Now, tonights program is unlike any other president ial debate in history were making history now and its pretty exciting. An independent polling firm has selected an audience of 209 uncommitted voters from this area. The candidates will be asked questions by these voters on a topic of their choosing anything they want to ask about. My job as moderator is to, you know, take care of the questioning, ask questions myself, if i think there needs to be continuity and balance, and sometimes i might ask the candidates to respond to what another candidate may have said. Now, the format has been agreed to by representatives of both the republican and democratic campaigns. And there is no subject matter that is restricted anything goes, we can ask anything. After the debate, the candidates will have an opportunity to make a closing statement. So, president bush, i think you said it earlier, lets get it on. Pres. Bush lets go. Ms. Simpson and i think the first question is over here. Yes, id like
President george bush, arkansas governor bill clinton and independent candidate ross perot. Here now is mr. Ross perot. Ladies and gentlemen. [applause] good to see you thank you. Now, governor clinton. [applause] and now, president bush. [applause] about 30 seconds, we will be going on the air. Good evening and welcome to the first of three debates among the major candidates for president of the United States, sponsored by the commission on president ial debates. The candidates are, independent candidate ross perot, governor bill clinton, the democratic nominee, and president george bush, the republican nominee. I am jim lehrer of the news hour on pbs and i will be the moderator for this 90 minute event, which is taking place before an audience here in the Athletic Complex on the campus of Washington University in st. Louis, missouri. Three journalists will be asking questions tonight. They are john mashek of the boston globe, ann compton of abc news and sander vanocur, a freelance jo
Building infrastructure over the next ten years. Its not easy to do if you dont have to pick up a 30 million tab to defend your country. The European Community is in a position to pay a lot more than they have in the past. I agree with the president. And for us to bring the money back and here and we can only be a super power if were an economic superpower. One minute, sir. I agree with the general statement. I disagree we need 150,000 troops to fulfill our role in europe. We must maintain an engagement there. Theres dangers there. Theres other trouble spots in the world, which are closer to europe than the United States. But two former defense secretaries recently issued reports saying that 100,000 or slightly fewer troop troops would be enough. We have to do things that are costly and i dont believe nor do we need to keep 150,000 troops in europe given how much the red army under the control of russia has been cut. The arms control agreement concluded between mr. Push. I dont think w
Tonights 90 minute debate coming from the university of richmond in richmond, virginia. Tonights program is unlike any other president ial debate in history. Were making history now and its pretty exciting. An independent polling firm has selected an audience of 209 uncommitted voters from this area. The candidates will be asked questions by these voters on a topic of their choosing. Anything they want to ask about. My job as moderator is to, you know, take care of the questioning, ask questions myself if i think there needs to be continuity and balance, and sometimes i might ask the candidates to respond to what another candidate may have said. Now, the format has been agreed to by representatives of both the republican and democratic campaigns. And there is no subject matter that is restricted. Anything goes. We can ask anything. After the debate the candidates will have an opportunity to make a closing statement. So president bush, i think you said it earlier, lets get it on. Lets g
Republican nominee, president george bush. The independent, ross perot. And governor bill clinton, the democratic nominee. My name is Carol Simpson and i will be the moderator for tonights 90minute debate which is coming to you from the campus of the university of richmond in richmond, virginia. Now tonights program is unlike any other president ial debate in history. Were making history now and its pretty exciting. An independent polling firm has selected an audience of 209 uncommitted voters from this area. The candidates will be asked questions by these voters on a topic of their choosing, anything they want to ask about. My job as moderator is to, you know, take care of the questioning, ask questions myself if i think there needs to be continuity and balance and sometimes i might ask the president to respond to what another candidate may have said. The format has been agreed to by representatives of both the republican and democratic campaigns. And there is no subject matter that i