Sixty years of the American Presidential debate
1/5
Healthy competition
As part of the election to America’s highest office, candidates face off in televised debates that are designed to help voters see where they stand on myriad issues. Here are a few important milestones from over the years.
2/5
On television
The very first televised debate between candidates was in 1960, with Democrat John F Kennedy facing Republican Richard Nixon - who had just recovered from a hospital visit - and refused make up, a tactic that did not work in his favour, with Kennedy winning the election.
3/5
16 year wait
The next televised debate didn’t happen until 16 years later, in 1976, when Jimmy Carter faced incumbent President Gerald Ford, with Democrat Carter coming out on top in the end.
Amazon Top Deals
POWERED BY
Crompton Ozone 75 Litres Desert Air Cooler for home | Large & Easy Clean Ice Chamber | 4-Way Air Deflection | High Density Honeycomb Pads | Everlast Pump | Auto Fill| 3 Year Brand Warranty
₹9,798Buy Now43%
OFF
LG 32 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC3286BRUM, Black, 360° Motorised Rotisserie for Bar-be-queing, 301 Auto Cook Menu, Stainless steel cavity, Indian Cuisine, Tandoor Se, Steam Clean & Diet Fry)
₹19,090Buy Now20%
OFF
4/5
‘You’re no Kennedy’
The 1988 debate ended up becoming stuff of legend, after Dan Quayle, running for vice president with George H.W. Bush compared himself to John Kennedy and was quickly shut down by Democrat Lloyd Bentsen, who said, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
5/5
84 million
The 2016 debate set viewership records, as 84 million people tuned in to watch Republican nominee Donald Trump take on Democrat Hillary Clinton - who eventually won the popular vote - but lost electoral numbers to Trump.