Country musics grand old opery. Today we are at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown nashville, tennessee. The nickname of the Ryman Auditorium was the Mother Church of Country Music, which definitely tells the history of both things that it is famous for. It was built by a river boat captain who was famously converted under a tent in downtown nashville in may of 1865, and after his conversion, he believed that traveling ministers should have a permanent home inside that was large enough to take the large crowds of the traveling ministers who came to town. Captain ryman built the Ryman Auditorium and it opened at first in 1892 as a tabernacle. That is the church part of the history. The music part of the history, the Country Music part deals with the grand ole opry, which came here in 1943 after being in many different homes in nashville and stayed here until 1974 when the new opry house was built. During the run of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, some of the most famous people in all
Colleague, michael holt. Michael holt is the professor of American History here at the university of virginia. He was educated at princeton and learned his ph. D. At Johns Hopkins university. With time offer visiting professional ships at cambridge, yale, stanford and other institutions. He has been at the university of virginia since 1974. He has written widely and deeply about 19 century political history. For many years his writing focus on the years before the civil war. Both the political crisis of the 19 fifties has become the standard for advanced college courses. His 1999 book, the rise involve the american w. H. I. P. Party, draconian politics in the onset of the civil war, was the runner up for the lincoln prize, his most often described as magisterial. And that is not just because of his 1296 heft. More recently, he has written of the reconstruction period following the war. By one vote the disputed election of 1876, it tells the story of americas closest election which perh
I am bernard shaw of cnn. Cable news network. My colleagues are ann compton, of abc news. Margaret warner of newsweek magazine. And andrew mitchell, of nbc news. The candidates are Vice President george bush, republican nominee and governor michael dukakis. For the next 90 minutes we will be questioning the candidates by representatives of the two campaigns, however there are no restrictions on the questions that my colleague and i can ask this evening and the candidates have no prior knowledge of our questions. By agreement between the candidates, the first question goes to governor jackies. You have two minutes to respond. Governor if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, which you favored and irrevocably Death Penalty for the killer. No i dont, bernard. And i think you know that i post Death Penalty, all of my life. I dont see any evidence, and i think there are better and more effective ways to deal with crime. We have done so in my own state, and its one of the reasons why we hav
[ cheers and applause ] for the next 90 minutes we will be questioning the candidates following a format designed and agreed to by representatives of the two campaigns. However, there are no restrictions in the questions that my colleagues and i can ask this evening, and the candidates have no prior knowledge of our questions. By agreement between the candidates, the first question goes to governor dukakis. You have two minutes to respond. Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable Death Penalty for the killer . No, i dont. I think you know i opposed the Death Penalty during all of my life. I dont see any evidence that its a deterrent. I think there are per and more effective ways to deal with violent crime. We have down so in my own state. Its one of the reasons why we have had the biggest drop in crime of any industrial state in america, why we have the lowest murder rate in any industrial state in america. But we have work to do this nation. W
Michael dukakis. Candidates took questions on taxes, the budget deficit, defense spending, and each candidates choice of running mate. Good evening, on behalf of the commission on president ial debates, i am pleased to welcome you to the second president ial debate. Im bernard shaw of cnn, cable news network. My colleagues on the panel are and cotton of abc news. Margaret warner of newsweek magazine. And Andrea Mitchell of nbc news. The candidates are Vice President george bush, the republican nominee, and governor michael dukakis. [applause] for the next 90 minutes will be questioning the candidates in a format designed and agreed to by representatives of the two campaigns. However, there are no restrictions on the questions that my colleagues and i can ask this evening. And the candidates have no prior knowledge of our questions. By agreement between the candidates, the first question goes to governor dukakis. You have two minutes to respond. Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and