1976 United States presidential debates

The 1976 United States presidential debates were a series of debates held during the 1976 presidential election.

1976 United States presidential debates

← 1960 September 23, 1976
October 6, 1976
October 22, 1976
1980 →
 
Nominee Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Michigan Georgia
1976 United States vice presidential debate
October 15, 1976
 
Nominee Bob Dole Walter Mondale
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Kansas Minnesota

The League of Women Voters organized four debates among the major party candidates, sponsored three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. Three presidential debates were held between Republican nominee Gerald Ford and Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter. One vice presidential debate was held between their respective vice presidential running mates, Bob Dole and Walter Mondale. In each of the debates, the candidates received questions in turn with three minutes to answer and a 60-second rebuttal.

Participant selection

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In 1976 only the two candidates from the major political parties, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, were invited. As a result, only Bob Dole and Walter Mondale met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.

Debate schedule

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1976 United States presidential election debates
 No. Date and time Host Location Moderator Participants
Key:
 P  Participant  
Republican Democratic
President
Gerald Ford
of Michigan
Governor
Jimmy Carter
of Georgia

1
 
Thursday, September 23, 1976
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EDT[1]
Walnut Street Theater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Edwin Newman of NBC P P

2
 
Wednesday, October 6, 1976
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EDT[1]
Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco, California Pauline Frederick of NPR P P

3
 
Friday, October 22, 1976
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EDT[1]
College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Barbara Walters of ABC P P
1976 United States vice presidential debate
 No. Date and time Host Location Moderator Participants
Key:
 P  Participant  
Republican Democratic
Senator
Bob Dole
of Kansas
Senator
Walter Mondale
of Minnesota

VP
 
Friday, October 15, 1976
9:30 – 10:45 p.m. EDT[1]
Alley Theatre Houston, Texas James Hoge of Chicago Sun-Times P P

Three presidential debates were scheduled by the League of Women Voters:

  1. September 23 at the Walnut Street Theater, with questions from moderator Edwin Newman of NBC;
  2. October 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts, with questions from moderator Pauline Frederick of NPR;
  3. October 22 at the College of William & Mary, with questions from moderator Barbara Walters of ABC;

One vice-presidential debate was held:

September 23: First presidential debate (Walnut Street Theater)

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First presidential debate
 
Date(s)September 23, 1976 (1976-09-23)
Duration90 minutes
VenueWalnut Street Theater
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
ParticipantsGerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Moderator(s)Edwin Newman of NBC

The first presidential debate between President Gerald Ford and former Governor Jimmy Carter took place on Thursday, September 23, 1976, in the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The debate was moderated by Edwin Newman of NBC moderated the debate with a panel consisting of Elizabeth Drew, Frank Reynolds and James Gannon posed the questions to each candidate.

This was the first presidential debate in 16 years. Eighty-one minutes into the broadcast of the 90 minute debate, the sound was lost and the debate was paused for 27 minutes before the problem was fixed and the debate could resume.[2]

Transcript

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Viewership

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An estimated 69.7 million viewers tuned into the debates.

October 6: Second presidential debate (Palace of Fine Arts)

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Second presidential debate
Date(s)October 6, 1976 (1976-10-06)
Duration90 minutes
VenuePalace of Fine Arts
LocationSan Francisco, California
ParticipantsGerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Moderator(s)Pauline Frederick of NPR

The second presidential debate between President Gerald Ford and former Governor Jimmy Carter took place on Wednesday, October 6, 1976, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California.

The debate was moderated by Pauline Frederick of NPR, who posed the questions for each candidate. The debate is infamous for President Ford's gaffe, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration."[3]

Video

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Transcript

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Viewership

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An estimated 63.9 million viewers tuned into the debate.

October 15: Vice presidential debate (Alley Theatre)

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Vice presidential debate
Date(s)October 15, 1976 (1976-10-15)
Duration75 minutes
VenueAlley Theatre
LocationHouston, Texas
ParticipantsBob Dole
Walter Mondale
Moderator(s)James Hoge of Chicago Sun-Times

The only vice presidential debate between Senator Bob Dole and Senator Walter Mondale took place on Friday, October 15, 1976, in the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. It was the first vice presidential debate in American history.[4][5]

James Hoge of Chicago Sun-Times posed the questions for each candidate.

Transcript

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Viewership

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An estimated 43.2 million viewers tuned into the debate.

October 22: Third presidential debate (College of William & Mary)

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Third presidential debate
Date(s)October 22, 1976 (1976-10-22)
Duration90 minutes
VenuePhi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary
LocationWilliamsburg, Virginia
ParticipantsGerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Moderator(s)Barbara Walters of ABC

The third and final presidential debate between President Gerald Ford and former Governor Jimmy Carter took place on Friday, October 22, 1976, in the Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The debate was moderated by Barbara Walters of ABC, who posed the questions for each candidate.

Transcript

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Viewership

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An estimated 62.7 million viewers tuned into the debates.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "CPD: 1976 Debates". www.debates.org. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "Sound of Debate is off Air for 27 Minutes". The New York Times. September 24, 1976.
  3. ^ Graham, David A. (August 2, 2016). "The Myth of Gerald Ford's Fatal 'Soviet Domination' Gaffe". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Vice Presidential Debate in Houston, Texas | The American Presidency Project
  5. ^ "Here's What Happened at the First-Ever VP Debate". October 4, 2016.