Bush and Kerry Prepare to Debate
https://highered.nbclearn.com/portal/site/HigherEd/browse/?cuecard=5427
General Information
Source:
Creator:
Event Date:
Air/Publish Date:
NBC Today Show
Katie Couric/Norah
O'Donnell
09/29/2004
09/29/2004
Resource Type:
Copyright:
Copyright Date:
Clip Length
Video News Report
NBCUniversal Media,
LLC.
2004
00:03:05
Description
Both President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry are considered seasoned debaters. NBC's Norah
O'Donnell examines what their past debate performances can reveal about what's to come during their
2004 debate.
Keywords
George W. Bush, John Kerry, Gary Cooper, Presidential Debates, General Election, Incumbent, Message,
Ann Richards, William Weld, Television, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, John F.
Kennedy
Citation
MLA
© 2008-2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Page 1 of 3
"Bush and Kerry Prepare to Debate." Norah O'Donnell, correspondent. NBC Today Show. NBCUniversal
Media. 29 Sep. 2004. NBC Learn. Web. 8 November 2015
APA
O'Donnell, N. (Reporter), & Couric, K. (Anchor). 2004, September 29. Bush and Kerry Prepare to
Debate. [Television series episode]. NBC Today Show. Retrieved from
https://highered.nbclearn.com/portal/site/HigherEd/browse/?cuecard=5427
CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE
"Bush and Kerry Prepare to Debate" NBC Today Show, New York, NY: NBC Universal, 09/29/2004.
Accessed Sun Nov 8 2015 from NBC Learn:
https://highered.nbclearn.com/portal/site/HigherEd/browse/?cuecard=5427
Transcript
Bush and Kerry Prepare to Debate
KATIE COURIC, co-host:
Both President Bush and Senator Kerry are considered seasoned debaters. But what can their past reveal
about what's to come during Thursday night's debate? For that, we turn to NBC White House
correspondent Norah O'Donnell.
Norah, good morning.
NORAH O'DONNELL reporting:
Good morning, Katie. Well, it's going to be a prime-time face-off that will likely decide this election. Two
dynamo debaters skilled in the art of verbal combat. They differ on style, they differ on substance. But
their past performances have given us some clues about how they may perform on Thursday night.
It is a battle of heavyweights. In one corner, the challenger, articulate but sometimes long-winded.
Senator JOHN KERRY: And I've put a plan on the table.
O'DONNELL: In the other corner, the incumbent. Concise but sometimes clumsy with words.
President GEORGE W. BUSH: ...was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons.
O'DONNELL: Both coming to the ring with plenty of experience. At age 27, John Kerry was already
debating on national television. And George Bush, in his first big debate, defeated the sharp-tongued
governor of Texas.
How did he beat you?
Ms. ANN RICHARDS (Former Texas Governor): He is always on message. Some of us, you know, get
sick of hearing ourselves. But with Bush, he will say the same thing over and over again, even if it makes
no sense.
O'DONNELL: Richards says Bush's greatest strength, he's likable and knows how to connect with voters.
Ms. RICHARDS: There's something very appealing about Gary Cooper at high noon, walking down the
street to meet the bad guy. And Bush plays that to the hilt, you know? Even with the body language.
© 2008-2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Page 2 of 3
O'DONNELL: Kerry's strengths are different, tripping up then Governor William Weld in 1996 with his
intellect and agility.
If you had a couple of words to describe Kerry's debating skills, what would they be?
Mr. WILLIAM WELD: Fast, skillful at changing the subject, articulate, well-honed on the issues.
Incisive, aggressive.
O'DONNELL: Weld said Bush may lose on substance but win on style.
Mr. WELD: I'm not sure he can win these debates on points. I think he just can be himself.
O'DONNELL: If history is any guide, the debates will be decisive. In 1960, Richard Nixon looked
uncomfortable, even sweating next to a smooth John F. Kennedy.
Governor RONALD REAGAN: There you go again.
O'DONNELL: In 1980, Ronald Reagan was behind in the polls to President Jimmy Carter until the
debates.
Sometimes, however, it's not the zinger but the body language that leaves the biggest impression.
President Bush's glancing at his watch in 1992. Vice President Al Gore getting in Bush's face. Gore's
sighing. His overall performance, lampooned by "Saturday Night Live."
(Clip of "Saturday Night Live")
O'DONNELL: Now, jokes aside, Kerry and Bush can both boast that they have never lost a debate. But of
course, that's going to change on Thursday night. Katie…
COURIC: And both camps are keeping expectations low. All right, NBC's Norah O'Donnell. Norah,
thanks so much.
© 2008-2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Page 3 of 3