Presidential Debates

Political polls in 1960 showed a race too close to call. One of the turning points that led to the victory of John F. Kennedy was his “victory” in a series of unprecedented televised debates with Richard Nixon. Before the debates, JFK was slightly behind. After the first debate he took a slim lead that he never relinquished. While Kennedy and Nixon became the first Presidential candidates to ever debate, they opened up public expectations about how campaigns would evolve.

Although there was a 16 year gap between the very first Presidential debates and the 1976 Ford- Carter debates, they have become significant fixtures in every subsequent election cycle. In some years (1960, 1984) they were crucial; in other years they have mattered little. Nonetheless, they draw huge audiences and invite intense media scrutiny. This multimedia presentation will present insights and analyses as we learn how and why Presidential debates matter. 

Join us for a fascinating look at the history of all the Presidential debates!