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The debate between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy was the first televised debate of its kind
New York:
From Gerald Ford’s catastrophic Soviet blunder to Ronald Reagan’s witty comment on his age and Joe Biden’s infamous implosion, America’s presidential debates have had some breathtaking moments.
Here are some of the most memorable in modern American politics.
Kennedy-Nixon, September 26, 1960
It was the first televised debate of its kind, when broadcasts were in black and white, and it confirmed the importance of a politician’s public image. Republican Richard Nixon seemed poised to win the election after serving two terms as vice president under Dwight Eisenhower.
“I’m Bill Shadel ABC News…The two candidates will not share the same platform. In New York John F Kennedy. Separated by 3,000 miles in LA studio, Richard Nixon. Brought together for discussion by a network of electronic facilities allowing each candidate to to see and hear the other”
13-10-1960 pic.twitter.com/9GottJMbPP— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) October 8, 2020
But the debate did not go well for him. Nixon refused to wear makeup and looked pale and sweaty in front of more than 66 million viewers, while the young Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts looked tanned and relaxed. As Nixon addressed the moderator, Kennedy faced the camera and spoke directly to his constituents.
How much the debate footage moved the needle is disputed, but Kennedy defeated Nixon in the election.
Ford-Carter, October 6, 1976
The first debate between Republican President Gerald Ford and Democratic challenger Jimmy Carter was marked by a 27-minute audio loss. The second debate didn’t go well for Ford either, as he made a gaffe that arguably cost him the presidency.
At the height of the Cold War, Ford said that “there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, nor ever will be under a Ford government,” even though the Soviet Union had troops spread across the Eastern Bloc.
Six days passed before Ford explained himself, saying that he was not talking about the literal military presence, but meant that the spirits of the people there had not been crushed.
Reagan-Mondale, October 21, 1984
Republican President Ronald Reagan was 73 when he ran for a second term against 56-year-old Walter Mondale. But he made his age his strength with a witty answer that went down in history.
“I will not make age an issue in this campaign,” Reagan said when asked about his fitness for office. “I am not going to exploit my opponent’s youth and inexperience for political purposes.”
Bush-Clinton-Perot, October 15, 1992
The second presidential debate in the 1992 race pitted incumbent President George Bush against both his would-be successor Bill Clinton and Ross Perot, an independent candidate.
Bush was caught on camera looking at his watch as Clinton spoke to an audience member during a town hall debate, a move that cost Bush dearly.
Then-US presidential candidates Ross Perot (L), Bill Clinton (C) and George Bush (R) answer questions at the Washington University athletics center in St. Louis, Missouri during the first of three US presidential debates
Photo credit: AFP
Years later, Bush admitted that he hated debates. “Maybe that’s why I looked at it: ‘Just ten more minutes of this nonsense.'”
Obama-Romney, October 22, 2012
During a debate against President Barack Obama, Republican challenger Mitt Romney complained that the U.S. Navy currently has fewer ships than it did in 1916.
Democrat Barack Obama (R) debates Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on October 22, 2012, at the start of the third presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida
Photo credit: AFP
“Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets because the nature of our military has changed,” Obama responded.
“We have things called aircraft carriers that planes land on. We have ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.”
Obama’s comments went viral.
Trump-Clinton, October 9, 2016
The second debate during the 2016 American presidential elections, between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, was particularly vicious.
Shortly after the release of a video in which Trump bragged that his fame allowed him to grope women, the Republican billionaire went after his opponent’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, accusing him of “being so abusive to women.” .
Then-U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump shake hands after the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 9, 2016
Photo credit: AFP
Trump also promised that Hillary Clinton would investigate her use of a private email account while she was secretary of state.
“It’s just a really good thing that someone with Donald Trump’s temperament is not in charge of the law in our country,” Clinton said.
Trump shot back: “Because you would be in jail.”
Trump-Biden, September 29, 2020
The first debate of the 2020 presidential election, with Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, degenerated into shouting and insults.
As Trump continually interrupted, Biden snapped and said, “Will you shut up, man?”
Then-U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden exchange arguments during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 29, 2020
Photo credit: AFP
The Democrat also called his opponent a “clown” and “Putin’s puppy.”
Trump, for his part, continued to dodge the question of whether he would recognize the outcome of the election.
The debate moderator, Fox News journalist Chris Wallace, was powerless to keep the two candidates in check and later described feeling “desperate.”
Trump-Biden, June 27, 2024
The June debate, which was organized four months ahead of this year’s November elections, was intended to give the 81-year-old Biden the opportunity to substantiate concerns about his age.
But it was a debacle for the Democrat, who repeatedly lost his train of thought, stared blankly and sometimes spoke incoherently and in a hoarse voice.
The dismal performance set the stage for Biden to ultimately drop out of the race — passing the torch to Trump’s new challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris and Trump will now debate on Tuesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)