1996 United States presidential debates

Last updated
1996 United States presidential debates
Flag of the United States.svg
  1992 October 6–16, 1996 2000  
  Bill Clinton.jpg Ks 1996 dole (cropped).jpg
Nominee Bill Clinton Bob Dole
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Arkansas Kansas
Running mate Al Gore Jack Kemp

The United States presidential election debates were held during the 1996 presidential election. Two debates were held between Republican candidate, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and Democratic incumbent President Bill Clinton, the major candidates. One debate was held with their vice presidential running mates, Jack Kemp and Al Gore. All three debates were sponsored by the non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which has organized presidential debates since its establishment in 1987.

Contents

The vice presidential debate was held on October 9 at the Mahaffey Theater. The presidential debates were held on October 6 at The Bushnell and October 16 at University of San Diego, ahead of the November 7 Election Day. Jim Lehrer moderated each of the presidential debates. In each of the first two debates, the candidates received questions in turn with two minutes to answer and a 60-second rebuttal. The third and final debate featured a town hall meeting format.

Debate schedule

1996 United States presidential election debates
 No.Date & timeHostLocationModeratorParticipants
Key:
 P Participant   N Non-invitee  
Democratic Republican
President
Bill Clinton
of Arkansas
Senator
Bob Dole
of Kansas
Sunday, October 6, 1996
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT [1]
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts Hartford, Connecticut Jim Lehrer PP
Wednesday, October 16, 1996
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT [1]
University of San Diego San Diego, California PP
1996 United States vice presidential debate
 No.Date & timeHostLocationModeratorParticipants
Key:
 P Participant   N Non-invitee  
Democratic Republican
Vice President
Al Gore
of Tennessee
Secretary
Jack Kemp
of California
VP Wednesday, October 9, 1996
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT [1]
Mahaffey Theater St. Petersburg, Florida Jim Lehrer PP

Participant selection

In 1996, the following six candidates achieved ballot access in enough states to mathematically win the election via the Electoral College:

Presidential candidateParty Ballot access
Bob Dole Republican 50+DC
Bill Clinton Democratic 50+DC
Ross Perot Reform 50+DC
Harry Browne Libertarian 50+DC
John Hagelin Natural Law 43
Howard Phillips Constitution 41

Unlike in 1992, Ross Perot was excluded from the debates in the 1996 campaign. Paul Kirk, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates stated that "Our decision was made on the basis that only President Clinton and Senator Dole have a realistic chance, as set forth in our criteria, to be elected the next president of the United States." [2]

Only Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and President Bill Clinton met the CPD selection criteria for any of the presidential debates. As a result, only Jack Kemp and Al Gore met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.

1996 was originally to have three presidential debates, the first one on Wednesday, September 25 at Washington University in St. Louis; it was canceled by both campaigns. [3]

October 6: First presidential debate (The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts)

The Debate was held in the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut.

First presidential debate
1996 1st Presidential Debate H.png
Date(s)October 6, 1996 (1996-10-06)
Venue The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Location Hartford, Connecticut
Participants Bill Clinton
Bob Dole
Moderator(s) Jim Lehrer of PBS
Bob Dole, PCCWW photo portrait.JPG
Senator Bob Dole
Kansas

Jim Lehrer of PBS' The NewsHour posed the questions for each candidate.

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 46.1 million viewers tuned into the debates.

October 9: Vice presidential debate (Mahaffey Theater)

The Debate was held in the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Vice presidential debate
Date(s)October 9, 1996 (1996-10-09)
Venue Mahaffey Theater
Location St. Petersburg, Florida
Participants Al Gore
Jack Kemp
Moderator(s) Jim Lehrer of PBS
1996 Vice-Presidential debate
Flag of the United States.svg
  1992 October 9, 1996 2000  
  Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, official portrait 1994.jpg Jack Kemp official portrait.jpg
Nominee Al Gore Jack Kemp
Party Democratic Republican
Home state Tennessee California

Jim Lehrer of PBS' The NewsHour posed the questions for each candidate.

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 26.6 million viewers tuned into the debate.

October 16: Second presidential debate (University of San Diego)

Second presidential debate
Date(s)October 16, 1996 (1996-10-16)
Venue University of San Diego
Location San Diego, California
Participants Bill Clinton
Bob Dole
Moderator(s) Jim Lehrer of PBS

The debate was held at the Shiley Theater on the campus of University of San Diego in San Diego, California.

Jim Lehrer of PBS' The NewsHour moderated the town hall style debate featuring the questions asked by members of the audience:

Transcript

Viewership

An estimated 36.3 million viewers tuned into the debate.

Third-party debates

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "CPD: 1996 Debates". www.debates.org. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  2. "Debate Commission Excludes Perot". cnn.com. 1996-09-17.