Looking Back at the Most Memorable Presidential Debates in US History

Looking Back at the Most Memorable Presidential Debates in US History

Friday, June 28, 2024 11:14 AM (GMT+7)

The first 2024 US Presidential debate will take place on the evening of June 27 (Washington time) and is an unprecedented confrontation, because it is the first time the incumbent President and former President will face off and at a time when both are not yet official candidates of each party.

On this occasion, let's review the most memorable Presidential debates in American history.

In 1960, American voters witnessed the first nationally televised presidential debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon. According to Stars Insider.

In front of 70 million Americans, Nixon appeared tired and sweaty while Kennedy appeared youthful and energetic. Kennedy's charisma and good looks won over the audience and he eventually won the election. According to Stars Insider.

Sixteen years later, incumbent President Gerald Ford and Georgia Senator Jimmy Carter faced each other in a total of three debates in 1976. According to Stars Insider.

A memorable moment was during the second debate when Gerald Ford asserted that “there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe” under his leadership. This surprised everyone, even the moderator had to ask: “I’m sorry, what?” According to Stars Insider.

As a result, Jimmy Carter became the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. But in his final year in office, the Iran hostage crisis caused his approval rating to drop to just 30%. According to Stars Insider.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter was challenged by Republican Ronald Reagan. Reagan, a skilled speaker, took down his opponent with short sentences: “Are you better than you were four years ago?” and “Here we go again,” according to Stars Insider.

His charisma and selflessness helped Ronald Reagan become the new boss of the White House. According to Stars Insider.

In 1984, Mr. Reagan, the oldest sitting President at the time, ran for re-election and had two debates with Democratic candidate Walter Mondale. According to Stars Insider.

When pressed about his age, President Reagan famously responded: “I want you to know that I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I will not exploit my opponent’s youth and inexperience for political purposes.” According to Stars Insider.

The quip drew laughter from the audience, including Mr. Mondale. But behind the smile, his opponent knew he had just lost the debate, and perhaps the election, to President Reagan. According to Stars Insider.

The 1992 presidential debates were a break from tradition, with three candidates taking part: Arkansas Governor George H.W. Bush, Democratic candidate Bill Clinton, and independent candidate and businessman Ross Perot. According to Stars Insider.

Mr. Perot was just a “pathfinder” with a modest approval rating. The public became more sympathetic to Mr. Clinton after Mr. Bush was caught on camera looking at his watch after answering a question posed by an audience member. According to Stars Insider.

In 2000, most political commentators thought Democratic Vice President Al Gore had won all three debates. But within a week, incumbent President George W. Bush had “hit back.” According to Stars Insider.

As a result, the 2000 presidential election is remembered for the fact that incumbent President George W. Bush narrowly lost the popular vote, but defeated his opponent Al Gore in the electoral college. According to Stars Insider.

In 2008, the United States had its first African-American presidential candidate, which sparked the interest of many voters. The three debates that took place before the election were closely watched. According to Stars Insider.

During the debates, Obama seemed to have a better understanding of economics, while Arizona Senator John McCain had a stronger grip on foreign policy. However, Obama succeeded in gaining more support, especially through social media. According to Stars Insider.

In 2012, with Republican candidate Mitt Romney seemingly leading, President Barack Obama scored a decisive point in the third debate. According to Stars Insider.

When Mr Romney attacked that the US Navy had fewer ships than in 1916, Mr Obama said: “Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of the military has changed. We have aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines now.” “Horses and bayonets” became the top search term that night, according to Stars Insider.

In 2016, the first of three presidential debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton set a record as the most-watched event in US history, with 84 million viewers, according to Stars Insider.

The two 2020 presidential debates between President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden are Trump's chance to convince the American public to re-elect him. Stars Insider.

Although Mr. Trump had an impressive performance in the second debate, by then, most American voters had probably made up their minds about Mr. Biden. According to Stars Insider.

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Source: https://danviet.vn/nhin-lai-nhung-cuoc-tranh-luan-tong-thong-dang-nho-nhat-trong-lich-su-my-20240628110802617.htm