×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Sunday
26
Jul 2026
weather symbol
Athens 25°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

Δείτε περισσότερα άρθρα μας στα αποτελέσματα αναζήτησης

Add Protothema.gr on Google

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

Marc Poll: Final survey before the summer break – New Democracy steady above 30%, Tsipras ahead of PASOK, Karystianou slips sharply

Mitsotakis: Extra reduction in diesel fuel for August by another 10 cents per litre, total discount reaches 15 cents

The new national water policy: More than 900 water supply and sewerage projects across Greece

– 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

Marc Poll: Final survey before the summer break – New Democracy steady above 30%, Tsipras ahead of PASOK, Karystianou slips sharply

July 26, 2026

Mount Olympus added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

July 26, 2026

Mitsotakis: Extra reduction in diesel fuel for August by another 10 cents per litre, total discount reaches 15 cents

July 26, 2026

ESM: Greece passed the public debt “stress test”; a reduction is projected over the next decade even under the adverse scenario

July 26, 2026

The new national water policy: More than 900 water supply and sewerage projects across Greece

July 26, 2026

Germany: Muslim suspect sought by Police for the deadly attack at Berlin Pride Festival (videos)

July 26, 2026

Greek Patriot battery in Saudi Arabia shoots down another drone launched from Yemen

July 25, 2026

Marc Poll: Final survey before the August holidays: New Democracy leads ELAS by 14 points, PASOK in third place, Karystianou’s support plunges

July 25, 2026
All News

> Greece

In reverence, the emotional deposition in Jerusalem, see photos & video

The Holy Temple of the Resurrection opened after many days due to the war between Israel and Iran

April 10, 2026

In the final stretch for the accreditation of joint master’s degrees: Aiming for their launch in the coming academic year

April 10, 2026

Schedule for Epitaph Procession today (10/4)

April 10, 2026

Perfect weather for Easter excursions, according to Tsatrafyllia’s forecast

April 10, 2026

Easter in Greece: The customs that continue in Greek tradition – From Nafpaktos to Corfu

April 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα