What will be remembered from the Harris Trump debate?

Senator Jack Kennedy was relaxed, well-coiffed, and poised, while Vice President Richard Nixon
was awkward and unshaven during their 1960 meeting that kicked off modern TV presidential debates. |  

The modern era of presidential debates started in 1960, took a 16-year hiatus, and resumed in 1976. Let's recap some of the memorable moments from these presidential and vice presidential debates


1960

There wasn't a memorable moment per se in the Kennedy Nixon debate which was the kickoff for modern day TV presidential debates. But there are two things point to.

First, for those who listened to the debate, there was wide consensus Nixon won. Viewers say Kennedy won because, unlike Nixon, who campaigned that day, was suffering from a cold and looked grainy and rough in the days of black and white TV while the Massachusetts senator was clean-shaven, well-coiffed, and relaxed.

1976

Vice President Jerry Ford said Eastern European countries under the Soviet Union's thumb were free. It was mangled speech from the former University of Michigan All-American football player, but the narrative was set. 

1980

"Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

That phrase is still a political touchstone for every presidential challenger. Reagan's zinger, "There you go again," is an honorable mention from that late October debate.

 

1984

There were two this time, one from each candidate. Mondale seized on popular culture and asked Reagan, "Where's the beef." 

Reagan, who was in his early 70s (imagine that!), addressed his age by saying, "I want you to know that 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.” Mondale was even obliged to laugh.

1988

Michael Dukakis dis-passionate response to a question about the possibility of his wife being raped. From that point forward, his campaign tanked.  



During that same election, Sen. Lloyd Bentsen stung Sen. Dan Quayle with the "You're no Jack Kennedy" blast. Quayle looked like a deer in headlights, and the zinger became an instant classic. Alas, that zinger was of no consequence.

1992

George H.W. Bush looks at his watch as if to say, "Let's get the hell out of here!"

In the Vice Presidential debate, the late great and honorable Admiral James Stockdale, H. Ross Perot's running mate gave this heartfelt and humorous response to a question.    

2000

George W. Bush's fuzzy math, Al Gore's exasperated sighs - this clip has them both!

2012 

Mitt Romney and his "binders full of women."

2024

Jumping forward to this year, there are some things bound for remembrance. 

First, the entire June Biden-Trump debate was historic because it forced a seated president out of his party's nomination. It was forced upon Biden because of a historically incoherent debate performance. In fact, that might be the most historically important debate since the Douglas Lincoln debates over 160 years ago. 

As for last night's debate, there will be one, and perhaps up to three memorable moments people will reference for years to come.

First, Donald Trump's weird dog and cat-eating immigrants conspiracy in Springfield, Ohio conspiracy, claim. It was true, he said because he saw it on TV! 

It just doesn't get any crazier. 

Not far behind is Kamala Harris's taunting of Trump about his crowd sizes and, for good measure, people leaving his rallies early out of boredom. If Trump wasn't the person who got baited, you might view the orange guy as an elder abuse victim. On second thought, he might add that to his laundry list of grievances.

The last one might just be a fleeting moment, but we can't help but think Taylor Swift's endorsement, its timing, and the picture of her with the cat will become well-remembered moments from the debate.

So, as all the political pundits take to cable news today, consider this about presidential debates: People remember very little about policy discussions, but they'll remember the ancillary events and candidates' utterances during the debate for years to come.   

Hot dog, anyone? 

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