You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 3.85.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪ST47‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a web host's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and they should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 21:48, 22 February 2026.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 05:35, 21 February 2024
- Expiry of block: 05:35, 21 February 2029
Your current IP address is 3.85.235.113. The blocked range is 3.85.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((Short description|Part of the 1996 U.S. presidential election))
((refimprove|date=March 2019))
((Infobox election
| election_name = 1996 United States presidential debates
| country = United States
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1992 United States presidential debates
| previous_year = 1992
| next_election = 2000 United States presidential debates
| next_year = 2000
| election_date = October 6–16, 1996
| image2 = Ks 1996 dole (cropped).jpg
| nominee2 = [[Bob Dole]]
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| home_state2 = [[Kansas]]
| image1 = Bill Clinton.jpg
| nominee1 = [[Bill Clinton]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| home_state1 = [[Arkansas]]
| running_mate1 = [[Al Gore]]
| running_mate2 = [[Jack Kemp]]
))

The United States presidential election debates were held during the [[1996 United States presidential election|1996 presidential election]]. Two debates were held between [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate, Senate Majority Leader [[Bob Dole]] and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent President [[Bill Clinton]], the major candidates. One debate was held with their [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidential]] [[running mate]]s, [[Jack Kemp]] and [[Al Gore]]. All three debates were sponsored by the [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] [[Commission on Presidential Debates]] (CPD), which has organized presidential debates since its establishment in 1987.

The vice presidential debate was held on October 9 at the Mahaffey Theater. The presidential debates were held on October 6 at [[The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts|The Bushnell]] and October 16 at [[University of San Diego]], ahead of the November 7 [[Election Day (United States)|Election Day]]. [[Jim Lehrer]] [[Master of Ceremonies|moderated]] each of the presidential debates. In each of the first two debates, the candidates received questions in turn with two minutes to answer and a 60-second rebuttal. The third and final debate featured a [[town hall meeting]] format.

== Debate schedule ==
{| class="wikitable"
|- <sup>†</sup>
! colspan="17" style="background:#B0C4DE" | 1996 United States presidential election debates
|-
! style="white-space:nowrap;" |&nbsp;((abbr|No.|Number))|| Date & time || Host || Location|| Moderator || colspan="11" scope="col" | Participants
|-
! colspan="5" rowspan="2" |Key:<br />((Colors|black|#90ff90|&nbsp;P&nbsp;)) <small>Participant &nbsp;</small> ((Colors|black|#ff9090|&nbsp;N&nbsp;)) <small>Non-invitee &nbsp;</small>
! scope="col" style="width:10em; background: #34AAE0;" |<small>[[Democratic Party (United States)|((color|#FFF|Democratic))]]</small>
! scope="col" style="width:10em; background: #FF3333;" |<small>[[Republican Party (United States)|((color|#FFF|Republican))]]</small>
|-
!<small>President</small><br />[[Bill Clinton]]<br /><small>of [[Arkansas]]</small>
!<small>Senator</small><br />[[Bob Dole]]<br /><small>of [[Kansas]]</small>
|-
|- bgcolor="#F7E7CE"
! <!--1-->((CPD|1&nbsp;))
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | Sunday, October 6, 1996<br>9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT<ref name=":1">((Cite web|title=CPD: 1996 Debates|url=https://www.debates.org/debate-history/1996-debates/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.debates.org))</ref>
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | [[The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts]]
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | [[Hartford, Connecticut]]
| rowspan="2" style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" |[[Jim Lehrer]]
|((Yes|'''P'''))
|((Yes|'''P'''))
|- bgcolor="#F7E7CE"
! <!--2-->((CPD|2&nbsp;))
| style="text-align:center;" | Wednesday, October 16, 1996<br>9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT<ref name=":1" />
| style="text-align:center;" | [[University of San Diego]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[San Diego|San Diego, California]]
|((Yes|'''P'''))
|((Yes|'''P'''))
|-
! colspan="16" style="background:#B0C4DE" | 1996 United States vice presidential debate
|-
! style="white-space:nowrap;" |&nbsp;((abbr|No.|Number))|| Date & time || Host|| Location || Moderator || colspan="10" scope="col" | Participants
|-
! colspan="5" rowspan="2" |Key:<br />((Colors|black|#90ff90|&nbsp;P&nbsp;)) <small>Participant &nbsp;</small>  ((Colors|black|#ff9090|&nbsp;N&nbsp;)) <small>Non-invitee &nbsp; </small>
! scope="col" style="width:10em; background: #34AAE0;" |<small>[[Democratic Party (United States)|((color|#FFF|Democratic))]]</small>
! scope="col" style="width:10em; background: #FF3333;" |<small>[[Republican Party (United States)|((color|#FFF|Republican))]]</small>
|-
!<small>Vice President</small><br />[[Al Gore]]<br /><small>of [[Tennessee]]</small>
! <small>Secretary</small> <br />[[Jack Kemp]]<br /><small>of [[California]]</small>
|-
|- bgcolor="#F7E7CE"
! <!--VP-->((CPD|VP&nbsp;))
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | Wednesday, October 9, 1996<br>9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT<ref name=":1" />
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | [[Mahaffey Theater]]
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | [[St. Petersburg, Florida]]
| style="white-space:nowrap; text-align:center;" | [[Jim Lehrer]]
| ((Yes|'''P'''))
| ((Yes|'''P'''))
|}

===Participant selection===
In 1996, the following six candidates achieved ballot access in enough states to mathematically win the election via the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]]:

{| class="wikitable" style="background:#lightgrey"
! Presidential candidate
! Party
! [[Ballot access]]
|-
|[[Bob Dole]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 50+[[Washington, D.C.|DC]]
|-
|[[Bill Clinton]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 50+DC
|-
|[[Ross Perot]]
|[[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform]]
| 50+DC
|-
|[[Harry Browne]]
|[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| 50+DC
|-
|[[John Hagelin]]
|[[Natural Law Party (United States)|Natural Law]]
| 43
|-
|[[Howard Phillips (activist)|Howard Phillips]]
|[[Constitution Party (United States)|Constitution]]
| 41
|}

Unlike in [[1992 United States presidential debates|1992]], [[Ross Perot]] was excluded from the debates in the 1996 campaign. Paul Kirk, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates stated that "Our decision was made on the basis that only President Clinton and Senator Dole have a realistic chance, as set forth in our criteria, to be elected the next president of the United States."<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9609/17/debate.announce/index.shtml |title=Debate Commission Excludes Perot |publisher=cnn.com |date=1996-09-17 |accessdate=))</ref>

Only Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and President Bill Clinton met the CPD selection criteria for any of the presidential debates. As a result, only Jack Kemp and Al Gore met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.

1996 was originally to have three presidential debates, with the first scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 at [[Washington University in St. Louis]]. However, Clinton's campaign objected to the date, noting it was one day after he was set to address the United Nations, and argued that it left him without sufficient time to prepare.<ref>((cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/17/us/clinton-and-dole-plan-debate-format-as-perot-ruling-nears.html|title = Clinton and Dole Plan Debate Format as Perot Ruling Nears|date = September 17, 1996|last = Lewis|first = Neil A.|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|page = A19|url-access = limited|accessdate = April 22, 2024))</ref><ref>((cite web|url = https://debate.wustl.edu/sept-25-1996-presidential-debate-canceled/|title = Sept. 25, 1996 – Presidential Debate (Canceled)|date = September 1, 2016|website = [[Washington University in St. Louis]]))</ref>

==October 6: First presidential debate (The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts)==
The Debate was held in the [[The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts|Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut]].
((Infobox debate|title=First presidential debate|image=1996 1st Presidential Debate H.png|duration=|date=((start date|1996|10|06))|venue=[[The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts]]|location=[[Hartford, Connecticut]]|participants=[[Bill Clinton]]<br />[[Bob Dole]]|url=|logo_image=|logo_size=150|caption=|moderator=[[Jim Lehrer]] of [[PBS]]|transcript=|fact_checking=|website=))

((multiple image
| align             = right
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Bill Clinton.jpg
| width1            = 120
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = President [[Bill Clinton]]<br>[[Arkansas]]
| image2            = Ks 1996 dole (cropped).jpg
| width2            = 120
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = Senator [[Bob Dole]]<br>[[Kansas]]
))

[[Jim Lehrer]] of [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS']] ''[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|The NewsHour]]'' posed the questions for each candidate.

===Transcript===
*[http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1996-debates Debate transcript] from the [[Commission on Presidential Debates]] website.

===Viewership===
An estimated 46.1 million viewers tuned into the debates.

((clear))

==October 9: Vice presidential debate (Mahaffey Theater)==
The Debate was held in the [[Mahaffey Theater]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]].

((Infobox debate|title=Vice presidential debate|duration=|date=((start date|1996|10|09))|venue=[[Mahaffey Theater]]|location=[[St. Petersburg, Florida]]|participants=[[Al Gore]]<br />[[Jack Kemp]]|url=|logo_image=|logo_size=150|image=|caption=|moderator=[[Jim Lehrer]] of [[PBS]]|transcript=|fact_checking=|website=))((Infobox election
| election_name = 1996 Vice-Presidential debate
| country = United States
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1992 United States presidential debates
| previous_year = 1992
| next_election = 2000 United States presidential debates
| election_date = October 9, 1996
| next_year = 2000
| nominee1 = [[Al Gore]]
| home_state1 = [[Tennessee]]
| image2 = Jack Kemp official portrait.jpg
| nominee2 = [[Jack Kemp]]
| image1 = Al Gore, Vice President of the United States, official portrait 1994.jpg
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| home_state2 = [[California]]
))
[[Jim Lehrer]] of [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS']] ''[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|The NewsHour]]'' posed the questions for each candidate.

===Transcript===
*[http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=october-9-1996-debate-transcript Debate transcript] from the [[Commission on Presidential Debates]] website.

===Viewership===
An estimated 26.6 million viewers tuned into the debate.

((clear))

==October 16: Second presidential debate (University of San Diego)==
((Infobox debate|title=Second presidential debate|duration=|date=((start date|1996|10|16))|venue=[[University of San Diego]]|location=[[San Diego, California]]|participants=[[Bill Clinton]]<br />[[Bob Dole]]|url=|logo_image=|logo_size=150|image=|caption=|moderator=[[Jim Lehrer]] of [[PBS]]|transcript=|fact_checking=|website=))
The debate was held at the Shiley Theater on the campus of [[University of San Diego]] in [[San Diego, California]].

[[Jim Lehrer]] of [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS']] ''[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|The NewsHour]]'' moderated the town hall style debate featuring the questions asked by members of the audience:

===Transcript===
*[http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=october-16-1996-debate-transcript Debate transcript] from the [[Commission on Presidential Debates]] website.

===Viewership===
An estimated 36.3 million viewers tuned into the debate.

((clear))

== Third-party debates ==
((multiple image
| align             = right
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = HarryBrowneLPCon1998.jpg
| width1            = 90
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[Harry Browne]]<br>[[Tennessee]]
| image2            = Howard_Phillips.jpg
| width2            = 187
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Howard Phillips (activist)|Howard Phillips]]<br>[[Virginia]]
| image3            = John_S._Hagelin.jpg
| width3            = 95
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = [[John Hagelin]]<br>[[Iowa]]
| footer            = 
))

*October 7, 1996 - [[C-SPAN]] sponsored a third-party presidential debate moderated by Jennifer Laszlo. In attendance for this debate were Libertarian candidate [[Harry Browne]], Constitution Party candidate [[Howard Phillips (activist)|Howard Phillips]], and Natural Law Party candidate [[John Hagelin]]. [[Ross Perot]] declined the invitation to attend.
*October 23, 1996 - [[C-SPAN]] sponsored a third-party presidential debate moderated by Bill Shen. In attendance for this debate were Libertarian candidate [[Harry Browne]], Constitution Party candidate [[Howard Phillips (activist)|Howard Phillips]], and Natural Law Party candidate [[John Hagelin]]. [[Ross Perot]] declined the invitation to attend.

((clear))

== References ==
((reflist))

== External links ==
* [https://www.c-span.org/video/?75662-1/party-presidential-candidates-debate October 7 Third Party Debate]
* [https://www.c-span.org/video/?76170-1/party-presidential-candidates-debate October 23 Third Party Debate]
* [http://www.opendebates.org/ Open Debates] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103050927/https://www.opendebates.org/ |date=2017-01-03 ))

((United States presidential debates))

((DEFAULTSORT:United States Presidential Election Debates, 1996))
[[Category:United States presidential debates|1996]]
[[Category:1996 in American television]]
[[Category:1996 United States presidential election|Debates]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

1996 United States presidential debates (edit)
Template:!) (view source) (protected)
Template:!- (view source) (protected)
Template:(! (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Abbr (view source) (protected)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Both (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:CPD (edit)
Template:Cite news (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Clear (view source) (protected)
Template:Color (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Color/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Colors (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Country data United States (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink question hyphen-minus (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Font color (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:If empty (view source) (protected)
Template:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox debate (edit)
Template:Infobox election (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox election/row (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox election/shortname (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox election/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:MONTHNAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:MONTHNUMBER (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiple image (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiple image/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Refimprove (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Start date (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Succession links (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Template other (view source) (protected)
Template:United States presidential debates (edit)
Template:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Yes (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:CountryData (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:CountryData/summary (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Flag (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Flagg (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:MultiReplace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Multiple image (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:Political party (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Political party/D (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Module:Political party/R (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Webarchive/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to 1996 United States presidential debates.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_United_States_presidential_debates"