America: A History Podcast
Who Cares About Presidential Debates?
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Episode notes
Presidential debates are a staple of the election cycle, but in recent years the drama of deciding who gets to host a debate and when can often be more exciting than the event itself. In a world where news is instant and everyone is connected, do they have the same impact and influence on elections as they once did? So in this episode, I want to know… who cares about Presidential debates?
Special guest for this episode:
- Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia.
Highlights from this episode:
(02:18) The first Presidential debate
(07:44) Behind every great President is a great First Lady
(09:45) How many millions watch the JFK / Nixon debate?!
(13:45) The Trump effect
(17:25) How has social media changed debate strategy?
(23:10) How much control do the parties have over debates?
(27:13) Are debates too boring?
(32:42) What lessons were learnt from the Biden / Trump debate?
(36:02) Why should candidates care about debates?
Additional Resources:
Commission on Presidential Debates
The American Presidency Project (includes transcripts of past debates)
C-SPAN – Presidential Debates (recordings of past debates)
Michael Socolow, “Think presidential debates are dull? Thank 1950s TV game shows”
Pew Research Center, “6 facts about presidential and vice presidential debates”
And if you like this episode, you might also love:
Should Donald Trump Be Allowed to Run for President?
What is a Primary and a Caucus?
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