1. History of the Presidential Debates

2. 1858: Abraham Lincoln –vs- Stephen Douglas For party control of State Legislature 7 three hours exchanges

3. 1896 William Jennings Bryan Democratic Candidate First to make stump speeches, taking his case directly to the people

4. 1948 Dewey - Stassen Thomas Dewey – Governor, New York Harold Stassen, Former Governor of Minnesota First time broadcast: Radio 40 Million Listeners Debate for Republican nomination for president

5. 1956: Stevenson –vs- Kefauver Adlai Stevenson – Governor of Illinois Estes Kefauver, Senator from Tennessee Candidates for Democratic Nomination for President Brief Opening Statement Questions from Moderator Brief Closing Statement

6. 1960 – Kennedy –v- Nixon John F. Kennedy – Senator from Massachusetts Richard M Nixon – Vice President in Eisenhower Administration First general election presidential debate First televised debate 74 million viewers

7. 1976 Ford –v- Carter Gerald Ford – President Jimmy Carter – Governor of Georgia First year of a Vice-Presidential Debate Senator Mondale –v- Senator Dole

8. 1985 On Debates become acceptable part of presidential campaigns Commission on Presidential Debates formed to establish organization and sponsor debates

9. Memorable Moments Kennedy – Nixon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyevxqAQBJ8 Importance of Debate 1960 Best Moments from Presidential Debates Best moments from presidential debates. "If we test presidential candidates by their talents on TV quiz performances," historian Daniel Boorstin predicted in 1962, "we will of course choose presidents for precisely these qualifications."