Ladies and gentlemen, could i ask you to take your seats please . The 2020 Vice President ial debate here at the university of utah. Im janet brown, executive director of the commission on president ial debates. We are delighted you are here. In the next few minutes, you are going to hear thanks that her own a lot of people for making tonight possible. We will also cover some housekeeping rules for this evenings debate, which start with please make sure your cell phones are turned off on all functions. Cannot make any noise, and please open your programs and take a look at some of the many people that we owe a huge debt of gratitude to for this evening. I would like to start with pentagram, which is of thoughtful which is responsible of the new book of s andommissions name cover. With ankle for the support of our work for years and the state of federal communications, which has just come on board this year. We thank you all. As we speak, there is a washington Filing Center being hosted at the National Press club for members that could not come here as they normally would to cover this debate. We are exceedingly grateful to them for providing this additional place for people to cover the debate in a professional way. We owe a special thanks to the United States secret service, federal bureau of investigations, the department of homeland security, and to the clemson universitys media forensics club. I will introduce the cochairs of the commission for their comments. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Salt Lake City beautiful Salt Lake City. I in a pattern so not too far from home. Andcognize the desert mountains. Nevadan. Nevada and we thank the Debate Society that sponsor this. As you walk to the campus, you can see what a tremendous job theyve done and what a beautiful job theyve done in here with all the issues with our spacing, as you can see here. Believe it or not, there were 60 regular Staff Members commission to put this debate on. We have to go from cleveland here in salt lake to miami, and then finish up in nashville. Airlines for gratuitously flying our entire staff that can force between cities back and forth between cities. We owe them a real debt of gratitude, but probably no one do we owe more than the Cleveland Clinic. Those of you who were in cleveland were there for a debate that was cosponsored by the clinic and case western reserve, but the Cleveland Clinic has been our advisor on medical issues, which are so important as we live through this coronavirus episode. We want to thank them again for their tremendous work. Believe it or not dont laugh because it has been a major contribution anheuserbusch and company. For 28 years, they have provided , the million reporters out here, something to eat so they dont go back and forth, and they have been with us 28 years. Now i have to be sort of a scold. There are millions of people who are either in their homes watching this happen tonight on television or they will be at their computers or they will be totheir ipads watching listen to these individuals state their positions on issues that are important to the american people, so we would ask you to not interfere with that by applauding, by cheering, by in anyway getting involved. You are fortunate to be really today in a place of history. You can say you were at this debate, and it is a remarkable one. A very important one, so please do not get involved. Entered told when you that you have to have your mask on. The rules are that you will keep your masks on, and if you take your masks off, someone will approach you and ask you to please put your mask back on. If you do not put the mask back on, you will be advised that your ticket is cancel. On the back of your ticket that got you in here, you pledged to follow all protocols for the health departments, etc. You will be escorted by Law Enforcement from the premises. It will be embarrassing to you and interfere with what is going on appear so we beg you, please do not take your mask off. As soon as i am off the stage, mine is going back on. This is for everyone. I also want to tell you that at 7 00 on the button, you will hear a whole lot of noise because all of these networks , their boxes are up behind you, will go on air to cover the debate. You will hear them go on air and you will hear the moderators talking. Do not get upset. It will calm down. We hope you enjoy and learn. I think this will be a tremendous evening. We are missing one of our cochairs, dorothy, former head of the league of women voters. She is not with us but she is in our thoughts and we say hello. With that, let me introduce my cochair, ken. I join frank, janet, and fellow Board Members in welcoming you to the 10th Vice President ial debate sponsored and organized by the commission on president ial debates. As the newest cochair of the commission, i am proud to work alongside frank, dot, janet, and a talented staff and crew who deal with moving parts ranging from prep and production to cybersecurity and set design, lighting, and logistics. Over the years, they have created an institution that has made debates an important part of our democratic process. A view shared by the american electorate. Also, the advent of the commission sponsored debate watch allows the watch committee in all 50 states and puerto rico to exchange views on issues raised in debates with those who agree and those who disagree. To listen respectfully to each others opinions. Debate watch 2020 will reach more than one million participants and here in utah, the Utah Debate Commission is carrying out a broad Civic Education program around the debate by conducting an Essay Competition for High School Students and encouraging nine colleges and universities in the states to organize virtual debate watches. As significant as debates have become, they can be even more consequential overseas. The commission has helped organized 450 debates in 45 nations. Most importantly, in postconflict countries and new and emerging democracies. This effort has led to the creation of debates international, a local support network of similar debate organizers from nearly 40 countries. When the commission organized debates in tunisia last year, we were joined by members from mexico and jamaica to share their experiences and expertise. I wanted to recognize their longest standing supporter, the julie and peter bloom Kovler Foundation which has given trust to the nonpartisan mission of the commission for the past 32 years. We are grateful for their extraordinary contribution to the 2020 debates. It is my distinct honor to introduce dr. Ruth watkins, the president of the university of utah. Thank you very much. Dr. Watkins good evening. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the flagship university. Sincere thanks to the president ial debate for selecting us to host the only Vice President ial debate. This is the first time utah has been the site of an Election Debate and we are thrilled so many will get to know our state and university. Salt lake city, the capital, is a thriving hub of industry and innovation. We have spectacular recreation, a strong economy, and we are known for collaborative spirit. This vitality is why the university is on the rise, now recognized as one of americas leading research universities, a member of the association of american universities. Our campus is home to outstanding programs including utah health. University hospital has been recognized as a top 10 facility for excellence in patient care and the Cancer Institute is a comprehensive cancer center, the highest federal ranking. Providing value, high quality education at an affordable cost is a tenet of our university. Our faculty and staff achieve national recognition. A professor was just named a fellow. We are united in purpose and strive to provide students with an exceptional experience that will equip them for a vibrant future. Students are at the center of all we do. Let me introduce you to our student body leaders. These individuals exemplify smart, creative students who will lead us into the future. I asked michelle one thing she wanted the world to know about the university and she said that this is a place for everyone to come and accomplish extraordinary things. This is an institution for anyone to not only learn and research, but to do it in an exemplary manner. There is endless opportunity here. And a message of hope for students listening tonight. If there is anything i hope for the students, it is that we will feel empowered to make our voices heard and our presence known and the hope that we recognize the power and potential we have to act, to make a significant difference in our communities. But it all starts with what we do today, especially as we tune in tonight. We are the future but also the present, and present we will be. This election might be the first involvement for many students. We have emphasized how important it is to be involved. This message from a student to students listening around the world. I want students worldwide to know partaking in elections is indispensable. We are all citizens of humankind and our chief role is to tailor the world to be more ethical than the one we grew up in. It is our responsibility to vote for just outcomes. It is our responsibility to be commonly decent. From all of us, our best wishes to mike pence and Kamala Harris this evening as my deepest appreciation to all who helped plan and prepare for tonight from the campus, the Debate Commission and the commission on president ial debate. Thank you and warmest welcome to the university of utah. [applause] [applause] please welcome the first print journalist to be the solo moderator of one of the general Election Debates, susan page from usa today. [applause] susan welcome. Congratulations, you have scored the most exclusive tickets. Hamilton has nothing on the president ial debate. I want to offer a special welcome to Vice President pences family and senator, harrises family on this side and to my bosses seated appear. My bosses from usa today and kennett. We are glad you are here. But this debate is not about you or me. It is about the millions of americans who will be watching it. That is why i am going to ask you for your help. I am asking you for your silence. During the debate, please do not cheer, boo, hiss, or laugh. It is distracting. There will be two times when you can applaud. When i announce the candidates on the stage, you can applaud. And then again at the end of the debate. But if you could restrain your enthusiasm between those two times, i would appreciate it. And if you could send me some good karma, that would be appreciated. But quietly. Im going to sit down and get settled and turn my back to you, but not in a rude way. And i will see you on the other side. Thanks again for being here. [applause] ms. Page good evening. Welcome to the first and only Vice President ial debate of 2020. Im susan page of usa today. It is my honor to moderate this debate, an important part of our democracy. In Kingsbury Hall tonight, we have a small and socially distant audience, and we have taken extra precautions during the pandemic. Among other things, everyone in the audience is required to wear a face mask, and the candidates will be seated 12 feet apart