Images from past presidential debates
Television changed presidential debates for good. Richard Nixon might have had a better chance in 1960 if his opponent hadn't looked so good on the small screen. Here is a look at some of the past debates in the age of television, and an even earlier famous debate.
Images from past presidential debates
The caption for this says "Abraham Lincoln is shown at his debate with Stephen A. Douglas, speaking during his presidential campaign, 1860, in Illinois." However, it is more likely that this was during Lincoln's run against Douglas for Senate in 1858. Douglas won the Senate seat. Those debates shaped the opinions many had of each candidate two years later, but they did not debate face to face when they ran for president against each other in 1860. (AP Photo/Brown Bros.)
Images from past presidential debates
Knox College displays its banner supporting Abraham Lincoln as he speaks before a crowd during his fifth debate with Sen. Stephen A. Douglas in Galesburg, Ill., on Oct. 7, 1858. Artist Victor Perard drew this sketch of Old Main, the central building on the Knox College campus. These debates had no moderators. The candidates took it in turns to open each debate with a one-hour speech, then the other candidate had an hour and a half to rebut, and finally the first candidate closed the debate with a half-hour response. (AP Photo)
Images from past presidential debates
Presidential candidates Sen. John F. Kennedy, left, and Vice President Richard M. Nixon are shown following their nationally televised first of four presidential debates at a television studio in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 26, 1960. This was the first ever televised presidential debate. According to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, Nixon was recovering from a knee injury and was underweight and had a sickly pallor. He refused makeup to improve his color. Kennedy had been campaigning in California and was tan and fit. Those who heard the debate on the radio declared Nixon the winner, but those who saw it on television declared Kennedy the winner by a wide margin.
Images from past presidential debates
Vice President Richard Nixon, right, talks and Sen. John F. Kennedy listens in this view taken from television screen in New York, Oct. 7, 1960. The debate between the presidential candidates was broadcast nationally on TV and radio from Washington studio. (AP Photo)
Images from past presidential debates
Sen. John Kennedy, Democratic presidential candidate, slaps hands together, Sept. 26, 1960 in Chicago as he spoke in his debate tonight with Vice President Richard Nixon at a Chicago television studio. (AP Photo)
Images from past presidential debates
Vice President Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate for president, speaks as Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy listens during a debate in 1960.
Images from past presidential debates
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Vice President Richard M. Nixon is shown in a televison image as he stands at lectern during the nationally televised first of four presidential debates with Sen. John F. Kennedy, Democratic nominee, held in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 26, 1960. For the first time in US history a debate between presidential candidates is shown on television. (AP Photo)
Images from past presidential debates
President Gerald Ford, right, and Jimmy Carter shake hands before they started their debate at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1976, San Francisco, Calif.
There were no presidential debates between 1960 and 1976. During one of these three debates Ford said, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe." Moderator Max Frankel of the New York Times was incredulous, but Ford refused to back down and the answer may have cost him the election.
Images from past presidential debates
President Gerald Ford, right, emphasized a point during his second debate with Jimmy Carter, left, at Palace of Fine Arts Theater, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1976, San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo)
Images from past presidential debates
Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter emphasizes a point as he speaks during his debate with President Gerald Ford at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1976, San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo)
Images from past presidential debates
U.S. President Jimmy Carter, left, and Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan face their panelists during their televised debate at the Cleveland Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 28, 1980. It was during this debate that Reagan used the memorable phrase, "there you go again," instead of rebutting Carter's remarks when Carter went after Reagan on his record. It was during one of these 1980 debates that Reagan asked "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"
Images from past presidential debates
Ruth Hinerfeld, president of the League of Women Voters, right, opens the televised debate of presidential candidates in Baltimore on Sept. 21, 1980. Independent candidate John B. Anderson, left, and Republican candidate Ronald Reagan wait to start debating. Seated in foreground is the panel of reporters who questioned the candidates. Carter was not present because he refused to debate with the third-party candidate.
Images from past presidential debates
President Ronald Reagan, right, debates Walter Mondale, Oct. 7, 1984, Louisville, Ky.
Reagan was 73 when he ran against Walter Mondale. When asked if he was too old to be president, he said, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." Even Mondale laughed.
Images from past presidential debates
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, left, and his Democratic challenger Walter Mondale, shake hands prior to their televised presidential debate, in Kansas City, Mo., October 22, 1984. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Images from past presidential debates
Walter Mondale, at right, looks towards President Ronald Reagan as the president speaks during the debates on Sunday, Oct. 22, 1984 in Kansas City. In the center is debate moderator, Edwin Newman with back to camera. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
Images from past presidential debates
U.S. Vice President George Bush faces his opponent Gov. Michael Dukakis during their first presidential debate in Winston-Salem, N.C., Sunday night, Sept. 25, 1988. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma)
Images from past presidential debates
Massachusetts Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis makes a point during the first presidential debate with his opponent U.S. Vice President George Bush in Winston-Salem, N.C., Sunday night, Sept. 25, 1988.
Dukakis was an opponent of the death penalty. During one of the debates he was asked by Bernard Shaw if he would support the death penalty of his wife, Kitty, were raped and murdered. Voters didn't appear to like his reply: "No, I don't, Bernard, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime."
Images from past presidential debates
President George Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton meet Oct.11,1992, prior to their debate in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Images from past presidential debates
In this Oct. 15, 1992, file photo President George H.W. Bush looks at his watch during the 1992 presidential campaign debate with other candidates, Independent Ross Perot, top, and Democrat Bill Clinton, not shown, at the University of Richmond, Va. Bush looked bored while Clinton walked around the stage and talked directly to the people and showed empathy for them.
Images from past presidential debates
Independent Presidential Candidate Ross Perot walks toward his position on stage after greeting Democratic candidate Bill Clinton, left, and President Bush prior to debate in St. Louis, Oct. 11, 1992. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Images from past presidential debates
With Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton listening at right, Independent candidate Ross Perot makes his closing statement at the first presidential debate in St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 12, 1992.
During the debate, Perot countered comments on his lack of experience by saying, "I don't have any experience in running up a $4 trillion debt. I don't have any experience in gridlock government, where nobody takes responsibility for anything and everybody blames everybody else."
Images from past presidential debates
Presidential candidates, from left, Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, and President Bush, participate in the first presidential debate in St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 12, 1992. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander)
Images from past presidential debates
President George Bush makes a determined point against his opponents Bill Clinton and Ross Perot during presidential debate in Richmond, Va., Oct. 15, 1992. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson)
Images from past presidential debates
Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole watches President Bill Clinton as he answers questions during 2nd presidential debate on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996 in San Diego, California. (AP Photo/Susan Sterner)
Images from past presidential debates
In this Oct. 17, 2000 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, left, speaks as Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Al Gore watches during their third and final debate at Washington University in St. Louis. Gore's sighs during the debate may have given the impression that he was annoyed at having to be there at all. They were parodied by comedians for some time.
Images from past presidential debates
Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush holds a wrestling-styled championship belt given to him by members of his campaign staff prior to leaving in St. Louis, Wednesday, Oct.18, 2000. The belt declared him the winner of last night's debate against Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore.