A 

Abortion
Accounting
Advertising
Africa
African-American Studies
Aging
Agriculture
American Indian Studies
Anthropology
Archaeology
Architecture
Argumentative
Art: Artists (Alphabetized)
Art: General
Become an Affiliate and Earn $$$
Biographies (Alphabetized)
Book Reviews (Non-Fiction) (Alphabetized)
Business: Companies (Alphabetized)
Business: General
Business: Industries (Alphabetized)
Business: International
Business: Small
California
Canada
Caribbean
Child Abuse
China
Communication: Journalism
Communication: Language & Speech
Communication: Media
Communication: Non-Verbal
Communication: Television
Communication: Television & Children
Communism
Computer Science
Consumerism
Criminal Justice: General
Criminal Justice: Juvenile Delinquency
Criminal Justice: Police Science
Criminal Justice: Prisons
Cuba
Death & Dying: Euthanasia
Death & Dying: General
Death & Dying: Suicide
Drama: American
Drama: English
Drama: World
Drugs: Alcohol
Drugs: General
Economics: Banking
Economics: Economists (Alphabetized)
Economics: General
Economics: Inflation
Economics: International Trade
Economics: Macroeconomics
Economics: Microeconomics
Economics: Taxation
Education: Administration
Education: Curriculum
Education: General
Education: Higher
Education: Physical
Education: Psychology
Education: Reading
Education: Special
Education: Teaching Methods
Education: Theory
Energy: General
Energy: Nuclear
Energy: Solar
Environmental Studies
Evolution
Family & Marriage
Films: Artists (Alphabetized)
Films: General
Finance: Companies (Alphabetized)
Finance: General
Former Soviet Union: Post-1990
France
Gender & Sexuality
Geography
Germany
History: Ancient Greek & Roman
History: European
History: Great Britain
History: U.S. (After 1865)
History: U.S. (Before 1865)
History: U.S. Presidency
History: U.S. Presidents (Alphabetized)
Homosexuality
Immigration
India
Indonesia
International Relations: Arms Control
International Relations: Cold War
International Relations: Non-U.S.
International Relations: U.S.
Japan
Jewish Studies
Korea
Labor
Latin America
Law: Business
Law: Capital Punishment
Law: General
Law: International & Non-U.S.
Law: Supreme Court
Leadership
Literature, American: Authors (Alphabetized)
Literature, American: Faulkner
Literature, American: Fitzgerald
Literature, American: General
Literature, American: Hawthorne
Literature, American: Hemingway
Literature, American: Melville
Literature, American: Poe
Literature, American: Steinbeck
Literature, American: Twain
Literature, English: Authors (Alphabetized)
Literature, English: Chaucer
Literature, English: Conrad
Literature, English: Dickens
Literature, English: General
Literature, English: Joyce
Literature, English: Lawrence
Literature, English: Shakespeare
Literature, English: Swift
Literature, General: Children
Literature, General: Classic (Greek & Roman)
Literature, General: Russian
Literature, General: World
Management: General
Management: Japanese
Management: Motivation
Management: Theory
Management: Women
Marketing: Companies (Alphabetized)
Marketing: General
Marketing: Plans
Mathematics
Medical: Aids
Medical: Dentistry
Medical: Diseases & Disorders (Alphabetized)
Medical: General
Medical: Nursing
Mexican-American Studies
Mexico
Middle East: Egypt
Middle East: General
Middle East: O.P.E.C.
Military
Music: Classical
Music: General
Mythology
Nutrition
Parapsychology/Occult
Philosophy: Ancient Greek
Philosophy: Descartes
Philosophy: Eastern
Philosophy: General
Philosophy: Kant
Philosophy: Sartre
Poetry: American
Poetry: English
Poetry: Milton
Poetry: World
Political Science: Elections & Campaigns
Political Science: Foreign
Political Science: Lobbyists & Pressure Groups
Political Science: Machiavelli
Political Science: Mill
Political Science: Political Theory
Political Science: U.S.
Psychology: Behaviorism
Psychology: Child & Adolescent
Psychology: Disorders
Psychology: Dreams
Psychology: Experimental
Psychology: Freud
Psychology: General
Psychology: Jung
Psychology: Physiology
Psychology: Piaget
Psychology: Rogers
Psychology: Social
Psychology: Testing
Psychology: Therapies
Public Administration: General
Public Administration: Government Agencies (Alphabetized)
Racism
Real Estate
Recreation & Leisure
Religion: Eastern
Religion: General
Religion: Islam
Religion: The Bible
Research: Completed Studies (With Statistics & Results)
Research: Designs & Proposals
Research: Statistics & Methodology
Russia: Pre-1917 Revolution
Science: Astronomy
Science: Biology
Science: General
Science: Genetics
Sociology: Durkheim
Sociology: General
Sociology: Marx
Sociology: Social Problems
Sociology: Social Theory
Sociology: Social Welfare
Sociology: Weber
Soviet Union: 1917-1990
Sports: Drugs
Sports: General
Technology
Transportation: Automotive
Transportation: Aviation
Transportation: General
Transportation: Railroads
Urban Studies
Vietnam
Women Studies
 

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.   Term Paper ID:28403 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Discusses effects & benefits of public debate on campaigns & as a central factor in elections. Examples.... More...

5 Pages / 1125 Words 6 sources, 23 Citations, APA Format $20.00 Return to List of Papers

Paper Abstract: Discusses effects & benefits of public debate on campaigns & as a central factor in elections. Examples. Paper Introduction: Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates For most of the 18th century in the United States, debates did not play a role in political elections because the public and newspapers frowned upon any campaigning or direct appeal for votes (CNN.com, 1996). In those days, candidates relied on newspapers, pamphlets and an occasional public meeting to explain their positions to the public, primarily because the public expected candidates to reserve their energies for the task of government (CNN.com, 1996). Today, on the other hand, presidential and vice-presidential candidates essentially conduct a public job interview for as long as one year before the election. And the public debate has become a central and perhaps even deciding factor in some presidential elections. Presidential debates are a modern television age creation (CNN.com, 1996 Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. CNN reported that two snap networkpolls by ABC News and CNN-USA Today-Gallup rated both candidates about evenfollowing the debates. Forexample, one viewer who watched the October 3, 2 debate between VicePresident Al Gore and Texas governor George Bush noted that he formed animpression of each candidate before they even opened their mouths. Thus, since 1976, debates haveplayed an important role in presidential campaigns. (October 18, 2 ). RossPerot in 1992, they can also significantly lift a candidate's exposure and,hence, public rating. For example, Berke notes that a viewer's decision could be affected bya candidate who cannot keep his smirk in check or one who sometimes seemsto verge on condescension (Berke, 2 ). Bob Dole,former Senate majority leader and 1996 presidential candidate recallslistening to that Kennedy-Nixon debate on his car radio and thinking thatNixon was winning. "Bush fails to stir tough crowd of 3." New York Times, Politics, Online: http://www.nytimes.com. Only later when he saw the television replay did Dolerealize that Kennedy had "wiped [Nixon] out" (CNN.com, 1996). Shribman, D. The 196 debate can be offered assupport. Online:http://www.cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history. Thus, public debates can have a significant effect on campaigns,although sometimes for reasons unrelated to a candidate's politicalpositions. They can also highlight a candidates weakness suchas when President Gerald R. She also believed that Bush was "too nervous" and "snappy," whichare physical characteristics from which a viewer can suppose an underlyingdiscomfort with not only the debate medium but also readiness for the jobas president in particular. Berke, R.L. Carter later stated that Reagan's commentsdemonstrated that Reagan "was relaxed and had a sense of humor, and it waskind of a denigrating thing to me [Carter]" (Apple, 2 , 2.1). Usually, debates merely reinforce a viewer's existing politicalallegiance to any given candidate. Online:http://www.pioneerplanet.com. Consequently, televised debates could offer thepublic its first and possibly only opportunity to scrutinize George W. The 198 debate between Reagan and Carter is illustrative of the blendof personality and politics in televised debates. Still, mostexperts believe that the last time a presidential debate significantlyaffected a campaign was that 196 debate, when Kennedy gave a far smootherlook and performance than did an unshaven, tired and injured Nixon (Berke,2 ). Jamieson maintains that the debate advanced the issues,illuminating the areas of both agreement and disagreement between the twocandidates (CNN.com, 1996). Many people are now aware of the preparationcandidates undergo and, consequently, viewers are concerned during thedebates about how much of the performance is showmanship and how much trulyreflects the candidate's character and personal and political views. In this campaign, neithercandidate is an incumbent. That debate was viewed by 6 million to 7 million people andintroduced a young and virile John F. Nonetheless, by 1976,Watergate, Vietnam, assassinations and other experiences had changedforever the way Americans viewed their government. There, Reagan scored bytelling Carter "There you go again" whenever Carter criticized Reagan'srecord on Medicare. References Apple, R. "Where American politics becomesa televised sport." New York Times, Television/Radio, 2.1. Before their advent, the senatorial debate between Abraham Lincolnand Stephen Douglas in 1858 was considered the most significant debate ofpre-broadcast elections. Presidential and Vice-Presidential Debates For most of the 18th century in the United States, debates did notplay a role in political elections because the public and newspapersfrowned upon any campaigning or direct appeal for votes (CNN.com, 1996).In those days, candidates relied on newspapers, pamphlets and an occasionalpublic meeting to explain their positions to the public, primarily becausethe public expected candidates to reserve their energies for the task ofgovernment (CNN.com, 1996). In the end, the public may have become far too knowledgeable about thenature of televised debates. M. Belluck, P. (October 3, 2 ). Newman, M. Although they usuallywill not change the momentum of a campaign, they can help candidatesexploit an opponent's weakness, help deflect attacks and provide new ideasto a national audience (CNN.com, 1996). (October 4, 2 ). W. One significant benefit of public presidential debates, however, isdemonstrated by the 2 presidential campaign. In a situation such as the 2 presidential election, where the pollsconsistently demonstrate less than a 5-point difference in support betweenthe two major party candidates, public debates can have a significanteffect on the outcome (Shribman, 2 ). CNN. Nonetheless, the evidencefollowing the three televised presidential debates and the one televisedvice-presidential debate did not result in a significant shift in supportfor either candidate (Shribman, 2 ). "Surprise! And as demonstrated by the relative success of H. Bushand Albert Gore side by side (Berke, 2 ). According to communications expert Kathleen HallJamieson, the debate was orderly and closely attended and both candidateswere serious and articulate and addressed themselves to certain politicalconcerns. (August 27, 2 ). Kennedy to the nation while showing aflu-ridden, poorly made up Richard M. "Bush, Gore finish debatesemerging as individuals." Pioneer Planet. "Presidential debate history: How we got them, and what they mean."(October 2 ). Today, on the other hand, presidential andvice-presidential candidates essentially conduct a public job interview foras long as one year before the election. Nixon (CNN.com, 1996). Still, since the advent of television,debates have produced many memorable moments, such as Ronald Reagan'svowing not to exploit Walter Mondale's youth and inexperience in 1984(Berke, 2 ). (September 24, 2 ). And the public debate has becomea central and perhaps even deciding factor in some presidential elections. Thefailure of the 2 debates to immediately have a significant effect oneither candidate's support could demonstrate a public more and moreunwilling to be shifted based on anything other than political views.Thus, Republicans stick with a Republican candidate and Democrats remainwith a Democratic candidate. On theother hand, Reagan also scored later in the debate when he told voters" "Itmight be well if you ask yourself, are you better off than you were fouryears ago?" (Apple, 2 , 2.1). Thus, in reaction to the October 3,2 debate, Virginia Lujano stated that she believed "they [eachcandidate's campaign handlers] told them to be more likable" (Newman,2 ). The significance of thedebates in such a situation, however, can also highlight one of theweaknesses of the televised debate as an electioneering tool. Where thedebates serve as the public's only opportunity to study the candidates,there is no guarantee that the public's perception of the candidate will bebased on deep policy considerations rather than on trivia. Still, although the 196 debates were popular with the public and werebroadcast nationally on network television, a presidential debate did notre-occur until 1976, due largely to incumbents' refusal to debate andfederal communications laws that required equal time for all presidentialcandidates, even minor ones (CNN.com, 1996). Notably, debate watchers leaned toward Bush byabout 1 points and did not change their support even though when asked whowon, 41 percent said Gore and 41 percent said Bush in the ABC Mews poll and46 percent said Gore in the CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll while 44 percent saidBush (Shribman, 2 ). KevinWiland thought Bush looked "stiff and formal [] with broad shoulders andchin up" while Gore appeared "a little more relaxed" (Belluck, 2 ).However, voters are far more savvy today about the significant preparationcandidates undergo before a debate. This can be unfortunate, but one must also consider that bodylanguage and a viewer's reaction to a candidate's physical appearance canbe relevant to that viewer's perception of a candidate's character andcomfort-level with the job for which he or she is campaigning. Ford stated that Poland wasn't under Communistdomination when he debated Jimmy Carter in 1976 (Berke, 2 ). However, the nominees of the two major partiesdid not debate until 196 , when Republican Vice President Richard Nixon faced John Kennedy, the junior Democratic Senator from Massachusetts(CNN.com, 1996). "Illinois trying to watch with openmind." New York Times, Politics, Online: http://www.nytimes.com. Dole alsostates that his own classification of World War I, World War II and theKorean war as "Democrat wars" in the 1976 vice-presidential debate "made[him] more cautious in future debates" (CNN.com, 1996). Debates may matter. Many deeply distrustedit, and debates came to be seen as a useful tool in restoring confidence inthe political process (CNN.com, 1996). Presidential debates are a modern television age creation (CNN.com,1996). Andhelp Bush." New York Times, The Nation, 4.4. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.