1976 United States presidential debates

The United States presidential election debates were held during the 1976 presidential election. Three debates were held between Republican candidate, incumbent president Gerald Ford and former Democratic governor Jimmy Carter, the major candidates. One debate was held with their vice presidential running mates, Bob Dole and Walter Mondale.

1976 United States presidential debates
September 23–October 22, 1976
 
Nominee Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Michigan Georgia
Running mate Bob Dole Walter Mondale

The vice presidential debate was held on October 15 at the Alley Theatre. The presidential debates were held on September 23 at the Walnut Street Theater, October 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts and on October 22 at the College of William & Mary, ahead of the November 7 Election Day. All of the debates were sponsored by the League of Women Voters. In each of the debates, the candidates received questions in turn with three minutes to answer and a 60-second rebuttal.

Participant selection

In 1976 only the two candidates from the major political parties, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, were invited. As a result, only Bob Dole and Walter Mondale met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.

Debate schedule
1976 United States presidential election debates
 No.Date and timeHostLocationModeratorParticipants
Key:
 P  Participant   		 Republican Democratic
President
Gerald Ford
of Michigan		 Former Governor
Jimmy Carter
of Georgia

1
 		 Thursday, September 23, 1976
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EDT[1]		 Walnut Street Theater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Edwin Newman P P

2
 		 Wednesday, October 6, 1976
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EDT[1]		 Palace of Fine Arts   San Francisco, California Pauline Frederick P P

3
 		 Friday, October 22, 1976
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. EDT[1]		 College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Barbara Walters P P
1976 United States vice presidential debate
 No.Date and timeHostLocationModeratorParticipants
Key:
 P  Participant  		 Republican Democratic
Senator
Bob Dole
of Kansas		 Senator
Walter Mondale
of Minnesota

VP
 		 Friday, October 15, 1976
9:30 – 10:45 p.m. EDT[1]		 Alley Theatre Houston, Texas James Hoge P P

Three presidential debates were scheduled by the League of Women Voters:

  1. September 23 at the Walnut Street Theater, with questions from moderator Edwin Newman of NBC;
  2. October 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts, with questions from moderator Pauline Frederick of NPR;
  3. October 22 at the College of William & Mary, with questions from moderator Barbara Walters of ABC;

One vice-presidential debate was held:

First presidential debate (Walnut Street Theater)
First presidential debate
Date(s)September 23, 1976 (1976-09-23)
VenueWalnut Street Theater
LocationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
ParticipantsGerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Moderator(s)Edwin Newman of NBC

The Debate was held in the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

President Gerald Ford
Michigan
Former Governor Jimmy Carter
Georgia

Edwin Newman of NBC moderated the debate. A panel consisting of Elizabeth Drew, Frank Reynolds and James Gannon posed questions to the candidates.

This was the first presidential debate in 16 years. 81 minutes into the broadcast of the 90 minute debate, the sound was lost and the debate was paused for 27 minutes before the problem was fixed and the debate could resume.[2]

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 69.7 million viewers tuned into the debates.

Second presidential debate (Palace of Fine Arts)
Second presidential debate
Date(s)October 6, 1976 (1976-10-06)
VenuePalace of Fine Arts
LocationSan Francisco, California
ParticipantsGerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Moderator(s)Pauline Frederick of NPR

The debate was held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California

Pauline Frederick of NPR posed the questions for each candidate. The debate is infamous for President Ford's gaffe, "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never be will under a Ford administration."[3]

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 63.9 million viewers tuned into the debate.

Vice presidential debate (Alley Theatre)
Vice presidential debate
Date(s)October 15, 1976 (1976-10-15)
VenueAlley Theatre
LocationHouston, Texas
ParticipantsBob Dole
Walter Mondale
Moderator(s)James Hoge of Chicago Sun Times
1976 Vice-Presidential debate
October 15, 1976
 
Nominee Bob Dole Walter Mondale
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Kansas Minnesota

The vice presidential debate was held in the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. It was the first vice presidential debate in American history.[4][5]

James Hoge of Chicago Sun Times posed the questions for each candidate.

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 43.2 million viewers tuned into the debate.

Third presidential debate (College of William & Mary)
Third presidential debate
Date(s)October 22, 1976 (1976-10-22)
VenuePhi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary
LocationWilliamsburg, Virginia.
ParticipantsGerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Moderator(s)Barbara Walters of ABC

The Debate was held in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Barbara Walters of ABC posed the questions for each candidate.

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 62.7 million viewers tuned into the debates.

References
  1. "CPD: 1976 Debates". www.debates.org. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  2. "Sound of Debate is off Air for 27 Minutes". The New York Times. 24 September 1976.
  3. Graham, David A. (2016-08-02). "The Myth of Gerald Ford's Fatal 'Soviet Domination' Gaffe". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. Vice Presidential Debate in Houston, Texas | The American Presidency Project
  5. "Here's What Happened at the First-Ever VP Debate".
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