Presidential Debates

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 incumbent George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry in 2004. The only gap is from 1964 to 1972 because both Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon did not accept debates during that time.

1960 election

The 1960 presidential election was historically important because, for the first time, television played an important part in the election. Both of the candidates were skilled debaters and agreed to appear in four live televised debates. Democrat, John F. Kennedy, appeared handsome, young and bright on the cameras, whereas Richard Nixon looked pale, pasty and uncomfortable. Although the viewers who heard the debate on radio thought Nixon won, those who saw it televised thought Kennedy won. The debates where crucial to Kennedy's campaign. When asked what helped him win the most, Kennedy said, "The live televised debates."

1976 election

The 1976 presidential election was another close race and the second which had both candidates agree to a debate since 1960 (both Johnson and 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 Ford and Carter and one with Mondale and Dole. The first debate occurred in Phildadelphia, 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 devate 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."

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. 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 child for advice. Reagan however looked energized and confident. He made the famous quote near the end, "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 agaisnt Carter and Anderson.

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." 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.

1988 election

In 1988 there were two debates between Republican candidate, George H.W. Bush, and Democratic candidate, Michael Dukakis. The first debate took place on September 25 in Walke Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina. In it Bush didn't do as well as Dukakis, looking uncertain and making several mistakes. By the second debate however Bush looked more confident, certain, and personal. Dukakis however showed as much emotion (as the Newsweek magazine said) "as a schoolboy eating brocoli."