election day] all of you will go to the poles; you'll stand there . . . and make a decision.  I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you ask yourself: Are you better off than you were four years ago?}}  Reagan's great communication skills in the debates were probably one thing that helped him to win the 1980 election against Carter and Anderson.

By 1980 President [[Jimmy Carter]] was nominated by the Democrats, while [[Ronald Reagan]], Governor of California, was nominated by the Republicans.  Some who were not satisfied with the primaries results chose Illinois Congressman [[John Anderson]].  [[Ronald Reagan]], who was a skilled debater, managed to appear in two debates in 1980, the first in Baltimore, the second in Cleveland.  One against Anderson and one against Carter.  Carter apparently didn't want to debate against Anderson.  The final debate between Carter and Reagan made Reagan look better than Carter.  Carter appeared uncertain and made the mistake of saying that he asked his 12 year old daughter, Amy, for advice on [[Nuclear weapons|nuclear armament]] policy.  Reagan however looked energized and confident.  He made the famous quote near the end, {{Cquote|Next Tuesday [election day] all of you will go to the poles; you'll stand there . . . and make a decision.  I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you ask yourself: Are you better off than you were four years ago?}}  Reagan's great communication skills in the debates were probably one thing that helped him to win the 1980 election against both Carter and Anderson.

==[[United States presidential election, 1984|1984 election]]==

==[[United States presidential election, 1984|1984 election]]==

President [[Ronald Reagan]] was still popular with America due to the change in economy and improvement in foreign relations.  Former Vice President, [[Walter Mondale]], was nominated by the Democrats.  To excite more support he chose woman [[Geraldine Ferraro]] as his running-mate.  Reagan appeared in two debates.  In the first one he appeared rather old and tired, instead of his usual confident self.  By the second debate [[Ronald Reagan]] corrected his mistake and looked and sounded far better.  It was during this debate he said, after Mondale mentioned Reagan's age and possible inability to lead, "I'm not going to exploit for political purposes my opponents youth and inexperience."  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, Ronald Reagan]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1989.  </ref>  There was only one debate between Vice President George Bush,Sr. and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro.  Although both candidates did well, most voters believed Bush was the more successful debater.  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, George Bush]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1993.  </ref>

President [[Ronald Reagan]] was still popular with America due to the change in economy and improvement in foreign relations.  Former Vice President, [[Walter Mondale]], was nominated by the Democrats.  To excite more support he chose woman [[Geraldine Ferraro]] as his running-mate.  Reagan appeared in two debates.  In the first one he appeared rather old and tired, instead of his usual confident self.  By the second debate [[Ronald Reagan]] corrected his mistake and looked and sounded far better.  It was during this debate he said, after Mondale mentioned Reagan's age and possible inability to lead, "I'm not going to exploit for political purposes my opponents youth and inexperience."  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, Ronald Reagan]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1989.  </ref>  There was only one debate between Vice President George Bush,Sr. and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro.  Although both candidates did well, most voters believed Bush was the more successful debater.  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, George Bush]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1993.  </ref> The Reagan/Bush ticket defeated the Mondale/Ferraro ticket by a landslide majority.

==[[United States presidential election, 1988|1988 election]]==

==[[United States presidential election, 1988|1988 election]]==