
Trump, Biden Agree on Major Changes in Debate Format
Published on May 28, 2024
Wrangling over the ground rules of presidential debates is a time-honored tradition that dates back to the first-ever televised debates in 1960 when John F. Kennedy refused to wear makeup on camera, and Richard Nixon followed suit. The suntanned Democrat appeared youthful and vigorous while Nixon’s five-o’clock shadow and pallid complexion made him look haggard. Kennedy won the debate and the election, setting off a quadrennial contest to win debates before they begin by staging them on favorable terms. Former President Trump and President Biden are no strangers to the debate prep two-step. Before the 2020 debates, President Trump claimed that the 2016 debates had been biased against him and threatened not to participate in 2024....
