Presidential Debate Negotiation from 1960 to 1988: Setting the Stage for Prime-Time Clashes

by John W. Self

Overview

Since their inception, the presidential debates Americans have watched on television were carefully negotiated. This book closely examines a previously unexamined type of political communication, presidential debate negotiation. While it has been widely known that all general election presidential debates since 1960 have been negotiated by the participating candidates, no one has ever completed a systematic study of them. In particular, the 1960, 1976, 1980, 1984, and 1988 negotiations were examined in detail. For each of these election cycles, a comprehensive narrative of what occurred during the pre-debate negotiations was constructed based on primary source materials, media accounts, and other secondary sources. Comparisons across election cycles were made in order to draw some conclusions about presidential debate negotiation.

Presidential debate negotiations are not just negotiations, but rather also a form of political rhetoric for several different players. The research concluded that that there are five contexts in which presidential debate rhetoric occurs and the rhetoric is aimed at two audiences. Within each context, the functions and strategies of the rhetoric were discussed and explained from the perspective of the sponsor of the debate(s), the candidates and their representatives, as well as the media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498520317
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	12/20/2016
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

John W. Self is associate professor and chair of the Department of Communication at Truman State University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Why Study Presidential Debate Negotiation?
Chapter 2: 1960: Nixon v. Kennedy
Chapter 3: 1976: Ford v. Carter
Chapter 4: 1980: Reagan v. Anderson v. Carter
Chapter 5: 1984: Reagan v. Mondale
Chapter 6: 1988: Bush v. Dukakis
Chapter 7: Analysis
Appendix 1: Contexts of Presidential Debate Negotiation, Part I
Appendix 2: Contexts of Presidential Debate Negotiation, Part II
Appendix 3: 1984 Memorandum of Understanding
Appendix 4: 1988 Memorandum of Understanding

Editorial Reviews

Building on a comprehensive analysis of primary documents from presidential libraries and historical archives, John W. Self pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that influence presidential debate formats and our broader political discourse. Self persuasively demonstrates that the needs of voters are often forgotten in these negotiations and that journalists and scholars should focus not only on the debates themselves but also the preceding debate over the debates.

Dan Schill

This study is a fascinating, exhaustively researched, behind the scenes look at presidential debates. John W. Self shows how the polished performances audiences consume are the result of intense struggles over competing campaign strategies, as seemingly insignificant minutiae become critical moments for candidates. Nearly thirty years of cases show that, on a macro level, presidential debates are critical communicative acts that require intensive strategic preparation.

Mike Milford