Race for the White House Activities
Students will be asked to complete six activities,
one for each episode pertaining to each particular election.
The First Televised Presidential Debate
Photos: American family, © Getty Images; Abraham Lincoln, Courtesy of Library of Congress; 1988 presidential debate, © AP Images; Harry S. Truman, © AP Images.
Episode: “John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon” (1960)
➤A
sk: What are some ways a candidate can be convincing or appealing
to voters? What are some ways to keep a person on the offensive?
➤ On September 26, 1960, about 70 million Americans tuned in to watch
Kennedy and Nixon in the first televised presidential debate. Millions
of others listened to the debate on the radio. Divide students into two
groups. Have one group view an excerpt of the debate online at
bit.ly/1PYdKVb. Have the other group listen to the exchange. Ask each
group which candidate won the debate and why. Did the two groups
come to different conclusions? Discuss as a class why some historians
say television dictated the outcome of the 1960 election.
A Speech About Slavery Leads to a Seat at the White House
Episode: “Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen A. Douglas” (1860)
➤ Ask: What were some of the key issues in the United States in 1860? What role did strategy
play in the campaign? What tactics were employed by Lincoln’s campaign? Were they
effective? Explain.
➤ Some historians say Lincoln’s speech at Cooper Union in New York City paved the way to his
presidency. Have students listen to actor Sam Waterston deliver the speech at Cooper Union
(bit.ly/1Rm82jo, beginning at 1:27:51). Have students follow the speech while reading the
transcript, available at bit.ly/1REvysa. Ask students to listen for the speech’s three major points
and its conclusion. Ask: Would such a speech be as effective today? Why or why not?
Television Advertising Hits the Campaign Trail
Episode: “George H. W. Bush vs. Michael Dukakis” (1988)
➤ Ask: What role did television ads play in this race? How might the campaign
have been different without television advertisements—and without “negative
campaigning” in particular? Why did the “Willie Horton” ad resonate with
American voters at the time?
➤ Divide students into two groups, one for Michael Dukakis, the other for
George H. W. Bush. Have each group create a positive ad for its candidate—
and a negative ad for its opponent. Use evidence from Race for the White
House to create the ads.
Trains, False Claims, and the Polls
Episode: “Harry S. Truman vs. Thomas E. Dewey” (1948)
➤ Ask: What did public opinion polls indicate about the potential outcome
of the election? Did the polls contribute to Truman’s victory—if so, how?
Would a “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline be as shocking today? Why
or why not?
➤ Have students create a social media campaign for Truman using primary
sources as well as techniques employed along his Whistle Stop Tour.
(Continued on back page)
Race for the White House debuts Sunday, March 6, 2016, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The series will regularly air Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CNN. #RaceForWH
Race for the White House Activities
Race for the White
House Reporter’s Notebook
Students will be asked to complete six activities,
one for each episode pertaining to each particular election.
(Continued from previous page)
Jackson’s Victory Ushers in the Two-Party System
EpisodE: “Andrew Jackson vs. John Quincy Adams” (1828)
➤A
sk: How did the Jackson and Adams race lead to the formation of the modern
two-party system in place today? Did winning the popular vote—yet losing the
electoral vote—against John Quincy Adams in 1824 affect Andrew Jackson’s
campaign strategy against Adams in 1828?
➤H
ave students create a timeline of US political parties leading up to the
1828 election. Ask: What events led to the creation of the Democratic
Party? What role did Martin Van Buren play in the election?
A Third-Party Candidate Enters the First
Town Hall Debate
Episode: “William J. Clinton vs. George H. W. Bush” (1992)
➤A
sk: What role did third-party candidate Ross Perot play in the
campaign? How did he affect the race’s outcome? Why might
third-party candidates have an impact on some elections but not others?
➤ The format for the 1992 debates varied and included the first town
hall–style debate in presidential history. What are some of the pros and
cons of this format? How did this format work to Clinton’s advantage?
Reporter’s Notepad: Research, Watch, and Analyze
In which year does the election take place?
Who are the major candidates?
List some of the important issues in the campaign.
What is each candidate’s stance on the issues?
List each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.
Do the candidates convey their messages to potential voters?
Do the media help or harm each candidate?
How does this campaign differ from prior presidential campaigns?
What impact will this campaign have on future elections?
scholastic.com/raceforthewhitehouse
Photos: Vote ballot, © Thinkstock; 1992 presidential debate, © AP Images.
Write the answers to the questions on a separate sheet of paper as you research each election and watch
each episode on television. The first episode airs on CNN Sunday, March 6, 2016, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.