History of the Presidential Debates

1858: Abraham Lincoln –vs- Stephen Douglas

For party control of State Legislature

7 three hours exchanges

1896 William Jennings Bryan

Democratic Candidate

First to make stump speeches, taking his case directly to the people

1948 Dewey - Stassen

Thomas Dewey – Governor, New York

Harold Stassen, Former Governor of Minnesota

First time broadcast: Radio

40 Million Listeners

Debate for Republican nomination for president

1956: Stevenson –vs- Kefauver

Adlai Stevenson – Governor of Illinois

Estes Kefauver, Senator from Tennessee

Candidates for Democratic Nomination for President

Brief Opening StatementQuestions from ModeratorBrief Closing Statement

1960 – Kennedy –v- Nixon

John F. Kennedy – Senator from Massachusetts

Richard M Nixon – Vice President in Eisenhower Administration

First general election presidential debate

First televised debate

74 million viewers

1976 Ford –v- Carter

Gerald Ford – President

Jimmy Carter – Governor of Georgia

First year of a Vice-Presidential DebateSenator Mondale –v- Senator Dole

1985 On

Debates become acceptable part of presidential campaigns

Commission on Presidential Debates formed to establish organization and sponsor debates

Memorable Moments

Kennedy – Nixonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyevxqAQ

BJ8Importance of Debate 1960Best Moments from Presidential DebatesBest moments from presidential debates. "If we test presidential candidates by their

talents on TV quiz performances," historian Daniel Boorstin predicted in 1962, "we will of course choose presidents for precisely these qualifications."