No More Moderators or Audiences for Presidential Debates
‘We need only look to the first televised debate between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy.’ By Readers Sept. 4, 2023 3:52 pm ET John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon appear in the fourth and final presidential debate in New York, Dec. 8, 1960. Photo: /Associated Press Regarding “Moderators Have Ruined Presidential Debates. Let’s Get Rid of Them” by Tevi Troy (Review, Aug. 26): Let’s get rid of debate audiences too. Egged on by a crowd that would be more at home at a rodeo or wrestling match, the catcalls, whistles, cheering and booing of the audience encourage the candidates to make extreme and inflammatory comments to get applause and attention. We need only look to the first televised debate between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy, where there was no audience and a moderator who understood that
John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon appear in the fourth and final presidential debate in New York, Dec. 8, 1960.
Photo: /Associated Press
Regarding “Moderators Have Ruined Presidential Debates. Let’s Get Rid of Them” by Tevi Troy (Review, Aug. 26): Let’s get rid of debate audiences too. Egged on by a crowd that would be more at home at a rodeo or wrestling match, the catcalls, whistles, cheering and booing of the audience encourage the candidates to make extreme and inflammatory comments to get applause and attention.
We need only look to the first televised debate between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy, where there was no audience and a moderator who understood that his role was to provide a forum for a consideration of important issues, to see what a serious debate should look like.
Americans have been deprived of a substantive discussion about important issues, which helps explain why our politics today are so dismal.
Stuart Weinblatt
Potomac, Md.
Networks will resist Mr. Troy’s suggestions because they want to showcase their high-priced talent and because they are selling entertainment.
Choosing a president should be serious, not entertaining. Oxford-style debates as suggested by Mr. Troy would be so refreshing. And you might be surprised. We Americans might appreciate being treated like adults and given substance. Serious candidates might also.
John Schuyler
Simsbury, Conn.
The proposed cure of having candidates engage “directly with one another” is the worst of all. It puts a premium on a candidate’s willingness to interrupt and talk over his opponent. We get enough of the unbearable screaming and talking heads on TV talk shows.
Robert Hardaway
Denver
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