For all the scripted nature of modern political campaigns, it’s the unscripted moments that make debates so memorable. And while most of these breakout moments aren’t the candidates’ best work, they can serve as a reminder to voters that no candidate is perfect and that every politician has flaws in their past record or policy positions.
Few debates have captured the public imagination like the one between President John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960, which helped establish TV as a major political medium. But other notable political moments in debates include President Gerald Ford’s gaffe about the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe (a mistake that led him to avoid presidential debates for 16 years), and Vice President Joe Biden’s exasperation with a testy Trump during their 2024 encounter.
The debates are staged by independent organizations, which decide who will take part and set the format. They are also responsible for selecting moderators, determining questions and the locations for the events. They have to meet certain criteria, such as a neutral space that can accommodate up to 1,000 people, being within driving distance of a large number of hotels and meeting the necessary technical requirements. They must also ensure that the venue is not affiliated with a particular political party or with any of the candidates, and they must not allow any members of that party to participate in the debates.
Research shows that debates can improve voters’ knowledge of specific candidates and their policies, even after viewing a single debate. They can also have a moderating effect on voters with strong partisan tendencies, who are more likely to vote for a candidate that shares their policy priorities.