The Kennedy-Nixon debates, to this very day, still set the standards for Presidential debates. They were of substance and about the future of the country. It was at a time during the Cold War with Russia, and Russia was flexing its muscle at the time and there were many other pressing problems that the new President would face. The moderators' questions were about the future and what the candidates would do if elected President.
Divisive issues such as moral/family values, homosexuals, personal attacks, and patriotism were not part of the debates as it is today and for good reason. What mattered was how the new President would deal with the future. The debates were over 40 years ago but they were civil in nature. Compare that to the tough talk and bluster of today's debates.
Our moderators today talk more about the past voting record and statements of the candidates rather than their positions on the future that they will have to lead. Past statements or voting records of a candidate don't tell the whole story of what that candidates position would be if he is elected President. Why? Because as President he will have to represent all of the people and deal with foreign affairs and foreign leaders. As a member of Congress, a Mayor, or a Governor the candidate represented a city, state, or district and would not shoulder the responsibility that a President does.
Present moderators are in fact more interested in the show business part of television. They pick up self serving statements of some candidate and try to project that into the debates. Moderator Tim Russert in the Democratic debate of last week at Dartmouth was so interested in several candidates past votes, statements, and hypothetical questions that he failed the purpose of the debates, that is to inform the public of what the candidate would do if elected President.
Asking hypothetical questions does not bring reality to debates because it contains an escape avenue and the answer always bring more hype and questions from people in the news media who try to promote a story that is not really there.
When was the last time any one heard a moderator ask the candidates what they would do if elected President to balance the federal budget after the record federal deficits this administration has piled up on the nation and its people? Interest payments alone on the National Debt for fiscal year 2006 was over 400 billion dollars. Shouldn't that be a subject of interest in the debates?
I would recommend that debate moderators rerun the Kennedy-Nixon debate tapes for themselves so they can learn a thing or two. And if Jim Lehrer is one of the moderators in the final debates between the Republican and Democratic candidates in the general election, he should watch them over and over, again and again. Maybe he will get it right one day.
