Highest Rated Presidential Debates

3) Ford vs Carter (1976) (3 of 5)

3) Ford vs Carter (1976) (3 of 5)

After the unfortunate Watergate Scandal, Ford had succeeded Nixon, come election time; he had fallen behind Carter but started to close the gap when the Presidential debate came around.  The debate was an eventful one between the two nominees, until Ford made a gaffe. At a time when Russian influence was growing in the Eastern Europe, he refused to acknowledge growing Russian influence and pledged that it would never happen in a Ford administration. Ford went on to lose the Presidential elections at the hands of Carter and their debate went on to get a rating of 53.5%.