Today in History: Political Debates
Today in History–October 21–the Library of Congress features political debates, highlighting the final round of the Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate which was televised on this day in 1960. Learn more about these “Great Debates“, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the role of radio in presidential debates and addresses of the 1920s and 1930s by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more related primary sources.
Political Cartoons and Public Debates primary source set & teacher’s guide
The Path to the Presidency: Presidential Debates Teaching with the Library of Congress blog September 11, 2012
Historical newspaper coverage: president election debate
Presidential debates 1960 to present American Presidency project
Presidential debates legislation
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) website archive from September 8, 2000 to May 3, 2017
Primary Source Learning: Presidential Elections
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
- Letters related to the Lincoln-Douglas debates
- Lincoln scrapbook of Lincoln-Douglas debates
- Lincoln Douglas 1858 debate historical newspaper coverage
- Illinois Political Campaign of 1858 : Lincoln-Douglas Debates Edited by Abraham Lincoln
- Political debates between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, in the celebrated campaign of 1858 in Illinois 1860
- The political debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in the senatorial campaign of 1858 in Illinois 1912
- The Lincoln-Douglas Debates c 1918
- Political Speeches and Debates of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, 1854-1861 1895
- More Lincoln-Douglas debate primary sources
1920 election campaign speeches audio with transcripts
Kennedy Nixon debates historical 1960 newspaper coverage
The Great Debates of Nixon and Kennedy from America’s Library