Last night we had the first presidential debate of this election cycle. While candidate debates aren’t constitutionally mandated, they have become an intrinsic part of our election process. Debates have been broadcast live on TV, radio, and more recently, online.
The first general election presidential debate didn’t happen until 1960, but there were earlier debates that were considered predecessors. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen A. Douglas had a series of 7 debates for the U.S. Senate. These were true, face-to-face debates with no moderator. They lasted around 3 hours, with one candidate speaking for 60 minutes, followed by a 90-minute response, and a final 30-minute rejoinder by the first candidate. They were held outdoors, weather permitting, from about 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. The fields were full of people eager to hear the two candidates speak – up to 18,000 at one point! Douglas ultimately won re-election, but the publicity helped set the stage for Lincoln’s 1860 presidential campaign.
The first general election presidential debate was in 1960 between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon. Thanks to his knowledge of foreign policy and experience with radio debates, Nixon was expected to have the upper hand. However, the television format was new to Nixon, and factors like his underweight and pale appearance, his suit color blending in with the background, and his refusal to use television makeup led to his defeat. That first debate drew over 66 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched broadcasts in U.S. television history.
The next presidential debate didn’t happen until 16 years later in 1976, after which they would become a regular fixture of all presidential campaigns. Washington University in St. Louis has hosted more presidential and vice-presidential debates than any other institution. And PBS currently holds the record for the most debates moderated with 16.
Learn more here. And don’t forget you can watch the Wiki Corner live every weekday afternoon on Facebook here!