1976 Debates
There were three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate during the 1976 general election.
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Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library |
General Election Presidential Debate
Jimmy Carter (D), Former Georgia Governor and
Gerald Ford (R), President
Date: September 23, 1976 Location: Walnut Street Theater City: Philadelphia, PA Time: 9:30 - 11:00 p.m. Eastern Sponsor: League of Women Voters Moderator: Edwin Newman, Baltimore Sun Panelists: Frank Reynolds, ABC; James Gannon, Wall Street Journal; Elizabeth Drew, New Yorker Magazine Viewership: 69.7 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research) Format: No opening statements; each questioned in turn with three minutes to answer; one optional follow-up question with two minutes to reply; two minute rebuttal; three minute closing statements. Topic: Domestic policy Transcript Video
General Election Presidential Debate
Jimmy Carter (D), Former Georgia Governor and
Gerald Ford (R), President
Date: October 6, 1976 Location: Palace of Fine Arts City: San Francisco, CA Time: 9:30 - 11:00 p.m. Eastern Sponsor: League of Women Voters Moderator: Pauline Frederick, NPR Panelists: Max Frankel, New York Times; Henry L. Trewitt, Baltimore Sun; Richard Valeriani, NBC News Viewership: 63.9 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research) Format: No opening statements; each questioned in turn with three minutes to answer; one optional follow-up question with two minutes to reply; two minute rebuttal; three minute closing statements Topic: Foreign and defense issues Transcript Video
General Election Presidential Debate
Jimmy Carter (D), Former Georgia Governor and
Gerald Ford (R), President
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Date: |
October 22, 1976 |
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Location: |
Phi Beta Kappa Hall, College of William and Mary |
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City: |
Williamsburg, VA |
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Time: |
9:30 - 11:00 p.m. Eastern |
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Sponsor: |
League of Women Voters |
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Moderator: |
Barbara Walters, ABC News |
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Panelists: |
Joseph Kraft, syndicated columnist; Robert Maynard, Washington Post; Jack Nelson, Los Angeles Times |
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Viewership: |
62.7 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research) |
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Format: |
Candidates questioned in turn with two and a half minutes to answer; two minute rebuttal; optional follow-up questions with two minutes to answer; three minute closing statements |
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Transcript |
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Video |
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Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library |
Vice Presidential Debate
Walter Mondale (D), United States Senator (MN) and
Bob Dole (R), United States Senator (KS)
Date: October 15, 1976 Location: Alley Theatre City: Houston, TX Time: 9:30 - 10:45 p.m. Eastern Sponsor: League of Women Voters Moderator: James Hoge, Chicago Sun Times Panelists: Hal Bruno, Newsweek; Marilyn Berger, NBC News; Walter Mears, Associated Press Viewership: 43.2 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research) Format: Two minute opening statements; each questioned in turn with two and a half minutes to answer; two and a half minute rebuttals; one minute reply to rebuttal; three minute closing statements. Topic: Domestic and economic policies; foreign and defense issues Miscellaneous: First formal debate ever held between vice presidential candidates Transcript: Transcript not available Video
© 2004 Commission on Presidential Debates. All rights reserved.