General University Organizations. Presidential Debates Records
Wake Forest University hosted the first Presidential Debate on September 25, 1988 in the Wait Chapel. Repulbican candidate George W. Bush and Democrat candidate Michael Dukakis. Jim Lehrer of PBS moderated the debate with John Mashek of Atlanta Consitution, Peter Jennings of ABC, and Anne Groer of Orlando Sentinel as panelists. Twelve years later, a second debate was held on October 11, 2000, in Wait Chapel. Republican candidate George W. Bush and Democrat candidate Vice President Al Gore debated on stage for the 2000 presidential election. This collection contains materials related to the two debates that WFU has hosted, such as budgetary materials, planning documents, newspaper clippings and promotional materials, and correspondence.
Biographical and Historical Note
Wake Forest University hosted the first Presidential Debate on September 25, 1988 in the Wait Chapel. Repulbican candidate George W. Bush and Democrat candidate Michael Dukakis. Jim Lehrer of PBS moderated the debate with John Mashek of Atlanta Consitution, Peter Jennings of ABC, and Anne Groer of Orlando Sentinel as panelists. An estimated 65.1 million viewers tuned into the debate. Twelve years later, a second debate was held on October 11, 2000, in Wait Chapel. Republican candidate George W. Bush and Democrat candidate Vice President Al Gore debated on stage for the 2000 presidential election. The debate was sponsored by non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Jim Lehrer of Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) program The NewsHour posed the questions for each candidate. An estimated 37.5 million viewers watched the broadcasted debate.
Collection Overview
This collection contains materials related to the two debates that WFU has hosted, such as budgetary materials, planning documents, newspaper clippings, promotional materials, and correspondence. The collection is arranged in alphabetical order.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: Series 1. 1988 Presidential Debate materials, Series 2. 2000 Presidential Debate materials, and Series 3. Debate videocassettes. All three series are arranged chronologically.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by Finley Turner and Stephanie Bennett, 2020 January
- Revision Description
- Revised by Chloe Patz and Stephanie Bennett; added new materials , 2024 February
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open for researchers.
- Conditions Governing Use
- The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
- Preferred Citation
- General University Organizations. Presidential Debates Records (RG13.18), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.