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| Past presidential debates in history | Past presidential debates in history |
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| The televised presidential debates have played a key role in many of the US election campaigns since the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon contest. Here are some of the dramatic moments which changed the course of election history. | The televised presidential debates have played a key role in many of the US election campaigns since the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon contest. Here are some of the dramatic moments which changed the course of election history. |
| Kennedy-Nixon 1960Ford-Carter 1976Carter-Reagan 1980Reagan-Mondale 1984 Dukakis-Bush 1988Bentsen-Quayle 1988Gore-Bush 2000 Analysis: Do presidential debates sway voters? KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE - SEPTEMBER 1960 | Kennedy-Nixon 1960Ford-Carter 1976Carter-Reagan 1980Reagan-Mondale 1984 Dukakis-Bush 1988Bentsen-Quayle 1988Gore-Bush 2000 Analysis: Do presidential debates sway voters? KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE - SEPTEMBER 1960 |
| Kennedy looks calm while Nixon appears flustered | Kennedy looks calm while Nixon appears flustered |
| The first televised presidential debate took place on 26 September 1960. | The first televised presidential debate took place on 26 September 1960. |
| Vice-President Richard Nixon was widely expected to win the debate against the more inexperienced Senator John F Kennedy. | Vice-President Richard Nixon was widely expected to win the debate against the more inexperienced Senator John F Kennedy. |
| But the cameras favoured Mr Kennedy, who looked calm and composed throughout, while Mr Nixon appeared unshaven and flustered. | But the cameras favoured Mr Kennedy, who looked calm and composed throughout, while Mr Nixon appeared unshaven and flustered. |
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| FORD-CARTER DEBATE OCTOBER 1976 | FORD-CARTER DEBATE OCTOBER 1976 |
| President Ford raised eyebrows with his comments on Soviet domination | President Ford raised eyebrows with his comments on Soviet domination |
| President Gerald Ford raised eyebrows in his clash with Jimmy Carter when he insisted there was "no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe". | President Gerald Ford raised eyebrows in his clash with Jimmy Carter when he insisted there was "no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe". |
| His gaffe came on 6 October, in the second of three debates between the contenders in the 1976 presidential race. | His gaffe came on 6 October, in the second of three debates between the contenders in the 1976 presidential race. |
| Mr Ford lost the subsequent election. He had assumed the presidency in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned after the Watergate scandal. | |
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| CARTER-REAGAN DEBATE OCTOBER 1980 | CARTER-REAGAN DEBATE OCTOBER 1980 |
| Reagan challenges voters to reflect of Carter's time in office | Reagan challenges voters to reflect of Carter's time in office |
| Ronald Reagan challenged voters to reflect on President Jimmy Carter's time in office as time was called on their 1980 debate. | Ronald Reagan challenged voters to reflect on President Jimmy Carter's time in office as time was called on their 1980 debate. |
| The two men went head-to-head on 28 October, in the only debate of the election race to feature them both. | The two men went head-to-head on 28 October, in the only debate of the election race to feature them both. |
| With inflation soaring and huge lines at petrol stations as a result of the energy crisis, Mr Reagan went on to defeat the sitting president. | With inflation soaring and huge lines at petrol stations as a result of the energy crisis, Mr Reagan went on to defeat the sitting president. |
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| REAGAN-MONDALE DEBATE OCTOBER 1984 | REAGAN-MONDALE DEBATE OCTOBER 1984 |
| President Reagan shows age has not dulled his sense of humour | President Reagan shows age has not dulled his sense of humour |
| President Ronald Reagan showed age had not dulled his sense of humour with a well-timed quip as he clashed with Walter Mondale. | President Ronald Reagan showed age had not dulled his sense of humour with a well-timed quip as he clashed with Walter Mondale. |
| His remarks came on 21 October, in the second of two presidential debates during the 1984 election race. | His remarks came on 21 October, in the second of two presidential debates during the 1984 election race. |
| President Reagan went on to win re-election in a landslide victory. | President Reagan went on to win re-election in a landslide victory. |
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| DUKAKIS-BUSH DEBATE OCTOBER 1988 | DUKAKIS-BUSH DEBATE OCTOBER 1988 |
| Michael Dukakis stands firm on the issue of capital punishment | Michael Dukakis stands firm on the issue of capital punishment |
| Michael Dukakis was put on the spot with a question about capital punishment during one of his debates with Vice-President George HW Bush. | Michael Dukakis was put on the spot with a question about capital punishment during one of his debates with Vice-President George HW Bush. |
| The incident came on 13 October, in the second of two presidential debates during the 1988 election, and helped Mr Bush to victory. | The incident came on 13 October, in the second of two presidential debates during the 1988 election, and helped Mr Bush to victory. |
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| BENTSEN-QUAYLE DEBATE OCTOBER 1988 | BENTSEN-QUAYLE DEBATE OCTOBER 1988 |
| Lloyd Bentsen puts Dan Quayle in his place during their 1988 debate. | Lloyd Bentsen puts Dan Quayle in his place during their 1988 debate. |
| One of the few memorable vice-presidential debates took place in October 1988 between Democratic Senator Lloyd Bentsen and Republican nominee Dan Quayle. | One of the few memorable vice-presidential debates took place in October 1988 between Democratic Senator Lloyd Bentsen and Republican nominee Dan Quayle. |
| Senator Bentsen attacked Mr Quayle for invoking the memory of President John F Kennedy. | Senator Bentsen attacked Mr Quayle for invoking the memory of President John F Kennedy. |
| But despite his success in the debate, it had little effect on the outcome of the election, which was easily won by Republican Vice-President George HW Bush. | But despite his success in the debate, it had little effect on the outcome of the election, which was easily won by Republican Vice-President George HW Bush. |
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| BUSH-GORE DEBATE OCTOBER 2000 | BUSH-GORE DEBATE OCTOBER 2000 |
| Al Gore shakes his head as George W Bush has his say on education | Al Gore shakes his head as George W Bush has his say on education |
| Al Gore took a dismissive stance during the first of his three presidential debates with George W Bush in 2000. | Al Gore took a dismissive stance during the first of his three presidential debates with George W Bush in 2000. |
| Mr Gore was seen shaking his head and rolling his eyes during their clash on 3 October - a move that did not go down well with some of those watching. | Mr Gore was seen shaking his head and rolling his eyes during their clash on 3 October - a move that did not go down well with some of those watching. |
| The 2000 election turned out to be one of the closest in history, with victory declared only after the Supreme Court had ruled on the contested Florida vote. | The 2000 election turned out to be one of the closest in history, with victory declared only after the Supreme Court had ruled on the contested Florida vote. |
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