CPD: 1992 Debates

1992 Debates

There were three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate during the 1992 general election.

General Election Presidential Debate

Bill Clinton (D), Arkansas Governor
George Bush (R), President
Ross Perot (I), Businessman

Date:

October 11, 1992

Location:

Field House, Washington University

City:

St. Louis, MO

Time:

8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Jim Lehrer, PBS

Panelists:

Sander Vanocur, independent journalist; Ann Compton, ABC; John Mashek, Boston Globe

Viewership:

62.4 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

No opening statements; each candidate questioned in turn with two minutes to respond; one minute rebuttal by other candidates; two minute closing statements.

Topic:

Questions divided between foreign and domestic policy

Transcript:

First half of debate
Second half of debate

Video

General Election Presidential Debate

Bill Clinton (D), Arkansas Governor
George Bush (R), President
Ross Perot (I), Businessman

Date:

October 15, 1992

Location:

Robbins Field House, University of Richmond

City:

Richmond, VA

Time:

9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Carole Simpson, ABC

Questioners:

209 uncommitted voters

Viewership:

69.9 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

Town hall meeting; two minute closing statements.

Transcript:

First half of debate
Second half of debate

Video

General Election Presidential Debate

Bill Clinton (D), Arkansas Governor
George Bush (R), President
Ross Perot (I), Businessman

Date:

October 19, 1992

Location:

Wharton Center, Michigan State University

City:

East Lansing, MI

Time:

9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Jim Lehrer, PBS

Panelists:

Gene Gibbons, Reuters; Helen Thomas, UPI; Susan Rook, CNN

Viewership:

66.9 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

First half: single moderator with option of follow-ups; roughly two minutes to answer, one minute rebuttal. Second half: panelists posed questions in turn with no follow-ups. Two minute closing statements.

Transcript

Video

Vice Presidential Debate

Al Gore (D), United States Senator (TN)
Dan Quayle (R), Vice President
James Stockdale (I), Retired Admiral

Date:

October 13, 1992

Location:

Theater for the Arts, Georgia Tech

City:

Atlanta, GA

Time:

7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

Commission on Presidential Debates

Moderator:

Hal Bruno, ABC

Viewership:

51.2 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

Two minute opening statements; issue presented to candidates with one minute, 15 seconds to respond; five minute discussion period about same topic followed; two minute closing statements.

Transcript

Video

Date:	October 11, 1992
Location:	Field House, Washington University
City:	St. Louis, MO
Time:	8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Eastern
Sponsor:	Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator:	Jim Lehrer, PBS
Panelists:	Sander Vanocur, independent journalist; Ann Compton, ABC; John Mashek, Boston Globe
Viewership:	62.4 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format:	No opening statements; each candidate questioned in turn with two minutes to respond; one minute rebuttal by other candidates; two minute closing statements.
Topic:	Questions divided between foreign and domestic policy
Transcript:	First half of debate Second half of debate
Video

Date:	October 15, 1992
Location:	Robbins Field House, University of Richmond
City:	Richmond, VA
Time:	9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Sponsor:	Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator:	Carole Simpson, ABC
Questioners:	209 uncommitted voters
Viewership:	69.9 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format:	Town hall meeting; two minute closing statements.
Transcript:	First half of debate Second half of debate
Video

Date:	October 19, 1992
Location:	Wharton Center, Michigan State University
City:	East Lansing, MI
Time:	9:00 - 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Sponsor:	Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator:	Jim Lehrer, PBS
Panelists:	Gene Gibbons, Reuters; Helen Thomas, UPI; Susan Rook, CNN
Viewership:	66.9 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format:	First half: single moderator with option of follow-ups; roughly two minutes to answer, one minute rebuttal. Second half: panelists posed questions in turn with no follow-ups. Two minute closing statements.
Transcript
Video

Date:	October 13, 1992
Location:	Theater for the Arts, Georgia Tech
City:	Atlanta, GA
Time:	7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Sponsor:	Commission on Presidential Debates
Moderator:	Hal Bruno, ABC
Viewership:	51.2 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)
Format:	Two minute opening statements; issue presented to candidates with one minute, 15 seconds to respond; five minute discussion period about same topic followed; two minute closing statements.
Transcript
Video