NEWS

From Kennedy-Nixon to Clinton-Trump: General election debates

This was the scene in a Chicago television studio on Sept. 26, 1960, as a program director gives directions to John F. Kennedy, seated left, and Vice President Richard Nixon, right, before their debate. CBS' Don Hewitt is at center.
This was the scene in a Chicago television studio on Sept. 26, 1960, as a program director gives directions to John F. Kennedy, seated left, and Vice President Richard Nixon, right, before their debate. CBS' Don Hewitt is at center.
AP
Kennedy and Nixon take part in the Oct. 7, 1960, debate in Washington, as seen in this view from a television screen.
Kennedy and Nixon take part in the Oct. 7, 1960, debate in Washington, as seen in this view from a television screen.
AP
Nixon dabs at his chin and lip during his debate with Kennedy on Oct. 13, 1960. Nixon was in a studio in Los Angeles, while Kennedy was in a studio in New York.
Nixon dabs at his chin and lip during his debate with Kennedy on Oct. 13, 1960. Nixon was in a studio in Los Angeles, while Kennedy was in a studio in New York.
AP
Nixon and Kennedy debate during a live broadcast from a New York television studio on Oct. 21, 1960.
Nixon and Kennedy debate during a live broadcast from a New York television studio on Oct. 21, 1960.
AP
Gerald Ford speaks during the first of three televised debates with Jimmy Carter at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater on Sept. 23, 1976.
Gerald Ford speaks during the first of three televised debates with Jimmy Carter at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater on Sept. 23, 1976.
AP
Carter and Ford shake hands before their debate at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre on Oct. 6, 1976, in San Francisco.
Carter and Ford shake hands before their debate at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre on Oct. 6, 1976, in San Francisco.
AP
Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, talk with with Ford and first lady Betty Ford after their third and final presidential debate on Oct. 22, 1976, in Williamsburg, Va.
Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, talk with with Ford and first lady Betty Ford after their third and final presidential debate on Oct. 22, 1976, in Williamsburg, Va.
AP
John Anderson debates Ronald Reagan in Baltimore on Sept. 21, 1980. Jimmy Carter refused to participate in the debate because of the inclusion of Anderson, an independent candidate.
John Anderson debates Ronald Reagan in Baltimore on Sept. 21, 1980. Jimmy Carter refused to participate in the debate because of the inclusion of Anderson, an independent candidate.
Barry Thumma, AP
Carter and Reagan shake hands before their debate on Oct. 28, 1980, in Cleveland.
Carter and Reagan shake hands before their debate on Oct. 28, 1980, in Cleveland.
AP
Reagan and Walter Mondale shake hands before their debate in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 7, 1984.
Reagan and Walter Mondale shake hands before their debate in Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 7, 1984.
Ron Edmonds, AP
Reagan and Mondale debate in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 22, 1984. Pictured in the foreground is debate moderator Edwin Newman.
Reagan and Mondale debate in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 22, 1984. Pictured in the foreground is debate moderator Edwin Newman.
David Longstreath, AP
George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis gesture during their first presidential debate at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Sept. 25, 1988.
George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis gesture during their first presidential debate at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Sept. 25, 1988.
DENNIS COOK, AP
Dukakis acknowledges the audience as Bush looks on after their final debate in Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 1988.
Dukakis acknowledges the audience as Bush looks on after their final debate in Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 1988.
Lennox McLendon, AP
Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot take the stage in St. Louis on Oct. 11, 1992, prior to the start of their first of three debates.
Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot take the stage in St. Louis on Oct. 11, 1992, prior to the start of their first of three debates.
Greg Gibson, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bush, Perot and Clinton take part in their second debate in Richmond, Va., on Oct. 15, 1992.
Bush, Perot and Clinton take part in their second debate in Richmond, Va., on Oct. 15, 1992.
Marcy Nighswander, AP
Clinton, Perot and Bush shake hands with the panelists following their third and final presidential debate at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 19, 1992. At right is moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS.
Clinton, Perot and Bush shake hands with the panelists following their third and final presidential debate at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 19, 1992. At right is moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS.
Doug Mills, AP
From left, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Elizabeth Dole and Robin Dole pose for photographers after the presidential debate at the Bushnell theater in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 6, 1996.
From left, Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Elizabeth Dole and Robin Dole pose for photographers after the presidential debate at the Bushnell theater in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 6, 1996.
Eric Draper, AP
Dole and Clinton participate in their last debate at Shiley Theatre on the University of San Diego campus on Oct. 16, 1996.
Dole and Clinton participate in their last debate at Shiley Theatre on the University of San Diego campus on Oct. 16, 1996.
Mike Nelson, AP
Al Gore and George W. Bush move to their spots to begin their Oct. 3, 2000, debate at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Al Gore and George W. Bush move to their spots to begin their Oct. 3, 2000, debate at the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
John Mottern, AFP
Gore listens Bush answers a question from moderator Jim Lehrer during the Oct. 11, 2000, debate at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Gore listens Bush answers a question from moderator Jim Lehrer during the Oct. 11, 2000, debate at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Ron Edmonds, AP
Bush listens while Gore answers a question during their town hall-style debate at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 17, 2000.
Bush listens while Gore answers a question during their town hall-style debate at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 17, 2000.
Tannen Maury, AFP
From left: Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, first lady Laura Bush, George W. Bush, John Kerry and Theresa Heinz-Kerry share the podium to thank the audience at the conclusion of the first Bush-Kerry first debate at the University of Miami on Sept. 30, 2004.
From left: Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush, first lady Laura Bush, George W. Bush, John Kerry and Theresa Heinz-Kerry share the podium to thank the audience at the conclusion of the first Bush-Kerry first debate at the University of Miami on Sept. 30, 2004.
Jeff Haynes, AFP
Bush answers a question as Kerry takes notes during their debate in St. Louis on Oct. 8, 2004.
Bush answers a question as Kerry takes notes during their debate in St. Louis on Oct. 8, 2004.
Ron Edmonds, AP
Kerry and Bush shake hands at their debate on Oct. 13, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz.
Kerry and Bush shake hands at their debate on Oct. 13, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz.
Jack Kurtz, The Arizona Republic
Barack Obama and John McCain shake hands after taking part in the first of three debates on Sept. 26, 2008, at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
Barack Obama and John McCain shake hands after taking part in the first of three debates on Sept. 26, 2008, at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Obama answers a question as McCain listens in the background during their debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 7, 2008.
Obama answers a question as McCain listens in the background during their debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 7, 2008.
Jeanne Reasonover, The Tennessean
Obama and McCain greet each other at Hofstra University at the end of their third and final presidential debate on Oct. 15, 2008, in Hempstead, N.Y.
Obama and McCain greet each other at Hofstra University at the end of their third and final presidential debate on Oct. 15, 2008, in Hempstead, N.Y.
Paul J. Richards, AFP/Getty Images
Obama listens to Mitt Romney during their debate at the University of Denver on Oct. 3, 2012.
Obama listens to Mitt Romney during their debate at the University of Denver on Oct. 3, 2012.
David Goldman, AP
Romney and Obama spar during their debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Oct. 16, 2012.
Romney and Obama spar during their debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Oct. 16, 2012.
Charlie Neibergall, AP
Romney and Obama shake hands with moderator Bob Schieffer following the third presidential debate on Oct. 22, 2012, at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
Romney and Obama shake hands with moderator Bob Schieffer following the third presidential debate on Oct. 22, 2012, at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
Michael Reynolds, AFP/Getty Images
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Sept. 26, 2016.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Sept. 26, 2016.
David Goldman, AP
Clinton and Trump arrive on stage during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 9, 2016.
Clinton and Trump arrive on stage during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 9, 2016.
Jim Bourg, AFP/Getty Images
Clinton speaks as Trump looks on during their final presidential debate in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, 2016.
Clinton speaks as Trump looks on during their final presidential debate in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, 2016.
Mark Raltson, AFP/Getty Images