The debate between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy was the first of its kind on television.
Nova Iorky:
From Gerald Ford’s catastrophic Soviet blunder to Ronald Reagan’s passionate commentary on his identity and Joe Biden’s infamous implosion, the US presidential debates have seen moments of collapse or surrender.
Here are some of the latest US policy memoirs.
Kennedy-Nixon, September 26, 1960
It was the first televised debate of its kind, when broadcasts were simply empty, and it demonstrated the importance of a politician's public image. Republican Richard Nixon, who had served two terms as vice president under Dwight Eisenhower, seemed poised to win the election.
“So Bill Shadle ABC News… The two candidates will not share the same stage. M New York, John F. Kennedy. Separated by 3,000 miles in Richard Nixon’s Los Angeles studio. “We are discussing a network of electronic facilities that will allow each candidate to see and hear the other.”
10/13/1960 pic.twitter.com/9GottJMbPP– Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) October 8, 2020
But the debate was not the same. Nixon refused to wear makeup and appeared pale and sweaty before more than 66 million television viewers, while the young senator from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, looked tanned and relaxed. As Nixon addressed the moderator, Kennedy turned to the camera and spoke directly to his constituents.
The question is, when the pressure was on on the debate screens, Kennedy defeated Nixon at the ballot box.
Ford Carter, October 6, 1976
The first debate between Republican President Gerald Ford and his Democratic opponent Jimmy Carter was marked by a 27-minute loss of sound. The second debate also does not apply to Ford, when he makes a mistake that is proven to be the responsibility of the presidency.
At the height of the Cold War, Ford stated that “Soviet domination of Eastern Europe does not exist, and never will exist under a Ford administration,” despite the presence of Soviet troops throughout the Eastern Bloc.
Six days passed before Ford explained his position, saying that there was no actual military presence, but he wanted to say that the spirit of the people there had not been extinguished.
Reagan Mondale, October 21, 1984
Republican President Ronald Reagan was 73 when he ran for a second term against Walter Mondale, 56. But he transformed his identity by force through a spiritual response that is part of history.
“There is no idea of a question in this campaign,” Reagan said when asked if he was fit for the job. “I will not, for political purposes, explore my opponent's youth and inexperience.”
Bush-Clinton-Perrot, October 15, 1992
The second presidential debate in 1992 pitted incumbent President George W. Bush against his future successor Bill Clinton and independent candidate Ross Perot.
Bush was caught making fun of the clock when Clinton tripped over an audience member during a gubernatorial debate, a situation that cost Bush dearly.
U.S. presidential candidates Ross Perot (left), Bill Clinton (center), and George Bush (right) answer questions at the Washington University Athletic Center in St. Louis, Missouri, during the first of three U.S. presidential debates.
Image source: AFP
Years later, Bush admitted that he hated debates. “Maybe he was looking for something — ‘just 10 minutes from this pig.’”
Obama-Romney, October 22, 2012
During a debate against President Barack Obama, Republican challenger Mitt Romney lamented that the U.S. Navy currently has fewer ships than it did in 1916.
Democrat Barack Obama (right) debates Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on October 22, 2012, as the third presidential debate begins at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.
Image source: AFP
“Governor,” Obama replied, “we also have fewer horses and clubs, because the nature of our armed forces is silent.”
“We have these things called aircraft carriers, where the planes are flying. We have these underwater ships, nuclear submarines.”
Obama's comments went viral.
Trump and Clinton, October 9, 2016
The second debate in the 2016 US presidential election, between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, was particularly harsh.
Shortly after a video was released showing Trump bragging that his fame allowed him to support women, a Republican billionaire attacking his opponent's husband, or former President Bill Clinton accusing him of being “very abusive to women.”
Now, Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump will open the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 9, 2016.
Image source: AFP
Trump also promised to investigate Hillary Clinton for using a private email account while she was secretary of state.
“It's very good that Donald Trump's temperament is not responsible for the law in our country,” Clinton said.
Trump replied: “Because you would be in jail.”
Trump and Biden, September 29, 2020
The first debate of the 2020 presidential election, between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, turned into shouts and insults.
As Trump kept interrupting, Biden responded, “You want to be honest, face?”
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 the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 29, 2020.
Image source: AFP
The Democrat also attacks his opponent with the words “Palhaso” and “Putin's puppy.”
Trump, for his part, continued to avoid the question of whether the election results would be reconfirmed.
Unable to control the candidates, the debate moderator, or Fox News journalist Chris Wallace, he later discovered the feeling of “despair.”
Trump-Biden, June 27, 2024
The June debate, which takes place four months before this year's November election, is supposed to give Biden, 81, a chance to reinforce concerns about his identity.
But it was a disaster for the Democrat, who repeatedly lost his line of thought, spoke incoherently and sometimes falsely and in a hoarse voice.
The disappointing performance paved the way for Biden to eventually give up the fight and turn to Trump's new rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris and Trump will now discuss the third exhibition.
(Except that this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
