Today’s trivia challenge: great debates

John Kerry has proposed engaging in a debate with President Bush once a week until Election Day. How much do you know about previous presidential debates?

1. Which candidate said this during an opening statement: “I don’t believe in big government, but I believe in effective government action.”

A. George W. Bush

B. Jimmy Carter

C. John F. Kennedy

D. Ronald Reagan

2. Which year marked the first-ever “town hall meeting” approach in a televised debate, which allowed voters to pose questions to the candidates?

A. 1980

B. 1984

C. 1992

D. 1996

3. Which candidate made this statement: “I will not make age an issue in this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

A. George Bush

B. Bob Dole

C. Richard Nixon

D. Ronald Reagan

4. Which candidate found himself on the receiving end of this retort: “There you go again.”

A. Jimmy Carter

B. Bill Clinton

C. Al Gore

D. Walter Mondale

5. True or false: There were no presidential debates from 1960-1976.

A. True

B. False