The Bushnell

Washington University

Wake Forest University

Kentucky Center for the Arts

Baltimore Convention Center

Walnut Street Theater

WBBM studio

October 6, 1996

October 11, 1992

September 25, 1988

October 7, 1984

September 21, 1980

September 23, 1976

September 26, 1960

Hartford, Connecticut

St. Louis, Missouri

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Louisville, Kentucky

Baltimore, Maryland

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Chicago, Illinois

President Clinton (D); former Sen. Bob Dole (R)

George Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D), Ross Perot (I)

George Bush (R), Michael Dukakis (D)

Walter Mondale (D), Ronald Reagan (R)

Ronald Reagan (R), John Anderson (Independent)

Jimmy Carter (D), Gerald Ford (R)

John Kennedy (D), Richard Nixon (R)

The first debate was a free-wheeling but civil affair as Clinton and Dole sparred over the economy, education, Medicare and tax cuts.
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None of the candidates committed any gaffes or struck any major blows in the first of three planned presidential debates.
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No news or anything unexpected occurred -- the candidates did not try to change the existing themes of the campaign.
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The first debate was limited to domestic policy and largely centered on economic issues.
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Carter refused to take part in the debate, and as a result, the television audience was less than half the average for presidential debates.
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Carter talked of "the bureaucratic mess" in Washington, and the "lack of leadership," and Ford's "insensitivity" toward the unemployed.
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The first general election presidential debate, televised or otherwise.
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Jim Lehrer, PBS

Jim Lehrer, PBS

Jim Lehrer, McNeil-Lehrer News Hour

Barbara Walters, ABC

Bill Moyers, PBS

Edwin Newman, NBC

Howard K. Smith, CBS

Single moderator. Two-minute opening statements; 90-second answers; 30-second responses; 60-second rebuttals; two-minute closing statements. Total time 90 minutes.

90-minute debate. Panelist question to candidate with a two-minute reply. One-minute rebuttal from second and third candidates. Two-minute closing remarks by each of the three candidates.

90-minute debate with questions equally divided between international and domestic policy matters. Panelist question to candidate with a two-minute reply. Rebuttal from second candidate with a one-minute reply. Panelist follow-up question with two-minute response and one-minute rebuttal from second candidate. Closing remarks.

Panelist question to candidate, with a two and a half minute reply; follow-up question with one-minute reply. The same question is given to the second candidate for a reply, followed by a one-minute rebuttal by the opponent. Candidates were given four-minute closing statements.

Panelist questions, candidates have two and a half minutes to respond, followed by one minute, 15 seconds for each candidate to rebut the other's response. Three minutes for closing remarks.

Panelist questions, candidates have three minutes to respond; follow-up question from panelists, candidates have two minutes to respond. Three minutes for closing statements.

Eight-minute opening statements, then alternating questions from panelists, with two and a half minutes to respond, then the other candidate may give a rebuttal.

Shiley Theater, University of San Diego

University of Richmond

Pauley Pavilion, UCLA

Municipal Auditorium

Convention Center Music Hall

Palace of Fine Arts Theater

NBC Studio

October 16, 1996

October 15, 1992

October 13, 1988

October 21, 1984

October 28, 1980

October 6, 1976

October 7, 1960

San Diego, California

Richmond, Virginia

Los Angeles, California

Kansas City, Missouri

Cleveland, Ohio

San Francisco, California

Washington, DC

President Clinton (D); former Sen. Bob Dole (R)

George Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D) and Ross Perot (I)

George Bush (R), Michael Dukakis (D)

Walter Mondale (D), Ronald Reagan (R)

Jimmy Carter (D), Ronald Reagan (R)

Jimmy Carter (D), Gerald Ford (R)

John Kennedy (D), Richard Nixon (R)

The second debate developed a harder tone than the first as Dole again emphasized issues of character and trust.
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As in the first debate, none of the candidates emerged a clear winner or loser.
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CNN's Bernard Shaw opened the debate with this question to Gov. Dukakis: "Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?"
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In their second televised 90-minute debate, Reagan and Mondale debated international policy and national defense.
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Held just a week before the election, the debate received much attention.
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The San Francisco debate was devoted to international policy.
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Nixon learned from the mistakes he made in Chicago and adopted a more telegenic image (dark suit, make-up).
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Jim Lehrer, PBS

Carole Simpson, ABC News

Bernard Shaw, CNN

Edwin Newman, NBC News (retired)

Howard K. Smith, ABC

Pauline Frederick, National Public Radio

Frank McGee, NBC

Town hall meeting with 113 uncommitted voters. Two-minute opening statements; 90-second answers; 30-second responses; 60-second rebuttals; two-minute closing statements. Total time 90 minutes.

First "Town Hall" format debate in the history of televised presidential debates. 90 minutes. One moderator. Audience of 209 uncommitted voters. Questions asked by voters. Moderator also posed questions and asked in some instances for rebuttals. Closing remarks by each candidate.

No opening statements; each candidate questioned in turn with two minutes to respond; one minute rebuttal; follow-up by panelists permitted; two minute closing statements.

Panelist question to candidate, with two and a half minute reply and follow-up question to same candidate with a one-minute reply; candidates could rebut one another for one minute; four minutes were given for closing remarks.

Questions from panelists with two minutes to respond, follow-up question with one minute to respond. Each candidate given one minute to challenge another candidate's response. Followed by question from panelists to each candidate, with two minutes to respond, and one and a half minutes to rebut. Three minutes for closing statements.

Panelists ask questions, candidates have three minutes to respond, follow-up from same questioner with candidates having two minutes to respond. Three minutes for closing statements.

Questions from panelists, other candidate may comment or rebut.