The announcement that 2004's presidential debates will kick off on Sept. 30 recalls to mind the modern history of such square-offs. As CNN Time observes in its "All Politics" series, "Presidential debates are a modern television age creation," originating as recently as 1960, then lapsing for 16 years before resuming in 1976.
The hiatus didn't occur because of a lack of interest. In fact, after Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy met face to face, it became immediately apparent the overwhelming effect that television had on political fortune -- many think Nixon would have won the 1960 race had it not been for TV accentuating his five o'clock shadow and loose shirt collar. Incumbents have a natural edge in campaigns, and some incumbents refused to risk it by exposing themselves to a television audience in a debate. And the federal communications laws requiring equal time for even splinter presidential candidates played havoc with the concept for a time.
But since 1976, candidate debates have provided some of the most memorable campaign quotations. Who can forget Gerald Ford's gaffe when he said in 1976's debate with Jimmy Carter, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe?" or when Ronald Reagan used humor when up against Walter Mondale in 1984 and declared "I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Vice presidents have been part of the mix as well. Perhaps the most famous line issuing from their debates came in 1988 when Democratic Veep candidate Sen. Lloyd Bentsen took advantage of GOP candidate Sen. Dan Quayle's attempt to steal some luster from the aura of President Kennedy by averring, "I knew Jack Kennedy. President Kennedy was my friend. And senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
