By Megan Norcross

The University is going to be home to the final 2008 Presidential Debate on October 15. Hofstra went through a series of processes to be accepted by the Commission on Presidential Debates, and now that the official decision has been made, many more plans are being put in action.

But where did these plans come from, and where did the Commission on Presidential Debate come from? Where did presidential debates themselves come from?

The first major debate was between Republican Vice President Richard Nixon and junior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts John F. Kennedy in 1960. It was the first televised debate. The impact was substantial; Kennedy’s glamorous looks won over viewers, while Nixon’s own mother telephoned in to ask if he was unwell. On the political stage, viewers seemed to think the two were mainly neck and neck. Political debates took a break until 1976, mainly due to incumbents refusing to debate and different communications laws that required equal time for all presidential candidates, even the most minor ones.

Debates have become an important part of a presidential campaign. They can show a candidate’s weakness. In 1976, President Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were debating when Ford said, “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.” The press ran with Ford’s statement, and many thought that it led to Carter winning the election.

Debates can also be used to allay fears. In 1984, Ronald Reagan proclaimed, “I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political points, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” It made everybody laugh, especially Democratic opponent Walter Mondale.

According to historians, debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858 were the first debates with major significance and were considered a huge success. Lincoln followed Douglas around the state, making comments from the audience; the debates were always orderly, well attended and advanced the issues at hand. People were interested, but this trend did not continue. Lincoln did not debate during his 1860 run for president.

The Commission on Presidential Debates, or CPD, was established in 1987. Their primary goal was to make sure that debates provided the best information possible to all viewers and listeners. They sponsor and produce debates for U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates and look at research and education activities that relate to the debates. The CPD sponsored the debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004.

Before 1960, presidential debates were not as important in society as they are today. Kennedy and Nixon introduced the modern debate, despite the fact that Lincoln and Douglas had done a version of the presidential debate in the 1800s. Now the University will have the opportunity to be a part of this tradition.