2000 United States presidential debates

Part of the 2000 U.S. presidential election

2000 United States presidential debates

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| <- 1996 | October 3, 2000
October 11, 2000
October 17, 2000 | 2004 ->

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Nominee  | Al Gore | George W. Bush |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Home state  | Tennessee | Texas

2000 United States vice presidential debate

|  | October 5, 2000 |

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Nominee  | Joe Lieberman | Dick Cheney |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Home state  | Connecticut | Wyoming

The 2000 United States presidential debates were a series of debates held during the 2000 presidential election.

The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), a bipartisan organization formed in 1987, organized four debates among the major party candidates, sponsored three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. Only Democratic nominee Al Gore and Republican nominee George W. Bush met the criteria for inclusion in the debates, and thus were the only two to appear in the debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The CPD-sponsored vice presidential debate took place between their respective vice presidential running mates, Joe Lieberman and Dick Cheney.

## Debate schedule

[edit]

No. | Date & time | Host | Location | Moderator | Participants

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Key:
P Participant  N Non-invitee  | Democratic | Republican
Vice President
Al Gore
of Tennessee | Governor
George W. Bush
of Texas
1 | Tuesday, October 3, 2000
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT[1] | University of Massachusetts | Boston, Massachusetts | Jim Lehrer of PBS | P | P
2 | Wednesday, October 11, 2000
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT[1] | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | P | P
3 | Tuesday, October 17, 2000
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT[1] | Washington University in St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | P | P
2000 United States vice presidential debate
No. | Date & time | Host | Location | Moderator | Participants
Key:
P Participant  N Non-invitee  | Democratic | Republican
Senator
Joe Lieberman
of Connecticut | Secretary
Dick Cheney
of Wyoming
VP | Thursday, October 5, 2000
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. EDT[1] | Centre College | Danville, Kentucky | Bernard Shaw of CNN | P | P

## Participant selection

[edit]

In 2000, the following eight candidates achieved ballot access in enough states to mathematically win the election via the Electoral College:

Presidential candidate  | Party  | Ballot access

|
|

George W. Bush | Republican | 50+DC
Al Gore | Democratic | 50+DC
Harry Browne | Libertarian | 49+DC
Pat Buchanan | Reform | 49
Ralph Nader | Green | 43+DC
Howard Phillips | Constitution | 41
John Hagelin | Natural Law | 38

Responding to criticism received from the exclusion of Ross Perot in the 1996 campaign, the Commission on Presidential Debates adjusted the criteria used to invite candidates, announcing on January 6, 2000 that third-party candidates would have to reach 15 percent in pre-debate polls to receive an invitation.

Only Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore met the CPD selection criteria for any of the presidential debates. As a result, only Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.[2][3][4]

Bush initially refused to participate in all three CPD debates, instead proposing that he and Gore meet for just one CPD-sponsored debate, and another two debates of one hour each, hosted on Meet the Press and Larry King Live.[5][6] However, the Bush campaign eventually assented to the three Commission-scheduled debates.[7]

## October 3: First presidential debate (University of Massachusetts Boston)

[edit]

First presidential debate

Date(s)| October 3, 2000 (2000-10-03)
Duration| 90 minutes
Venue| University of Massachusetts Boston
Location| Boston, Massachusetts
Participants| Al Gore
George W. Bush
Moderator(s)| Jim Lehrer of PBS

The first presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush took place on Tuesday, October 3, 2000, in the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Boston in Boston, Massachusetts.

The debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS' The NewsHour, who posed the questions for each candidate. In the debate, Bush used the term "fuzzy math" for the first time.

### Transcript

[edit]

* Debate transcript from the Commission on Presidential Debates website.

### Viewership

[edit]

An estimated 46.6 million viewers tuned into the debates.

## October 5: Vice presidential debate (Centre College)

[edit]

Vice presidential debate

Date(s)| October 5, 2000 (2000-10-05)
Duration| 90 minutes
Venue| Centre College
Location| Danville, Kentucky
Participants| Joe Lieberman
Dick Cheney
Moderator(s)| Bernard Shaw of CNN

The only vice presidential debate between Senator Joe Lieberman and former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, took place on Thursday, October 5, 2000, in the Norton Center for the Arts on the campus of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

The debate was moderated by Bernard Shaw of CNN, who posed the questions for each candidate. The candidates discussed issues such as Medicare, Social Security, economic issues, the surplus, the future of the U.S. military and its decline of morale, and drugs in school and education reform.

Reflecting on the debate in 2016, Lieberman called it one of his proudest moments of the campaign, citing the debate's civil tone.[8]

### Transcript

[edit]

* Debate transcript from the Commission on Presidential Debates website.

### Viewership

[edit]

An estimated 28.5 million viewers tuned into the debate.

## October 11: Second presidential debate (Wake Forest University)

[edit]

Second presidential debate

Date(s)| October 11, 2000 (2000-10-11)
Duration| 90 minutes
Venue| Wake Forest University
Location| Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Participants| Al Gore
George W. Bush
Moderator(s)| Jim Lehrer of PBS

The second presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore, took place on Wednesday, October 11, 2000, in the Wait Chapel on the campus of the Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS' The NewsHour, who posed the questions for each candidate.

### Transcript

[edit]

* Debate transcript from the Commission on Presidential Debates website.

### Viewership

[edit]

An estimated 37.5 million viewers tuned into the debate.

## October 17: Third presidential debate (Washington University in St. Louis)

[edit]

Third presidential debate

Date(s)| October 17, 2000 (2000-10-17)
Duration| 90 minutes
Venue| Washington University in St. Louis
Location| St. Louis, Missouri
Participants| Al Gore
George W. Bush
Moderator(s)| Jim Lehrer of PBS

The third and final presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush, took place on Tuesday, October 17, 2000, at the Field House on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

The town hall style debate Jim Lehrer of PBS with featuring questions asked by members of the audience.

### Transcript

[edit]

* Debate transcript from the Commission on Presidential Debates website.

### Viewership

[edit]

An estimated 37.7 million viewers tuned into the debate.

## Third-party debates

[edit]

Harry Browne
Tennessee

Howard Phillips
Virginia

John Hagelin
Iowa

* September 28, 2000 – The Independence Party of Minnesota sponsored a third-party presidential debate moderated by Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. In attendance for this debate were Libertarian candidate Harry Browne, Constitution Party candidate Howard Phillips, and Natural Law Party candidate John Hagelin. Both Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan declined invitations to attend.
* October 20, 2000 – Judicial Watch sponsored a third-party presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, moderated by radio broadcaster Jim Bohannon. Once again, Browne, Phillips, and Hagelin participated while Nader and Buchanan declined invitations.
* November 3, 2000 – American University's Department of History and Commission on Fair Elections sponsored a third-party vice presidential debate at the National Press Club. Participating were vice presidential candidates Art Olivier of the Libertarian Party, Dr. J. Curtis Frazier of the Constitution Party, and Nat Goldhaber representing the Natural Law Party. Winona LaDuke and Ezola Foster of the Green and Reform Parties declined invitations.[9]

## See also

[edit]

* Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign
* George W. Bush 2000 presidential campaign
* 2000 United States presidential election

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "CPD: 2000 Debates". www.debates.org. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
2. ^ "What Happened in 2000?". opendebates.org. Archived from the original on August 24, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
3. ^ "The Appleseed Citizens' Task Force On Presidential Debates: A Blueprint for Fair and Open Presidential Debates". reclaimdemocracy.org. December 17, 2000. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
4. ^ "2000 Debates". debates.org. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
5. ^ Swan, Jonathan; Haberman, Maggie (May 15, 2024). "The first Trump-Biden debate could come as early as June". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
6. ^ Allen, Mike (September 7, 2000). "For Bush, Debate Centers on Debates". The Washington Post. p. A41.
7. ^ Balz, Dan (September 15, 2000). "Gore, Bush Agree to 3 Debates in Prime Time". The Washington Post. p. A1.
8. ^ Lieberman, Joe (July 20, 2016). "Here's what to do if you've just been nominated for vice president". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
9. ^ "Debates". www.gwu.edu. Retrieved October 26, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Commission on Presidential Debates
* Democracy in Action
* Open Debates[usurped]

* v
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* e

United States presidential debates

General election debates|

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Related debates and forums|

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Organizations|

* Citizens' Debate Commission
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Phrases|

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(<- 1996) 2000 United States presidential election (2004 ->)

General election results
Florida results

Republican Party|

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Candidates|

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Democratic Party|

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Candidates|

* Nominee: Al Gore
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Constitution Party|

* Convention
* Nominee: Howard Phillips
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Green Party|

* Convention
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* campaign
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Libertarian Party|

* Convention
* Nominee: Harry Browne
* campaign
* VP nominee: Art Olivier
* Other candidates:
* L. Neil Smith

Reform Party|

* Primaries
* Nominee: Pat Buchanan
* campaign
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Natural Law Party|

* Nominee: John Hagelin
* VP nominee: Nat Goldhaber

Prohibition Party|

* Nominee: Earl Dodge
* VP nominee: W. Dean Watkins

Socialist Party|

* Nominee: David McReynolds
* VP nominee: Mary Cal Hollis

Socialist Workers Party|

* Nominee: James Harris
* VP nominee: Margaret Trowe

Workers World Party|

* Nominee: Monica Moorehead
* VP nominee: Gloria La Riva

Independent|

* Cathy Gordon Brown
* Charles E. Collins
* Isabell Masters
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Florida election recount and legal proceedings

Key figures|

* Katherine Harris
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*   * Theodore Olson
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Election day|

* Florida Central Voter File (scrub list)
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Aftermath and
legal proceedings|

* Florida election recount
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Films|

* Recount (2008)
* Bush Family Fortunes (2004)
* Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002)

Other 2000 elections
House
Senate
Gubernatorial

* v
* t
* e

Al Gore

* 45th Vice President of the United States (1993–2001)
* U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1985–1993)
* U.S. Representative for TN–4 and TN–6 (1977–1985)

Politics|

* Atari Democrat
* Prevention of Genocide Act of 1988
* Vice presidency

Electoral History|

| U.S. House|

* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982

|

U.S. Senate|

* 1984
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Vice presidential|

* 1992 campaign
* selection
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* debate
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* convention
* debate
* election

Presidential|

* 1988 campaign
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* primaries
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Environment|

* Global Marshall Plan
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* An Inconvenient Truth
* "I Need to Wake Up"
* Live Earth
* The Climate Reality Project
* An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
* "Truth to Power"

Technology|

* Role in information technology
* High Performance Computing Act of 1991
* National Information Infrastructure
* Information superhighway
* The Superhighway Summit
* Deep Space Climate Observatory
* 24 Hours in Cyberspace
* NetDay
* Digital Earth
* Current TV

Recognition|

* Awards and honors

Books|

* Earth in the Balance
* An Inconvenient Truth
* The Assault on Reason
* Our Choice
* The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change
* An Inconvenient Sequel

Family|

* Tipper Gore (wife, separated)
* Karenna Gore (daughter)
* Kristin Gore (daughter)
* Albert Gore Sr. (father)
* Pauline LaFon Gore (mother)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

George W. Bush

* 43rd President of the United States (2001–2009)
* 46th Governor of Texas (1995–2000)

Presidency
(timeline)|

* Transition
* Inaugurations
* 2001
* 2005
* Timeline
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* January 2009
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* International trips
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* award
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* Email controversy
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Life and
legacy|

* Childhood home
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* Prairie Chapel Ranch
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Speeches|

* Joint session of Congress (Feb 2001)
* Remarks at the Islamic Center of Washington (2001)
* Joint session of Congress (September 11 attacks) (2001)
* Mission Accomplished (2003)
* State of the Union addresses
* 2002 ("Axis of evil")
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
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Elections|

| U.S. House|

* 1978

|

Gubernatorial|

* 1994
* 1998

Presidential|

* 2000 campaign
* primaries
* running mate selection
* convention
* debates
* election
* Bush v. Gore
* 2004 campaign
* primaries
* convention
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* election

Public image|

* Bushisms
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* Miss Me Yet?
* "Yo, Blair"

Books|

* A Charge to Keep (1999)
* Decision Points (2010)
* 41: A Portrait of My Father (2014)
* Portraits of Courage (2017)
* Out of Many, One (2021)

Popular
culture|

* Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004 documentary)
* W. (2008 film)

Family|

* Laura Bush (wife)
* Barbara Pierce Bush (daughter)
* Jenna Bush Hager (daughter)
* George H. W. Bush (father
* presidency)
* Barbara Bush (mother)
* Robin Bush (sister)
* Jeb Bush (brother)
* Neil Bush (brother)
* Marvin Bush (brother)
* Dorothy Bush Koch (sister)
* Barney (dog)
* Miss Beazley (dog)
* India (cat)
* Spot Fetcher (dog)

* ← Bill Clinton
* Barack Obama →

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Dick Cheney

* 46th Vice President of the United States (2001–2009)
* 7th White House Chief of Staff (1975-1977)
* 17th United States Secretary of Defense (1989–1993)
* U.S. Representative for WY–AL (1979–1989)

20th century career|

| Cabinet|

* White House Chief of Staff to Gerald Ford (1975-1977)
* Secretary of Defense to George H. W. Bush (1989-1993)

|

U.S. House|

* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* House Minority Whip

Private sector|

Halliburton

Presidential elections|

* 2000 campaign
* selection
* convention
* debate
* election
* transition
* 2004 campaign
* convention
* debate
* election

Vice presidency
(timeline)|

* Transition
* 1st inauguration
* 2nd inauguration
* Timeline
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* January 2009
* Domestic policy
* Legislation and programs
* Economic policy
* Foreign policy
* "War on Terror"
* Bush Doctrine
* Russia summits
* Slovenia
* Slovakia
* War in Afghanistan
* Patriot Act
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Status of Forces Agreement
* Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
* USA Freedom Corps
* Department of Homeland Security
* Space policy
* Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty
* Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
* Email controversy
* Efforts to impeach Dick Cheney
* Obama transition

Legacy and
public image|

* Agathidium cheneyi
* Dick Cheney hunting accident
* Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America
* In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir
* Vice

Family and
personal life|

* Lynne Cheney (wife)
* Liz Cheney (daughter)
* Mary Cheney (daughter)

* ← Al Gore
* Joe Biden →

* Category

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