The debate between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy was the first televised debate of its kind.
New York:
From Gerald Ford’s catastrophic blunder in the Soviet Union to Ronald Reagan’s witty remark about his age to Joe Biden’s infamous implosion, the American presidential debates have been marked by some jaw-dropping moments.
Here are some of the most memorable events in modern American politics.
Kennedy-Nixon, September 26, 1960
It was the first such televised debate, broadcast in black and white, and demonstrated the importance of a politician’s public image. Republican Richard Nixon appeared well placed to win the election, having served two terms as vice president under Dwight Eisenhower.
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But the debate did not go well for him. Nixon refused to wear makeup and appeared pale and sweaty in front of more than 66 million viewers, while junior Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy looked tanned and relaxed. As Nixon addressed the moderator, Kennedy looked into the camera, speaking directly to his constituents.
It is unclear how much the debate footage tipped the balance, but Kennedy beat Nixon at the polls.
Ford-Carter, October 6, 1976
The first debate between Republican President Gerald Ford and his Democratic opponent Jimmy Carter was marred by a 27-minute audio blackout. The second debate was also not a success for Ford, who made a blunder that likely cost him the presidency.
At the height of the Cold War, Ford declared that “there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration,” even though the Soviet Union had deployed troops throughout the Eastern bloc.
Six days passed before Ford explained himself, saying he was not talking about a literal military presence, but meant that the morale 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 Walter Mondale, 56. But he turned his age into a strength, delivering a witty response that has gone down in history.
“I will not make age an issue in this campaign,” Reagan said when asked if he was fit for office. “I will not exploit for political gain the youth and inexperience of my opponent.”
Bush-Clinton-Perot, October 15, 1992
The second presidential debate of the 1992 campaign pitted incumbent President George Bush against his eventual successor Bill Clinton and Ross Perot, an independent candidate.
Bush was filmed looking at his watch while Clinton spoke to an audience member during a town hall debate, a move that cost Bush dearly.
United States presidential candidates Ross Perot (left), Bill Clinton (center) and George Bush (right) answer questions at the Washington University Sports Center in St. Louis, Missouri, during the first of three U.S. presidential debates.
Photo credit: AFP
Years later, Bush admitted that he hated debates. “Maybe that’s why I thought, ‘Only 10 more minutes of this bullshit.'”
Obama-Romney, October 22, 2012
During a debate against President Barack Obama, his Republican opponent Mitt Romney lamented that the U.S. Navy has fewer ships today than it did in 1916.
Democrat Barack Obama (R) debates with 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 retorted.
“We have things called aircraft carriers, which planes land on. We have ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.”
Obama’s comments went viral.
Trump-Clinton, October 9, 2016
The second debate of the 2016 US presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was particularly violent.
Shortly after a video surfaced of Trump bragging that his celebrity status allows him to grope women, the Republican billionaire lashed out at his opponent’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, accusing him of being “very violent toward women.”
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump shake hands after the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, October 9, 2016
Photo credit: AFP
Trump also promised that Hillary Clinton would be investigated over her use of a private email account while she was secretary of state.
“It’s a really good thing that someone with Donald Trump’s temperament is not at the head of the law in our country,” Clinton said.
Trump replied: “Because you’d be in jail.”
Trump-Biden, September 29, 2020
The first debate of the 2020 presidential election, between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, degenerated into shouting and insults.
As Trump constantly interrupted him, Biden snapped, saying, “Will you shut up, man?”
Then-U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden exchange arguments during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, 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 election results.
Powerless to control either candidate, the debate moderator, Fox News journalist Chris Wallace, later described his feeling of “despair.”
Trump-Biden, June 27, 2024
Held four months before this year’s November vote, the June debate was meant to give Biden, 81, a chance to allay concerns about his age.
But it was a debacle for the democrat, who constantly lost his train of thought, had a blank stare and sometimes spoke incoherently and in a hoarse voice.
That disappointing performance paved the way for Biden to ultimately drop out of the race, passing the baton to Trump’s new opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris and Trump will now debate on Tuesday.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)