University of Montana journalism professor Lee Banville has a timely new multi-media book out called “Debating our Destiny: Presidential Debate Moments That Shaped History,” featuring interviews with former presidents and candidates, debate moderators and historians. Banville worked many years for the PBS Newshour, along with the moderator of tonight’s presidential debate, Jim Lehrer. In this feature interview, Banville talks with News Director Sally Mauk about whether the debates matter – and what to look for in the first Obama-Romney debate. Banville says the book grew out of a television documentary…
i originated the idea of presidential debates with the personal endorsement of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. At the time some judged my idea as an anchronism, yet i persued and received the help of the Associated Press and uPI so that i introduced the conversation where before there was none, It led to the first debate, See more on NPR All Things Considered, September 30, 2012. and many other media venues such as The Washington Post, September 30, 2012, WUSA, Octobwer 1, 2012 and Huspanic Noticias, October 13, 2012 as well as aericles in The Bethesda and Washingtonian Magazines, eyxc. I am soon to be 80 years old, My mname is Fred A. Kahn