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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General Election Presidential Debate
Ronald Reagan (R), Former California Governor and
John Anderson (I), Former United States Congressman (IL)
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Date: |
September 21, 1980 |
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Location: |
Convention Center |
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City: |
Baltimore, MD |
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Time: |
10:00 – 11:00 p.m. Eastern |
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Sponsor: |
League of Women Voters |
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Moderator: |
Bill Moyers, PBS |
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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 |
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Format: |
Candidates questioned in turn with two and a half minutes to answer; one minute, 15 second rebuttal; three minute closing statements. |
Courtesy Jimmy Carter Library
General Election Presidential Debate
Jimmy Carter (D), U.S. President and
Ronald Reagan (R), Former California Governor
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Date: |
October 28, 1980 |
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Location: |
Public Music Hall |
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City: |
Cleveland, OH |
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Time: |
9:30 – 11:00 p.m. Eastern |
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Sponsor: |
League of Women Voters |
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Moderator: |
Howard K. Smith, ABC News |
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Panelists: |
Marvin Stone, U.S. News & World Report; Harry Ellis, Christian Science Monitor; William Hilliard, Portland Oregonian; Barbara Walters, ABC News |
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Viewership: |
80.6 million (Data provided by Nielsen Media Research) |
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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. |
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Topic: |
Domestic, economic, foreign policy, and national security issues. |