Tom Brokaw and the Politics of Debates

In this clip from "The Daily Show" Jon Stewart interviews Tom Brokaw. Stewart asks Brokaw for details about what occurred before the second presidential debate. This includes things such as the demands of each political party (restrictions on questioning and timing). Stewart also asks Brokaw to describe his ideal debate format, and his answers are surprising. Among other changes, Brokaw describes a debate in which the moderator regains much of the power they have lost in recent years. I found this interview interesting because it touches on many of the issues presented in James Fallows' "Rhetorical Questions," and our class discussion on Wednesday. 

Admiral Stockdale, 1992

Kennedy - Nixon Debates, 1960