1980 United States presidential debates
The 1980 United States presidential debates were a series of debates held for that year's presidential election. The League of Women Voters organized two presidential debates: the first on September 21, and the second on October 28. The second presidential debate is the second most-watched debate in American history.
The Republican nominee Ronald Reagan participated in both debates. Independent candidate John B. Anderson only participated in the first debate, while the Democratic nominee and incumbent president Jimmy Carter participated in the second debate.
No vice presidential debate was held this year. Anderson's running mate Patrick Lucey was the only one who agreed to participate, while Reagan's running mate George H. W. Bush and Carter's running mate Walter Mondale both refused.
First presidential debate
Other debates[edit]
A minor party debate was held by the New York Committee for Marxist Education on October 9. The debate was moderated by Bill Henning, and attended by representatives of the Communist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party USA, Citizens Party, and Workers World Party. The only candidate to attend in person was Workers World's Deirdre Griswold.[21]