1980 Debates

There were two presidential debates and no vice presidential debates during the 1980 general election.

Courtesy AP/World Wide Photos

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September 21, 1980

October 28, 1980


General Election Presidential Debate

Ronald Reagan (R), Former California Governor and

John Anderson (I), Former United States Congressman (IL)

Date:

September 21, 1980

Location:

Convention Center

City:

Baltimore, MD

Time:

10:00 – 11:00 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

League of Women Voters

Moderator:

Bill Moyers, PBS

Panelists:

Carol Loomis, Fortune Magazine; Daniel Greenberg, syndicated columnist; Charles Corddry, Baltimore Sun; Lee May, Los Angeles Times; Jane Bryant Quinn, Newsweek, Soma Golden, New York Times

Format:

Candidates questioned in turn with two and a half minutes to answer; one minute, 15 second rebuttal; three minute closing statements.

Transcript

Video

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Courtesy Jimmy Carter Library

General Election Presidential Debate

Jimmy Carter (D), U.S. President and
Ronald Reagan (R), Former California Governor

Date:

October 28, 1980

Location:

Public Music Hall

City:

Cleveland, OH

Time:

9:30 – 11:00 p.m. Eastern

Sponsor:

League of Women Voters

Moderator:

Howard K. Smith, ABC News

Panelists:

Marvin Stone, U.S. News & World Report; Harry Ellis, Christian Science Monitor; William Hilliard, Portland Oregonian; Barbara Walters, ABC News

Viewership:

80.6 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research)

Format:

First half: same questions posed to both candidates, who had two minutes to reply; follow-up by panelist permitted; each candidate allowed one minute rebuttal. Second half: same questions posed to both candidates; no follow-up; each candidate given two opportunities per question for rebuttal.

Topic:

Domestic, economic, foreign policy, and national security issues.

Transcript

Video

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