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The First Presidential Debate William J. Clinton Robert J. Dole The Bushnell Hartford, Connecticut October 6, 1996 Sponsored by The Commission on Presidential Debates

National Sponsors The Commission on Presidential Debates wishes to thank the following national sponsors for their generous contributions to the 1996 presidential debates. PHILIP MORRIS COMPANIES INC. ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANIES DUN & BRADSTREET SHELDON S. COHEN - MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIliS, LLP JOYCE FOUNDATION LUCENT TECHNOLOCIES THE MARJORIE KOVLER FUND SARA LEE CORPORATION SPRINT TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND IV O V W CO 4 00 O ~ O0

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Professional Services Ross, Dixon & Masback ConnseL Focused Images Photography Nikon Inc. Digital photography equipment Denburg & Low Certified Public Accountants Sydney Brooks Accounting services McDonnell Douglas Travel Company Travel Decatur Press, Inc. Prnlting Closed captioning courtesy of Sprint

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Commission on Presidential Debates Honorary Co-chairmen Former President Gerald R. Ford Former President Jimmy Carter Former President Ronald Reagan Co-chairmen Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Directors Senator Paul Coverdell John C. Danforth Antonia Hernandez Caroline Kennedy Representative John Lewis Newton N. Minow Kay Orr Representative Barbara Vucanovich Executive Director Janet H. Brown

Staff Robert Asman Executive Producer Robert Neuman Director of Media Arrangements James Archer Heather Balas Qudrey Billingsley Illi ouise Billingsley Jean Cantrell Jane Gabel John Hoffland Joani Komlos TammV Lewis Peter O'Toole Noel Wanner Prodnctior Assistants Amelia Parker Consultant Wayne Wicks Technical Supervisor Bill Greenfield Lighting Designer Ted Van Bemmel, VANCO Lighting Services (a member of the Production Resource Group) Production Manager/ Technical Director Larrv Estrin, Best Audio Audio Supervisor Hugh Raisky Scenic Designer John Hodges and Michael Foley Set Construction Paul Byers Tinier

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is one of the oldest and most historically significant cities in the northeast; at the same time it is clearly focused on the future. Hartford was founded in 1636 when the Rev. Thomas Hooker led a party of 100 followers out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on a quest for religious freedom. Their arduous trip through the wilderness led them to a spot on the banks of the Connecticut River. Two years later, Hooker outlined the basic tenets of Fundamental Orders, the document generally conceded to have been the world's first written constitution. It is fair to say that America's form of + vernment was born here. The site where Hooker delivered this historic sermon, Connecticut's Old State House, celebrated its 200th anniversary earlier this year. Recently fully restored, it is the oldest state house in America and a building of historic importance not only to the citizens of Connecticut, but to all Americans. Ten U.S. presidents, from John Adams to George Bush have visited its halls. And when the French armies, under the leadership of General Compte de Rochambeau, came ashore during the American Revolution to join the colo- nials in their struggle against English rule, they were met, at that spot, by General George Washington. But while Hartford is a city with a rich history, it is not a city resting on its laurels. In recent years it has been the beneficiary of exiting new ideas, ini- tiatives and developments, including a vibrant and rapidly expanding arts and entertainment district. Prentice Hall's Places Rated Almanac ranked the Hartford metropolitan area 20th for cultural offering out of 343 cities in the United States and Canada. Hartford also offers The Bushnell Memorial Hall-Connecticut's premier performing arts center, a world class children's medical center, an award-winning riverfront revitalization project, some of the nation's largest insurance firms, and a large manufacturing community. The insurance and manufacturing industries make up greater Hartford's traditional economic base. These industries offer not only diversity, but the stability needed to build the economy of the future.

Commission on Presidential Debates Background The creation of the Commission on Presidential Debates was the direct result of a recommendation by the Commission on National Elections, a panel sponsored in 1985 by Georgetown University's Center for Strategic and International Studies. That panel, which was co-chaired by Melvin Laird and Robert Strauss, recommended that steps be taken to establish an organization whose sole purpose is to sponsor presidential and vice presidential debates during the general election period. A second study was conducted in 1986 at Harvard University's Institute of Politics under the sponsorship of the Twentieth Century Fund. Chaired by Newton N. Minow, the grot issued a final report, "For Great Debates," which also urged that such an or~anization be built. The Commission, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation, was estab- lished in 1987 and sponsored all presidential and vice presidential debates in 1988 and 1992. The television audience in both years set new records, cul- minating in 97 million viewers for the final 1992 debate. A 1995 Media Services Center poll suggests that almost half of American voters learn more about presidential candidates from televised debates than from an,v other source. The Commission was designed as an ongoing entity in the recognition that its lasting legacy lies in a continuing commitment to the value of debates and the educational information which they impart. To meet these goals, the Commission is engaged in many activities beyond producing and sponsor- ing the presidential debates. Commission staff have prepared educational materials used in schools, developed instructional videos on hosting debates for use by media and public interest groups at local and state levels, spon- sored research to improve the quality of debates, and is currently compiling an oral history of debates as recalled by living American Presidents. Further, the Commission has provided technical assistance to emerging democracies interested in establishing debate traditions. In the last two years, Commission staff have assisted groups from Brazil, South Africa, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Namibia, among others. The Commission's directors are deeply grateful to the many individuals Rnd organizations whose generous support and cocrosel have made our achieve- ments possible. We look forward to making a productive and historic con- tribution to the 1996 election.

Hartford Donors Founders Bank of Boston Phoenix Trinitv College SNET Patrons Aetna Hartford Foundation for Public Giving ITT Hartford Travelers Foundation United Technologies Corporation Sponsors Waterford Hotels/Mohegan Sun/Sun International Greater Hartford Convention and Visitor's Bureau Hartford Courant Heublein Loctite NU Tenneco U.S. Surgical UST Connecticut Hospitals: (St. Francis, St. Marv's, Backus, Bristol, Hartford Hospital, Hospital for Special Care, New Britain Hospital, Eastern Connecticut Health Network) AARP Advest CIGNA Echlin Inc. Fleet Hartford Steam Boiler People's Bank Tosco Corporation Xerox Corporation Supporters Arthur Andersen/Andersen Consulting Barnes Group CBIA CNG Fannie Mae Hartford Courant Foundation State Street Bank Value Health Webster Bank WFSB-TV3 Coopers and Lybrand General Dynamics Kaman Corporation KPMG Peat Marwick Ano-Coil Corporation Greater Hartford Realty Corporation Carroll J. Hughes JSB Funding Inc. Mechanics Savings Bank Saving Bank Life Insurance Company Stanley Cohen WKND Radio In-Kind Sponsors Bingham, Dana and Gould LLP Elkinson and Sloves City of Hartford Ikon Office Solutions State of Connecticut AM Lithography Magnani Press Yankee Offset American Airlines Sheraton Hotel Hartford Advocate