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- For the first time, the debate between the U.S. presidential candidates was shown on TV in 1960. There were two participants of this famous broadcast: Senator from Massachusetts John F. Kennedy, who became the president in the end, and Vice-President of the State Richard Nixon. Kennedy won not only elections, but debate as well.
- During the first debate's broadcast 66.4 million viewers were glued to the TV screens. This TV program became the most popular in the history of televison. At that time, 180.7 million people lived in the USA.
- For Richard Nixon the 1960's debate was a defeat. The second time the politician got on the TV screen within the presidential elections in 1968. But at that time Nixon refused to participate in debate. At the end of the presidential race the U.S. ex-vice-president beat Hubert Humphrey and became the president.
Viewers, who were not given the opportunity to see the debate's broadcast in 1968, were waiting for 1976 - at that time there was a verbal duel between future U.S. President Jimmy Carter and acting Head of state Gerald Ford. Since 1976 the U.S. viewers were able to regularly enjoy debates.
The first vice-presidential debate started in 1976. They began to be held regularly since 1984.
During the vice-presidential debate in 1988 one of the participants of the TV dispute - Dan Quayle (in the photo) - said that he has the same experience as U.S. ex-President John Kennedy had. In response, Quayle's opponent Lloyd Bentsen said: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." This phrase became an aphorism.
Note that the closest colleagues called John Kennedy Jack.
- In 1980 there were debate between acting Head of the USA Jimmy Carter and U.S. ex-President Ronald Reagan. During the broadcast Reagan asked the question that became famous: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" The answer to this question was votes for Reagan. Later, the similar phrases could be heard during many debates.
- Next debate for Reagan was in 1984. At that time his opponent was U.S. Vice-President Walter Mondale. Voters were pretty concerned about the Reagan's old age (he was 73 then). Knowing about voters' concerns, Reagan said: "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". Voters believed him and returned him to a second term.
- One of the presidential debate's participants of 1988 was George Bush Sr. This debate became successful for the politician - Bush was elected President of the United States of America.
- Debate in 1992 were remembered with the participation of three people - Ross Perot, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. Ross Perot was an independent candidate. At that time Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton won the elections.
- Debate of 2008 was the first one, during which viewers were able to ask questions using YouTube and Facebook. This year, there is an online-broadcasting in YouTube and Twitter.
- The most popular debate, according to some experts, was the one that was held in 2012. The major participants were acting President of the USA Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. According to official data, this broadcast was watched by 67.2 million people and 46.2 million households.
- The most famous place of holding debates in the USA is the Hofstra University. In this educational institution were held three debates in a row. This year, the first tour of the debates between Trump and Clinton took place in this university. The second round was in Missouri, the third one will take place in Las Vegas (Nevada) on 19 October.