Sixty years ago, the first televised presidential debate hit the airwaves, changing campaign strategies for decades to come. Now, as political conventions and debates go virtual, the nation may be looking at yet another sea-change in electoral politics. To help us make sense of it all, John Donvan sat down with Newt Minow, a founder of the American presidential debate. They discussed just how these historic events came about, how they’ve changed with time and technology, and what role they should play in our future.
Bio: Newt Minow is an attorney and the former chairman of the FCC, serving under President John F. Kennedy. He is an architect of American political debate and currently serves on the board of the Commission on Presidential Debates. He has been chairman of PBS and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2016. Minow is the author of many books, including, “Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future.”