The 1992 United States presidential debates were a series of

debates Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for often opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, a ...

held for the

presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The pre ...

. The

Commission on Presidential Debates The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1987 under the joint sponsorship of the Democratic and Republican political parties in the United States. The CPD sponsors and produces debates for U.S. pre ...

(CPD), a

bipartisan Bipartisanship, sometimes referred to as nonpartisanship, is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system (especially those of the United States and some other western countries), in which opposing political parties find co ...

organization formed in 1987, organized four debates among the major presidential candidates, sponsored three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debates.

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

nominee George H. W. Bush, Democratic nominee

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

, and Independent candidate Ross Perot met the criteria for inclusion in the debates. The CPD-sponsored vice presidential debate took place between Republican nominee

Dan Quayle James Danforth Quayle (; born February 4, 1947) is an American politician who served as the 44th vice president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. A member of the Republican Party, Quayle served as a U.S. ...

, Democratic nominee

Al Gore Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Gore was the Democratic no ...

, and Independent candidate (running-mate of Ross Perot)

James Stockdale James Bond "Jim" Stockdale (December 23, 1923 – July 5, 2005) was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator, awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, during which he was a prisoner of war for over seven years. Stockdale was the mos ...

Debate schedule

October 11: First presidential debate (St. Louis, Missouri)

The first presidential debate was held at Field House,

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

on Sunday, October 11, 1992 between President George H. W. Bush, Governor Bill Clinton and businessman Ross Perot. Jim Lehrer moderated the debate with

Sander Vanocur Sander Vanocur (; born Alexander Vinocur, January 8, 1928 – September 16, 2019)
Retr ...

Ann Compton Ann Compton (born January 19, 1947) is an American former news reporter and White House correspondent for ABC News Radio. Career highlights Ann Compton graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, in 1965. She began her broadcasti ...

and John Mashek as panelists. Questions were divided between foreign and domestic policy. It was the first time three candidates shared a single stage in a televised debate. A poll conducted by

CNN CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...

USA TODAY ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...

on Oct. 11 1992 found that of those watching, 47 percent rated Perot the winner, 30 percent voted Clinton and 16 percent voted Bush. The format decided was: * No opening statements * each candidate questioned in turn with two minutes to respond * one minute rebuttal by other candidates * two minute closing statements.

Transcript

* and from the

website.

Viewership

An estimated 62.4 million viewers tuned into the debate.

October 15: Second presidential debate (Richmond, Virginia)

The second presidential debate was held at

University of Richmond The University of Richmond (UR or U of R) is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia. It is a primarily undergraduate, residential institution with approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students in five schools: the School ...

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

on Thursday, October 15, 1992 between President George H. W. Bush, Governor Bill Clinton and businessman Ross Perot. Carole Simpson moderated the debate with 109 uncommitted voters as questioners. Questions were focused primarily on domestic issues and the economy, although no subject was restricted. Clinton emerged out as the winner of the second debate leading over both Bush and Perot. Poll conducted by

from Oct. 16-18, showed 58 percent calling Clinton the winner, 16 percent said Bush won and 15 percent said Perot. The format decided was: * Town hall meeting * two minute closing statements. Bush was seen on national camera checking his watch while being asked about the effect of the national debt on him personally. In a 1999 Interview by Jim Lehrer, on being asked what he was thinking as he checked his wristwatch, he replied:

Transcript

* and from the

website.

Viewership

An estimated 69.9 million viewers tuned into the debate.

October 19: Third presidential debate (East Lansing, Michigan)

The third presidential debate was held at Michigan State University,

East Lansing East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city lies within Ingham County with a smaller portion extending north into Clinton County. At the 2020 Census the population was 47,741. Located directly east of the state capital ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

on Monday, October 19, 1992 between President George H. W. Bush, Governor Bill Clinton and businessman Ross Perot. Jim Lehrer moderated the debate with Gene Gibbons, Helen Thomas and Susan Rook as panelists. The format decided was: First half: * single moderator with option of follow-ups * roughly two minutes to answer * one minute rebuttal. Second half: * panelists posed questions in turn with no follow-ups * Two minute closing statements. Poll conducted by

after the third debate found that viewers thought Perot had won. Opinions, however, were tied between Clinton's and Bush's performances; 28 percent thought Clinton had done the best job, 28 percent Bush, and 37 percent said Perot.

Transcript

* from the

website.

Viewership

An estimated 66.9 million viewers tuned into the debate.

October 13: Vice presidential debate (Atlanta, Georgia)

The vice presidential debate was held at

Georgia Tech The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...

on Thursday, October 13, 1992 between Vice president Dan Quayle, Senator Al Gore and Ret. Vice Admiral James Stockdale. Jim Lehrer moderated the debate with Gene Gibbons, Helen Thomas and Susan Rook as panelists. The format decided was: * two minute opening statements * issue presented to candidates with one minute * 15 seconds to respond * five minute discussion period about same topic followed * two minute closing statements.

Transcript

from the

website.

Viewership

An estimated 51.2 million viewers tuned into the debate.

References

External links

Video at CSPAN

Transcript at the Presidency Project
1992 1992 United States presidential election October 1992 events in the United States 1992 in Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Tech {{debate-stub

Debate schedule

October 11: First presidential debate (St. Louis, Missouri)

Transcript

Viewership

October 15: Second presidential debate (Richmond, Virginia)

Transcript

Viewership

October 19: Third presidential debate (East Lansing, Michigan)

Transcript

Viewership

October 13: Vice presidential debate (Atlanta, Georgia)

Transcript

Viewership

See also

References

External links