The upcoming presidential debates between President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump are already making headlines for their unusual scheduling and format. With only two debates planned, neither sanctioned by the traditional organizing body, and the first one set before either candidate has officially been nominated, the 2024 debates are shaping up to be unlike any other in history.
According to historical records, no general-election debate has ever been held as early as the proposed June 27 date for the first debate this year. Additionally, no debate season has ever concluded as early as the proposed Sept. 10 date for the second debate this year. These unprecedented timelines are just the beginning of what sets the 2024 debates apart.
President Biden is requesting that news organizations host the debates, breaking from the norm of the Commission on Presidential Debates organizing them. Furthermore, the format of the debates could differ, as Mr. Biden has requested that there not be a live audience, a request that Mr. Trump disagrees with.
The tradition of presidential debates is relatively modern in U.S. history, dating back to the first televised debates in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. The debates did not become a regular occurrence until 1976, when President Gerald Ford debated Jimmy Carter. Since then, the tradition has stuck, with the League of Women Voters hosting debates in the late 1970s and duties eventually being turned over to the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1988.
While the upcoming 2024 debates may be breaking from tradition, they are sure to be closely watched and highly anticipated by voters across the country. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic event.
