Hillary Clinton pledged to raise taxes on the wealthy during a 2016 debate, saying, “My Social Security payroll will go up, and Donald's pay will go up, unless he can find a way out of it.” Donald Trump responded, “What a mean woman.”
During a 2012 debate, Mitt Romney said the U.S. Navy was its smallest since 1917. Barack Obama responded, “We have fewer ships than we had in 1916. And yes, Governor, we have fewer horses and bayonets, too, because the nature of our military has changed.”
During a presidential debate in 1992, when the elder Bush was asked a question by a member of the audience, he memorably checked his watch before answering and appeared to be stumped for a response.
During a 1988 debate, former Vice President Dan Quayle declared that his experience was comparable to that of Jack Kennedy, to which Democrat Lloyd Bentsen responded to the Republican, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was my friend. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.”
During a 1988 debate, moderator Bernard Shaw asked Michael Dukakis the graphic hypothetical question of whether he would support the death penalty if his wife was raped and murdered, to which Dukakis responded, “No, I wouldn't, Bernard. I think you know that I've been opposed to the death penalty my whole life.”
The Bush-Quayle duo won the presidential election, and Quayle served as Vice President to President Bush Sr. from 1989 to 1993.
“I'm not going to make age an issue in this campaign. I'm not going to use my opponent's youth and inexperience for political gain,” Reagan said of former Jimmy Carter vice president Walter Mondale during a debate in 1984. Reagan's candid remarks drew cheers and laughter from both the audience and Mondale.
During a 1980 primary debate, Ronald Reagan said, “I pay for this microphone, Mr. Greene,” when John Breen, the moderator and editor-in-chief of the Nashua Telegraph, asked that Reagan's microphone be turned off.
During the 1960 presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, Nixon appeared moody and sweating excessively while JFK remained calm. Whether Nixon's body language contributed to his election loss to JFK is still studied today.
