Presidential debates have been a staple of election campaigns for decades, but the upcoming debate between President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump is an unusual development, with the scheduled There have only been two debates, and neither was sanctioned by the organizations that traditionally run debates. Debate — and the first debate set before either candidate is formally nominated.
Historical records kept by the Commission on Presidential Debates show that a general election debate has never been held before September 21st, and the first debate of the year was scheduled for June 27th. Almost 3 months later than the day. And no debate has ever ended before October 13, about a month later than the proposed date for the second debate this year, September 10.
This is just one example of how the 2024 debate is likely to gain traction. Mr. Biden is asking news organizations to host rather than the commission that has hosted every presidential debate since 1988. The format may also be different, given Biden's request that there be no live broadcasts. audience. (Trump agrees with dissolving the committee, but not with a live audience.)
The debate tradition itself is fairly modern within the scope of U.S. history.
The first televised general election debate took place in 1960, but was not repeated for another 16 years. The tradition that currently exists (debates are held every four years, and refusal to participate is considered a violation of norms) dates back to 1976, less than 50 years ago.
The first debate in 1960 is remembered for how unprepared Republican candidate Richard M. Nixon was for the bright lights of live television. On September 26, the first of four events that year, the studio lights of Chicago's WBBM television illuminated Nixon's sweaty, visibly unshaven face as Democratic candidate John F.・In contrast to Kennedy, it made him look unattractive overall. He continued to win the White House.
More than a decade later, 1960 was an anomaly. No one was eager to embrace the Nixon experience. There were no discussions in 1964, 1968, or 1972.
And in 1976, President Gerald Ford agreed to debate Jimmy Carter. It didn't work out for him either.
When Mr. Ford appeared on the debate stage, he was already struggling in the polls, insisting that “there is no Soviet control of Eastern Europe, and there never will be under Ford.” He stood by his claim even after New York Times host Max Frankel incredulously asked if he was really denying Soviet control of countries like Poland and Romania.
Nevertheless, the tradition is still here to stay. The League of Women Voters hosted her debates in 1976, 1980, and 1984. That mission was then passed on to her by the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1988.
Kennedy vs. Nixon in 1960 was the first in-person debate in a general election, although several events with different formats had taken place earlier.
In 1956, Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver participated in a televised debate during the Democratic primary, but there was no general election debate between party candidate Stevenson and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It didn't happen. However, the candidates were represented by Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, Republican of Maine, who debated on behalf of Mr. Eisenhower, and former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who represented Mr. Stevenson.
In 1952, the League of Women Voters hosted a televised debate not just for candidates, but for all candidates of both parties.
In 1948, Thomas Dewey and Harold Stassen debated on the radio during the Republican primary. However, Dewey did not debate or defeat President Harry S. Truman in the general election.
And, of course, there was the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate. However, although they are generally remembered in connection with Lincoln's presidential inauguration, they were part of his campaign for the Senate.
