Historical Debates
Overview:
With the advent of TV and the Internet, the impact of presidential debates on campaigns
and elections has changed. Students will see how video impacts their decisions on how
well candidates present themselves.
Essential Question:
Consider how political debates have evolved in the last few decades, and how the impact
of technology has influenced the debate process.
Lesson Ideas:
1. Have students watch and compare the 1960 Kennedy / Nixon debate and the most
recent debate (2008). You can use the attached Venn diagram for students to
organize their information.
a. How has time and technology changed the process.
b. What is similar? What is different? What has stayed the same?
c. What differences do you see in the types of questions asked?
Feel free to use the following 2004 clip until the 2008 Presidential debates begin
2.
Pick a two-four minute section of a presidential debate, load it on the computer,
but minimize the screen so that students do not see the video and can only hear it.
(This clip would work well)
a. Have students jot down the things that they like about the candidate and
things that lead them to believe one candidate more (such as what they
hear in their voice and statements).
b. At the end of the video clip ask students if they had to make a decision on
who answered the question better, who would it be?
c. Then maximize the video screen and have the students watch the same
two-four minutes. Now what do they notice about the candidates? Do
they agree with their answer to the question above, explain why or why
not?
3. Past Presidential Debate Information
1960 Presidential Election – Kennedy/Nixon
On September 26, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy (D-MA) and Vice President
Richard Nixon (R) participated in the first-ever televised presidential debate. It
served as a precedent for all others to come. While seventy million Americans
viewed this debate on television, many others still tuned in through the radio.
History claims that more television viewers believed Kennedy won, while many
radio listeners thought Nixon did.
Watch Clip (4 min.) | Read Debate Transcript
Questions for Analysis
1. What was the topic discussed in this clip? Which candidate gave the
stronger response? Explain your answer.
2. In your opinion, which candidate appeared to be more comfortable on
camera? Which candidate was more appealing to the camera? Explain the
basis of your answer.
3. Do you think the role television played in the debates made a difference
in the outcome of the 1960 election?
1976 Presidential Election – Ford/Carter
At the onset of the 1976 campaign, Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA) had a clear
lead over incumbent President Gerald Ford (R). However, by the time of the
debates, Carter lead had slipped in the polls. During the second of three debates
Ford claimed, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, and there never
will be under a Ford Administration." Carter responded by challenging him to
persuade Polish Americans—Poland was then part of the Soviet Bloc—that they
were not under Soviet domination.
Read Debate Transcript
Questions for Analysis
1. Do you think Ford's comments about this issue hurt his campaign? As a
voter, what would your reaction have been? Was his response a blunder,
or possibly misinterpreted?
2. From this clip, do you think either candidate outperformed the other?
1980 Presidential Debate – Carter/Regan
The only debate during the 1980 presidential election campaign occurred between
Jimmy Carter (D) and Ronald Reagan (R) one week prior to Election Day. The
candidates debated on issues such as the Iran hostage situation, arms control, the
energy crisis, social security, and other social programs. When Carter challenged
his opponent on his Medicare position, Reagan responded, "There you go again,"
then attacked the president on his stance.
Read Debate Transcript
Questions for Analysis
1. How would you distinguish the two candidates from one another (other
than their political parties)? Think about not only issues and political
parties, but also appearances, mannerisms, careers, and experiences in
public service.
2. Why were Reagan's words "There you go again" so memorable? How
did they influence the outcome of the debate?
1988 Presidential Election – Bush/Dukakis
In the 1988 debates Governor Michael Dukakis's (D-MA) campaign team
recognized the importance of physical appearances. For this reason, they sought
to lessen the height difference between their candidate and his taller opponent,
President George H.W. Bush (R). Watch the clip below and examine whether or
not such behind-the-scenes preparation affected the debate.
Read Debate Transcript
Questions for Analysis
1. What provisions were made for Dukakis in his debate with Bush?
2. In your opinion, did Dukakis answer the question that was presented to
him?
3. What was your impression of the response given by Dukakis in the
debate clip?
1992 Presidential Election – Bush/Clinton/Perot
President George H.W. Bush (R), Governor Bill Clinton (D-AR), and
businessman Ross Perot (I) all participated in the second debate of the 1992
presidential election. This was the first time in debate history the town-hall format
was used, a format which is common in today's debates. Some historians claim
that the informal setting made Bush, who periodically glanced at his watch during
the debate, uncomfortable.
Read Debate Transcript
Questions for Analysis:
1. Do you think the town-hall format affected the candidates? Do you
think this portion of the debate impacted voters?
2. What other features of the setting reinforce the unadorned town-hall
atmosphere? Do you think this venue is valuable to the debates?
Overall Debate Analysis Questions:
1. What can voters learn from debates that they can't learn in other
settings?
2. Given that the only public debates among presidential candidates before
1960 occurred in 1948 and 1956, and given that there were no presidential
debates between 1960 and 1976, how important do you think debates are
to the election process?
3. How has the face of the presidential debates changed over time? How
much attention is paid to debates among voters? Among candidates?
4. How many presidential debates should the candidates have ideally in
order to give voters an adequate understanding of their views? Explain.
Media:
1960 Kennedy / Nixon Debate
2004 Kerry/Bush Debate Clip
Additional Resources:
Venn diagram
Debate Transcripts
Debate Organizer (if you watch the entire debate)