×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Sunday
04
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 15°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

From Kennedy-Nixon to Trump-Biden: 60 years of US presidential debates

A bit of history

Newsroom September 29 05:33

Republican President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden face off on Tuesday in a televised presidential debate, part of a 60-year-old tradition marked by some of the most memorable moments of modern U.S. political history:

– 1960: The first televised debate pitted Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy against Republican Vice President Richard Nixon, who was recovering from a hospital visit and had a 5 o’clock shadow, having refused makeup. The 70 million viewers focused on what they saw, not what they heard. Kennedy won the election.

– 1976: In the first TV debate in 16 years, Democrat Jimmy Carter faced unelected incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford. In remarks seen as a major blunder, Ford said: “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, and there never will be under a Ford administration.” Carter won the election.

– 1980: Carter appeared in a second debate with Republican Ronald Reagan after boycotting the first for including third-party candidate John Anderson. The president accused Reagan of planning to cut Medicare healthcare funding for the elderly. Reagan, who already had complained that Carter was misrepresenting his stands on a number of issues, said: “There you go again” and chuckled, drawing audience laughter and coining a catchphrase. Reagan won the election.

See Also:

Australia says world needs to know origins of COVID-19

The weirdly nihilistic reason why Outer Space is so cold

>Related articles

From Tesla to Disney, 4 companies are preparing humanoid robots for the market: What they can do, how much they will cost

From Noriega to Maduro: How the U.S. removed a sitting president from his country

Global aviation: Fatalities in accidents increased, but the relative risk is decreasing

– 1984: Reagan, 73, successfully defused the issue of his age when he debated Democrat Walter Mondale, 56, quipping: “I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Reagan was re-elected.

– 1988: A debate against Republican Vice President George H.W. Bush opened with Democrat Michael Dukakis being asked whether he would favor the death penalty for someone who raped and murdered his wife. The question offered a candidate dubbed “the iceman” by critics a chance to show his emotional side. His laborious response did just the opposite. Bush won the election.

Read more: Reuters

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#debates#elections#history#politics#usa#world
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Tragic end for the missing Greek minor Alice Kallergis – She was identified among victims of deadly Crans-Montana fire

January 4, 2026

Radio frequency issue that caused Airport chaos restored, flight delays continue

January 4, 2026

Giorgos Papadakis dies at 74 after suffering a heart attack

January 4, 2026

Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority on Athens FIR: Massive interference on nearly all frequencies, an unprecedented incident

January 4, 2026

New escalation: Farmers in Malgara decide on a 48-hour blockade of national highways, service roads and customs checkpoints

January 4, 2026

Chaos in Greek airspace as Athens FIR restores systems – Delays to continue for hours – What passengers need to know

January 4, 2026

Chaos at Athens International Airport, planes grounded and thousands of passengers affected

January 4, 2026

No flights in or out of Greece after technical failure shuts down airspace – Greek FIR emptied

January 4, 2026
All News

> Politics

Politicians… differently during the holidays: From skiing to the theater stage and hugs on the beach

The festive atmosphere, along with the winter weather, whetted the appetite of politicians who are sports enthusiasts, while others opted for everything from the theater stage to movie theaters, social gatherings, and even… roadblocks

January 2, 2026

Hatzidakis: €3.8 billion have been given to farmers in 2025 – They have no excuse not to come to the dialogue

January 2, 2026

Mitsotakis’ message for 2026: We still have problems to solve, understanding is the top priority of the year that dawns

December 31, 2025

Tsiaras’ report for 2025: a difficult year for the primary sector ends with 3.8 billion euro payments

December 31, 2025

PASOK turned upside down in the new year: The “stuck needle” in the polls, differing lines, Tsipras and Karystianou

December 31, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα