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Jul 14, 2019 · The Lincoln-Douglas debates are a testimony not only to sharp minds but to strong constitutions: Each one lasted more than three hours—and the men did it seven times!
Aug 15, 2024 · The 2024 debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is perhaps the most consequential in history, as it may have unilaterally caused the sitting president to abandon his reelection bid.
- John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon
- Jimmy Carter vs. Gerald Ford
- Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan
- George H.W. Bush vs. Bill Clinton vs. Ross Perot
- George W. Bush vs. Al Gore
The first debate between Kennedy and Nixon may be the most important presidential debate of all time, says William Benoit, professor of communications at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Not only was the event the first nationally televised presidential debate in history, but both Kennedy — then a Senator from Massachusetts — and then-Vice ...
After the the Nixon-Kennedy election, a long period passed without any general election debates. That changed when President Ford fell behind during the 1976 campaign, and decided that he needed to debate Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, Benoit says. “That debate was very important for cementing the presumption there will be debates every year,” Beno...
Although Carter was the lesser-known candidate in 1976, he played the opposite role in the 1980 election, says McKinney. “We think of Ronald Reagan as a noted great President. Well, at the time, he had been the governor of California. He needed the exposure. He got a single debate against Jimmy Carter; he did a magnificent job in that debate,” McKi...
Like other successful presidential candidates before him, Bill Clinton is believed to have won the 1992 debates — and the election — in part because he came off as more likable than his opponent over the course of three debates. In one famous moment during the second debate, Bush was caught on camera looking at his watch. “The visual is so importan...
In races that are as tight as the 2000 election, debates may be particularly important. During that year’s three debates, Vice President Gore appears to have “lost ground” to Texas Governor Bush in the aftermath of the debates. Bush came off as the more relatable candidate, while Gore rattled off facts, McKinney argues. “We had a rather highly inte...
- Tara Law
Oct 20, 2015 · Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the most fascinating debates throughout history. Do you disagree? You’d better have a good argument to back it up! The Valladolid Debate
Jun 24, 2024 · From Kennedy v. Nixon to Bush v. Gore, here are some of the most important presidential debates in history.
- 5 min
- Nik Popli
Sep 26, 2016 · Ever since the very first televised presidential debates in 1960, these live candidate face-offs have served as some of the most pivotal inflection points of the nation's elections.
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Sep 26, 2016 · 1. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas set the debate gold standard. In 1858, the two legendary speakers met seven times in Illinois during a Senate contest. Each had to make a one-hour opening statement followed by a 90-minute rebuttal – outside and without microphones!
