Listen to all of the U.S. Presidential Debates, from when they started back in 1960, to today. Plus a few extras. Releasing every two weeks, until the next presidential elections! Have fun, and enjoy learning.
New York governor Thomas E. Dewey, and former Minnesota governor Harold Stassen, were both competing to be the Republican Party's nominee in the upcoming 1948 Presidential election. They held this debate on May 17, 1948, during the primary season, at the KEX radio station in Portland, Oregon. It was broadcast nationwide over the radio, and is considered the first modern template for a presidential debate in the US.
The main topic was whether or not the Communist Party should be outlawed in the United States.
In the result, Dewey ended up winning the primaries and became the Republican candidate for president, but lost the election to incumbent Harry Truman.
25 Oct 2026
BONUS! - 1858-10-15 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, seventh debate
The original final debate took place in Alton, Illinois.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. Full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by Scott Mandrell, and Douglas by Donald Lowery.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
11 Oct 2026
BONUS! - 1858-10-13 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, sixth debate
The original debate took place in Quincy, Illinois.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. Full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by Jack Inghram, and Douglas by Gary DeClue.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
27 Sept 2026
BONUS! - 1858-10-7 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, fifth debate
The original debate (the fifth out of seven) took place in Galesburg, Illinois.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. Full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by Michael Krebs, and Douglas by Larry Diemer.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
13 Sept 2026
BONUS! - 1858-9-18 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, fourth debate
The original debate (the fourth out of seven) took place in Charleston, Illinois.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. The event took place in each of the cities where the debates were originally held. Performed live, outdoors, on a stage built to resemble the one used in 1858. All of the participants, including some of the audience, wore period clothing and acted their parts. Full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by B.F. McClerran, and Douglas by Russel Brazzel.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
30 Aug 2026
BONUS! - 1858-9-15 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, third debate
The original debate took place in Jonesboro, Illinois.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. Full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by George Buss, and Douglas by Richard Sokup.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
16 Aug 2026
BONUS! - 1858-8-27 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, second debate
The original debate took place in Freeport, Illinois.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. The event took place in each of the cities where the debates were originally held. Performed live, outdoors, on a stage built to resemble the one used in 1858. All of the participants, including some of the audience, wore period clothing and acted their parts. The whole thing is really worth a watch. If you're interested, full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by George Buss, and Douglas by Richard Sokup.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
6 Aug 2026
BONUS! - 1858-8-21 - Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, first debate
Before we get to the modern-day presidential debates, we'll begin with several important precursors, that helped shape the process we know now.
The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 were a series of 7 debates between two candidates for the U.S. Senate, from Illinois, Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. While not part of a presidential campaign, these debates are often seen as an early and important example of the type of debate that would eventually become a standard part of the American presidential election cycle. And of course, one of the participants, Lincoln, would become President only a few years later.
The primary topic was the expansion of slavery into new states or territories. Each debate took place in a different city in Illinois. They took the form of long speeches given alternately by each candidate, with each debate being from 2 to 3 hours long. The first one took place in Ottawa, Illinois.
Naturally, we have no audio recordings of the 1858 debates, but all of the speeches were well documented, and have been reenacted on several occasions.
This recording is from a reenactment that was organized and broadcast in 1994 by C-SPAN. The event took place in each of the cities where the debates were originally held. Performed live, outdoors, on a stage built to resemble the one used in 1858. All of the participants, including some of the audience, wore period clothing and acted their parts. The whole thing is really worth a watch. If you're interested, full videos of the event are available here: https://www.c-span.org/series/LincolnDouglas.
Lincoln was portrayed in this debate by Max Daniels, and Douglas by Jim Gayan.
Thanks go to C-SPAN and all of the actors involved.
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