Nielsen ratings for first

presidential debate

Traditional TV only, 1976 to 2020

Year

Candidates

Viewership

Trump/Biden

73.1m

2020

Trump/H. Clinton

84.0

2016

Romney/Obama

67.2

2012

McCain/Obama

52.4

2008

W. Bush/Kerry

62.5

2004

W. Bush/Gore

46.6

2000

Dole/B. Clinton

36.1

1996

62.4

H.W. Bush/B. Clinton/Perot

1992

H.W. Bush/Dukakis

65.1

1988

Reagan/Mondale

65.1

1984

Reagan/Carter

80.6

1980

Ford/Carter

69.7

1976

Nielsen ratings for first

presidential debate

Traditional TV only, 1976 to 2020

Year

Candidates

Viewership

Trump/Biden

73.1m

2020

Trump/H. Clinton

84.0

2016

Romney/Obama

67.2

2012

McCain/Obama

52.4

2008

W. Bush/Kerry

62.5

2004

W. Bush/Gore

46.6

2000

Dole/B. Clinton

36.1

1996

62.4

H.W. Bush/B. Clinton/Perot

1992

H.W. Bush/Dukakis

65.1

1988

Reagan/Mondale

65.1

1984

Reagan/Carter

80.6

1980

Ford/Carter

69.7

1976

Nielsen ratings for first presidential debate

Traditional TV only, 1976 to 2020

Year

Candidates

Viewership

Trump/Biden

73.1m

2020

Trump/H. Clinton

84.0

2016

Romney/Obama

67.2

2012

McCain/Obama

52.4

2008

W. Bush/Kerry

62.5

2004

W. Bush/Gore

46.6

2000

Dole/B. Clinton

36.1

1996

62.4

H.W. Bush/B. Clinton/Perot

1992

H.W. Bush/Dukakis

65.1

1988

Reagan/Mondale

65.1

1984

Reagan/Carter

80.6

1980

Ford/Carter

69.7

1976

Nielsen ratings for first presidential debate

Traditional TV only, 1976 to 2020

Year

Candidates

Viewership

Trump/Biden

73.1m

2020

Trump/H. Clinton

84.0

2016

Romney/Obama

67.2

2012

McCain/Obama

52.4

2008

W. Bush/Kerry

62.5

2004

W. Bush/Gore

46.6

2000

Dole/B. Clinton

36.1

1996

62.4

H.W. Bush/B. Clinton/Perot

1992

H.W. Bush/Dukakis

65.1

1988

Reagan/Mondale

65.1

1984

Reagan/Carter

80.6

1980

Ford/Carter

69.7

1976