1980 United States presidential debates

Part of the 1980 U.S. presidential election January 2025 1980 United States presidential debates United States presidential no 1976 United States presidential debates 1976 1984 United States presidential debates 1984 289px September 21, 1980October 28, 1980 Jimmy Carter presidential portrait (cropped 1).jpg Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981-cropped.jpg John B. Anderson in New Jersey (cropped).jpg Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Independent Georgia California Illinois Jimmy Carter(October 28) Ronald Reagan John B. Anderson(September 21) yes 1980 United States vice presidential debate presidential no October 2, 1980 (canceled) U.S Vice President Walter Mondale, 1977.jpg Walter Mondale Democratic Party (United States) Minnesota George H. W. Bush vice presidential portrait (cropped 3x4).jpg George H. W. Bush Republican Party (United States) Texas Ambassador Patrick Lucey (cropped).png Patrick Lucey Independent Wisconsin The 1980 United States presidential debates were a series of debates held during the 1980 presidential election. The League of Women Voters sponsored two presidential debates: the first on September 21, and the second on October 28. The second presidential debate is the second most-watched debate in American history. Republican nominee Ronald Reagan participated in both debates. Independent candidate John B. Anderson only participated in the first presidential debate, while Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter only participated in the second presidential debate. No vice presidential debate was held in 1980. Anderson's running mate Patrick Lucey was the only one who agreed to participate, while Carter's running mate Walter Mondale and Reagan's running mate George H. W. Bush both refused. League of Women Voters-sponsored debates Negotiations The tentative schedule for the debates, reported in August 1980, was as follows:Bitzer Lloyd F. Rueter Theodore The 1980 Debates https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/24/archives/the-1980-debates.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times August 24, 1980 September 18, in Baltimore, Maryland October 2, in Louisville, Kentucky (Vice Presidential debate) October 13, in Portland, Oregon October 27, in Cleveland, Ohio The 1980 election featured a major third-party candidate, John B. Anderson. The League of Women Voters allowed for Anderson to participate in the debate if he polled above 15%.Presidential Debate Plan Appears to Be in Jeopardy https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/25/archives/campaign-report-presidential-debate-plan-appears-to-be-in-jeopardy.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times Associated Press August 24, 1980 The Carter campaign, believing that a three-way debate between Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Anderson, would boost Anderson's campaign, tried to push for an earlier debate only featuring Carter and Reagan. This plan was supported by the chairs of the Democratic and Republican National Committee.Clymer Adam G.O.P Joins Carter Plea for Debate Without Anderson; League's Plans in Doubt Important to Anderson https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/26/archives/gop-joins-carter-plea-for-debate-without-anderson-leagues-plans-in.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times August 25, 2020 The two-person debate did not materialize, and Carter declined to debate alongside Anderson.Smith Hedrick Carter Declines to Debate After Anderson Is Invited https://www.nytimes.com/1980/09/10/archives/carter-declines-to-debate-after-anderson-is-invited-first-clearcut.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times September 10, 1980 The vice presidential debate was canceled on September 29, days before it was scheduled to be held. George H. W. Bush and Walter Mondale refused to attend, leaving only Anderson's running mate Patrick Lucey accepting the invitation.Voters League Cancels Vice-Presidential Debate https://www.nytimes.com/1980/09/30/archives/campaign-report-voters-league-cancels-vicepresidential-debate.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times September 30, 1980 Debate schedule 1980 United States presidential election debates No. Number Date and time Host Location Moderator ParticipantsKey:black #90ff90  P   Participant  black #ff9090  N   Non-invitee  black #ffffdd  A   Absent invitee #FFF Democratic#FFF Republican#000 Independent PresidentJimmy Carterof Georgia GovernorRonald Reaganof CaliforniaCongressmanJohn B. Andersonof Illinois 1  Sunday, September 21, 1980 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDTCPD: 1980 Debates https://www.debates.org/debate-history/1980-debates/ 2020-10-03 www.debates.org Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland Bill Moyers of PBSAPP 2  Tuesday, October 28, 1980 9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EST Music Hall Cleveland, Ohio Howard K. Smith of ABCPPN 1980 United States vice presidential debate No. Number Date and time Host Location Moderator Participants#FFF Democratic#FFF Republican#000 Independent Vice PresidentWalter Mondaleof Minnesota DirectorGeorge H. W. Bushof Texas AmbassadorPatrick Luceyof Wisconsin VP  Thursday, October 2, 1980League sends debate tickets as souvenirs https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60825471/league-sends-debate-tickets-as-souvenirs/ October 9, 2020 The Courier-Journal October 29, 1980 Commonwealth Convention Center Louisville, KentuckyCanceled September 21: First presidential debate (Baltimore Convention Center) First presidential debate 150 60 minutes 1980 09 21 Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland John B. AndersonRonald Reagan Bill Moyers of PBS thumb|Debate between Ronald Reagan and John Anderson on September 21, 1980 The first presidential debate took place on Sunday, September 21, 1980, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The three invitees were Carter, Anderson and Reagan, though Carter refused to attend due to the presence of Anderson.http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history/1980/index.shtml 1980 Presidential Debates 1996 CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20190120071806/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history/1980/index.shtml January 20, 2019 live September 25, 2018https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/05/28/carter-bars-debate-with-anderson/c5b49650-d3dc-43e8-b646-60c421bbd8de/ May 28, 1980 https://web.archive.org/web/20201006082615/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/05/28/carter-bars-debate-with-anderson/c5b49650-d3dc-43e8-b646-60c421bbd8de/ October 6, 2020 The Washington Post Carter Bars Debate With Anderson December 31, 2020 Following a strong performance by Reagan, Anderson's poll numbers began to drop. Consequently, Anderson would not be invited to the second debate. Format The debate started at 10:00 p.m. EDT, and lasted for one hour.http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1980-debates 1980 Debates Commission on Presidential Debates https://web.archive.org/web/20190120072539/https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1980-debates January 20, 2019 live January 20, 2019 Anderson and Reagan both received six questions.http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=september-21-1980-debate-transcript September 21, 1980 Debate Transcript September 21, 1980 Commission on Presidential Debates https://web.archive.org/web/20190120092224/https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=september-21-1980-debate-transcript January 20, 2019 live January 20, 2019 They were given two and a half minutes to answer each question, as well as one minute and 15 seconds to rebut. Closing statements could be as long as three minutes. October 28: Second presidential debate (Music Hall) Second presidential debate 150 Carter Reagan Debate 10-28-80.png 90 minutes 1980 10 28 Music Hall Cleveland, Ohio Jimmy CarterRonald Reagan Howard K. Smith of ABC thumb|Debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter on October 28, 1980 The second presidential debate took place on Tuesday, October 28, 1980, at the Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. Carter and Reagan were the only invitees. Reagan's most notable moments include using the phrase "There you go again" and asking whether or not Americans were better off than they were four years ago. CNN attempted to include Anderson from the Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. CNN's Daniel Schorr read the same questions to Anderson. They then aired Anderson's live responses along with tape delay of Carter and Reagan's responses,https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/1027/102722.html Anderson to debate, too, via cable-TV network Shipp Randy October 27, 1980 The Christian Science Monitor https://web.archive.org/web/20190120073623/https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/1027/102722.html January 20, 2019 live January 5, 2019https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/29/archives/a-carter-flipflop-is-seen-by-anderson-responding-to-2-debaters.html A CARTER 'FLIP-FLOP' IS SEEN BY ANDERSON; Responding to 2 Debaters' Views, He Says on Cable TV That Tax Cuts Are 'Irresponsible' Carter's Earlier Position Repeating Charges of Past Service in World War II Weaver Jr. Warren October 29, 1980 The New York Times https://web.archive.org/web/20190120074432/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/29/archives/a-carter-flipflop-is-seen-by-anderson-responding-to-2-debaters.html January 20, 2019 live January 5, 2019 subscription despite technical difficulties.Schroeder Alan June 2016 Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail https://books.google.com/books?id=K3q0CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA263 Columbia University Press 263 978-0-231-54150-3 Format The second presidential debate started at 9:30 p.m. EST, and lasted for 90 minutes. The debate consisted of two halves, and panelists were only allowed to offer follow-ups in the first half. Candidates Carter and Reagan both received the same 12 questionshttps://www.debates.org/index.php?page=october-28-1980-debate-transcript October 28, 1980 Debate Transcript October 28, 1980 Commission on Presidential Debates https://web.archive.org/web/20190120092336/https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=october-28-1980-debate-transcript January 20, 2019 live January 20, 2019 and the ability to rebut twice for one minute each. Viewership According to Nielsen Media Research, the debate garnered 80.6 million viewers.https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2008/top-ten-presidential-debates-1960-to-present.html Highest Rated Presidential Debates 1960 To Present October 6, 2008 Nielsen January 20, 2019 It was the most-watched debate in American history until the first presidential debate of 2016.https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/27/495692196/clinton-trump-showdown-is-most-watched-presidential-debate Clinton-Trump Showdown Was The Most-Watched Presidential Debate Ever Kennedy Merrit September 27, 2016 NPR https://web.archive.org/web/20190120082048/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/27/495692196/clinton-trump-showdown-is-most-watched-presidential-debate January 20, 2019 live January 20, 2019 Reaction An unscientific televote poll carried out by ABC immediately after the debate received about 650,000 responses, two thirds in favor of Reagan.O'Connor John J. TV: Instant Poll Steals Post-Debate Scene https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/30/archives/tv-instant-poll-steals-pastdebate-scene.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times October 30, 1980Lanoue Daniel J. One That Made a Difference: Cognitive Consistency, Political Knowledge, and the 1980 Presidential Debate Public Opinion Quarterly 1992 56 2 168–184 10.1086/269309 2749168 https://www.jstor.org/stable/2749168 October 9, 2020 subscription Aftermath In 1983, Reagan's campaign came under fire for having access to Carter's internal debate briefing materials.https://newrepublic.com/article/89585/debategate-carter-reagan-debate-scandal Debategate Kondracke Morton July 17, 1983 The New Republic https://web.archive.org/web/20150919234648/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/89585/debategate-carter-reagan-debate-scandal September 19, 2015 live January 20, 2019 Other debates A minor party debate was held by the New York Committee for Marxist Education on October 9. The debate was moderated by Bill Henning, and attended by representatives of the Communist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party USA, Citizens Party, and Workers World Party. The only candidate to attend in person was Workers World's Deirdre Griswold.Dionne Jr. E. J. 5 Parties of the Left Conduct a Presidential Debate https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/12/archives/5-parties-of-the-left-conduct-a-presidential-debate-parties.html October 9, 2020 The New York Times October 12, 1980 See also Jimmy Carter 1980 presidential campaign Ronald Reagan 1980 presidential campaign 1980 United States presidential election References 1980 Debates Category:1980 in American television