Uploaded May 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The first nationally televised U.S. presidential debate took place on September 26, 1960 when Vice President Richard Nixon faced Democratic challenger John F. Kennedy in the first of four debates. However, the tradition did not take hold until 1976 when President Gerald R. Ford debated Democratic opponent Jimmy Carter. Since then, the presidential debate has become a given in the more than year-long election process. And, as in American politics, the debates have become increasingly contentious.
The Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960 set the tone for the importance of appearance. Kennedy's on-air confidence and Nixon's nervousness provided a turning point in that election. Similarly, Ronald Reagan's "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" resonated with voters in 1980 and helped put him ahead of Jimmy Carter. And in 2000, George W. Bush's "I can get it done" created an impression with voters that helped him defeat Vice President Al Gore.
Along with these memorable moments, our Feature Content video includes, amongst others, Gerald Ford's epic blunder in 1976 when he said "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe", Ronald Reagan's disarming humor in 1984, H. Ross Perot's folksy wit in 1992, Bill Clinton's play on Reagan's "Are you better off than you were four years ago" in 1996, President George W. Bush's heated response to a comment by opponent John Kerry about "going it alone" in Iraq in 2004, John McCain's finger pointing at Barack Obama in 2008, referring to him as "that one" and, most recently, Mitt Romney's verbal gaffe in 2012 about "binders full of women."
Go to NBCUniversalArchives.com to license any portion of this video.
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The first nationally televised U.S. presidential debate took place on September 26, 1960 when Vice President Richard Nixon faced Democratic challenger John F. Kennedy in the first of four debates. However, the tradition did not take hold until 1976 when President Gerald R. Ford debated Democratic opponent Jimmy Carter. Since then, the presidential debate has become a given in the more than year-long election process. And, as in American politics, the debates have become increasingly contentious.
The Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960 set the tone for the importance of appearance. Kennedy's on-air confidence and Nixon's nervousness provided a turning point in that election. Similarly, Ronald Reagan's "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" resonated with voters in 1980 and helped put him ahead of Jimmy Carter. And in 2000, George W. Bush's "I can get it done" created an impression with voters that helped him defeat Vice President Al Gore.
Along with these memorable moments, our Feature Content video includes, amongst others, Gerald Ford's epic blunder in 1976 when he said "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe", Ronald Reagan's disarming humor in 1984, H. Ross Perot's folksy wit in 1992, Bill Clinton's play on Reagan's "Are you better off than you were four years ago" in 1996, President George W. Bush's heated response to a comment by opponent John Kerry about "going it alone" in Iraq in 2004, John McCain's finger pointing at Barack Obama in 2008, referring to him as "that one" and, most recently, Mitt Romney's verbal gaffe in 2012 about "binders full of women."
Go to NBCUniversalArchives.com to license any portion of this video.
Like Us on Facebook.com/NBCUArchives
Follow us on Twitter.com/NBCUArchives
