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Presidential debates through the years

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Monday, September 26, 2016
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama wave to the audience during the first presidential debate at the University of Denver in Denver.
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, and President Barack Obama, right, debate at the University of Denver, Oct. 3, 2012.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney answers a question as President Barack Obama listens during the third presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama listen to a question from an audience member during the second presidential debate at Hofstra University, Oct. 16, 2012, in Hempstead, N.Y.
John McCain shakes hands with Barack Obama prior to the start of the presidential debate, Sept. 26, 2008, at the University of Mississippi
John McCain speaks during his first presidential debate with Barack Obama at the University of Mississippi Sept. 26, 2008.
John McCain speaks as Barack Obama listens during a townhall-style presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2008.
Barack Obama and John McCain talk during the presidential debate, Oct. 15, 2008, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
President Bush and Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, D-Mass., shake hands before the start their debate at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., Sept. 30, 2004.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left ,speaks as President Bush listens during the presidential debate in Coral Gables, Fla. Thursday Sept. 30, 2004.
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry answers a question during the presidential debate Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Washington University in St. Louis.
President Bush and his Democratic opponent, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., prepare for their final presidential debate, at Arizona State University, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004.
Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore debate during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000.
Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush at the start of the second presidential debate at Wake Forest University.
Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, left, speaks as Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore watches during their debate at Washington University in St. Louis.
President Clinton and Bob Dole greet moderator Jim Lehrer after the conclusion of the presidential debate at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Conn., Sunday Oct. 6, 1996.
President Clinton and Bob Dole prepare for opening remarks at the presidential debate at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, CT, Sunday Oct. 6, 1996.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, daughter Chelsea Clinton, President Clinton, Bob Dole, Elizabeth Dole and daughter Robin Dole at the debate at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Conn.
Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole watches President Bill Clinton as he answers questions during 2nd presidential debate on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996 in San Diego.
Democratic candidate Bill Clinton speaks, while Independent candidate H. Ross Perot and U.S. President George Bush look on, during the first debate in St. Louis, Oct. 11, 1992.
President George H. W. Bush talks with Ross Perot as Democratic candidate Bill Clinton stands aside at the end of their second presidential debate in Richmond, VA.
Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton. Independent candidate Ross Perot and Republican candidate President George Bush are shown during the second presidential debate.
Democratic presidential candidate Gov. Bill Clinton, center, shakes hands with President George Bush, right, following the final presidential debate.
U.S. Vice President George Bush, left, and Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis are shown during their first presidential debate at Wake Forest University, Sept. 25, 1988.
Democratic presidential candidateMichael Dukakis shakes hands with Vice President George Bush, left, prior to their second and final presidential debate at UCLA.
Vice President George Bush gestures while making a point to the panel as Gov. Michael Dukakis watches during the second presidential debate on Oct. 13, 1988 in Los Angeles.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan, left, and his Democratic challenger Walter Mondale, shake hands prior to their televised presidential debate, in Kansas City, Mo., October 22, 1984.
President Ronald Reagan, left, and Walter Mondale, face debate moderator Edwin Newman, Oct. 21,1984. Scene took place at opening of the presidential debate in Kansas City.
President Jimmy Carter, left, and Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan face their panelists during debate at the Cleveland Convention Center on Oct. 28, 1980.
President Jimmy Carter, left, and Republican Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan shake hands after debating in the Cleveland Music Hall in Cleveland.
President Gerald Ford, right, emphasizes a point during his second debate with Jimmy Carter, left, at Palace of Fine Arts Theater, Oct. 6, 1976, San Francisco, Calif.
In this Sept. 23, 1976 file photo, President Gerald Ford speaks as Jimmy Carter listens during the first of three debates, at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theater.
Jimmy Carter, center left, shakes hands with President Gerald Ford at the conclusion of their debate at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater, Oct. 6, 1976, San Francisco.
In this Sept. 26, 1960 file photo, moderator Howard K. Smith sits between, Sen. John Kennedy, left, and Vice President Richard Nixon during their debate in Chicago.
Republican presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon wipes his face with a handkerchief during a nationally televised presidential debate with Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy.
Richard M. Nixon, left, debates John F. Kennedy during a live broadcast from a New York television studio of their fourth presidential debate on October 21, 1960.
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Presidential debates through the yearsRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama wave to the audience during the first presidential debate at the University of Denver in Denver.
Charlie Neibergall/AP

Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will face off in their first presidential debate on Monday at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. There are three scheduled Presidential debates and one Vice Presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine.

Since 1960, only three elections have not had debates between the two major party candidates: 1964, 1968 and 1972.

From the first nationally televised debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon in 1960 to President Barack Obama's run to re-election against Mitt Romney in 2012, here's a look back at presidential debates through the years.

The debate begins at 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

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