US Presidential Debates: Gaffes, Chaos, and Scandals Through the Years

From Gerald Ford’s catastrophic Soviet gaffe to Ronald Reagan’s witty remark about his age and Joe Biden asking Donald Trump to “shut up,” US presidential debates have been funny, vicious, and everything in between. Here are some of the most memorable moments from more than 60 years of modern American debates.

Kennedy – Nixon, September 26, 1960

The first televised debate of its kind established the importance of a politician’s public image. Republican Richard Nixon, who had served two terms as Vice President under Dwight Eisenhower, looked poised to win the election. However, he refused to wear makeup and appeared pale and sweaty before more than 66 million viewers, while the young Massachusetts senator John F. Kennedy looked tanned and relaxed. Nixon addressed the moderator, while Kennedy spoke directly to the camera, engaging voters. Kennedy went on to defeat Nixon at the polls.

Ford – Carter, October 6, 1976

The first debate between Republican president Gerald Ford and Democratic challenger Jimmy Carter was marred by a 27-minute loss of audio. The second debate didn’t go well for Ford either when he made a gaffe that arguably cost him the presidency. At the height of the Cold War, Ford stated that “there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” despite the Soviet Union having troops deployed across the Eastern bloc. Six days passed before Ford explained he meant that people’s spirits there hadn’t been crushed.

Reagan – Mondale, October 21, 1984

Republican president Ronald Reagan was 73 when he ran for a second term against 56-year-old Walter Mondale. He turned his age into a strength with a witty answer: “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.”

Bush – Clinton – Perot, October 15, 1992

During a town hall debate, incumbent president George Bush was caught on camera looking at his watch while Bill Clinton talked to an audience member, a move that cost Bush dearly. Years later, Bush admitted he hated the debates, saying, “Maybe that’s why I was looking at it, ‘Only 10 more minutes of this crap.’”

Obama – Romney, October 22, 2012

During a debate against President Barack Obama, Republican challenger Mitt Romney lamented that the US Navy had fewer ships than in 1916. Obama retorted, “Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military’s changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.” Obama’s comments went viral online.

Trump – Clinton, October 9, 2016

The second debate of the 2016 election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was particularly vicious. Shortly after the release of a video in which Trump was heard boasting about groping women, Trump went after Clinton’s husband, former president Bill Clinton, accusing him of being “so abusive to women.” Trump also vowed to have Clinton investigated over her use of a private email account. “It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country,” Clinton said. Trump shot back, “Because you’d be in jail.”

Trump – Biden, September 29, 2020

The first debate of the 2020 presidential election between Trump and Joe Biden devolved into shouting and insults. With Trump constantly interrupting him, Biden snapped, saying, “Will you shut up, man?” Biden also called his opponent a “clown” and “Putin’s puppy.” Trump evaded the question of whether he would recognize the election results. Debate moderator Chris Wallace later described feeling “desperation.”

Conclusion:

US presidential debates have provided some of the most memorable moments in political history, highlighting the candidates’ strengths, weaknesses, and sometimes their most human vulnerabilities. As debates continue to evolve, they remain a critical aspect of the democratic process.