Gaffes, chaos, scandals — US presidential debates over the years

With the presidential election just two months away, the debates between U.S. presidential candidates are becoming a major focus, influencing both their popularity and voter acceptance.

The debates typically feature Republican and Democratic candidates clashing on televised stages, addressing key policy issues and often exchanging sharp criticisms.

As Republican nominee Donald Trump prepares to face off against incumbent Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in their first presidential debate next week, it's insightful to review the history of presidential debates and their significant moments over the years.

**Kennedy-Nixon: September 26, 1960**
The first televised presidential debate, broadcast in black-and-white, set a new precedent for political imagery. Richard Nixon, the Republican nominee, appeared pale and sweaty after refusing makeup, while John F. Kennedy, the Democratic nominee, looked relaxed and confident. The visual impact of the debate is debated, but Kennedy ultimately defeated Nixon.

**Ford-Carter: October 6, 1976**
The debate between President Gerald Ford and challenger Jimmy Carter was marred by a 27-minute audio loss. Ford's presidential campaign suffered a blow when he incorrectly stated that there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, despite the presence of Soviet troops. He later clarified his statement, but the damage was done.

**Reagan-Mondale: October 21, 1984**
At age 73, President Ronald Reagan faced 56-year-old Walter Mondale. Reagan turned his age into a strength with a memorable retort: "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."

**Bush-Clinton-Perot: October 15, 1992**
In the second debate of the 1992 election, President George Bush was caught glancing at his watch while Bill Clinton addressed an audience member. Bush later admitted his dislike for debates, which may have contributed to his poor performance.

**Obama-Romney: October 22, 2012**
In a debate against Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama countered Romney's criticism about the U.S. Navy's size by highlighting advancements in military technology. Obama's response, emphasizing aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, went viral.

**Trump-Clinton: October 9, 2016**
The second debate of the 2016 election was highly contentious, coming shortly after a video surfaced of Trump making lewd comments about women. Trump attacked Clinton's husband and promised to investigate her email practices. Clinton responded with sharp criticism of Trump’s temperament.

**Trump-Biden: September 29, 2020**
The first debate between Trump and Joe Biden was chaotic, with frequent interruptions and insults. Biden called Trump a "clown" and "Putin's puppy," while Trump dodged questions about accepting election results. Moderator Chris Wallace later expressed frustration over the debate's lack of control.

**Trump-Biden: June 27, 2024**
In an unprecedented June debate before the November election, President Biden struggled with his performance, frequently losing his train of thought and speaking incoherently. This debate significantly impacted Biden's campaign, leading to his eventual withdrawal and the emergence of Kamala Harris as Trump's new opponent.