sometimes people scan a print document and place the scanned image in a PDF
file. OCR software can scan the PDF and produce a machine-readable text
document. For those interested in the results of such a scan, I paste in
below such a document. It was scanned using Open book 6.01 with the fine
reader scanning engine. It is the memorandum of understanding agreed to by
George W. Bush and John Kerry on how the presidential debates will be
conducted. Neither campaign would release to the public a copy of this
memo. the Washington Post obtained a print copy from an anonymous source,
scanned it, and placed it on their website for the world.
Kelly
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding constitutes an
agreement between Kerry-Edwards, '04, Inc. and Bush-Cheney, '04,
Inc. (the "campaigns'1) regarding the rules that will govern
debates in v/hich the campaigns participate in 2004. This
agreement shall be binding upon the Bush-Cheney and Kerry-Edwards
Campaigns and, provided it agrees to sponsor the debates by
executing this agreement on or before September 22, 2004, upon
the Commission on Presidential Debates {the "Commission").
1. Number, Dates, Time, Locations, Topics
(a) Presidential Debates
Date Location
Thursday, September 30 University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida
Friday, October 8 Washington University in
St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri
Wednesday, October 13 Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
(b) Vice Presidential Debate
Date Location
Tuesday, October 5 Case Western Reserve
University Cleveland/ Ohio
(c) Each debate shall begin at 9 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
(d) The parties agree that they will not (1) issue any
challenges for additional debates, (2) appear at
any other debate or adversarial forum with any
other presidential or vice presidential
candidate, or (3) accept any television or radio air
time offers that Involve a debate format or otherwise
involve the simultaneous appearance of more than
one candidate.
(e) The topic of the September 30 debate shall be foreign
policy and homeland security. The topic of the October
13 debate shall be economic and domestic policy. The
October 5 vice presidential debate and the October 8
presidential debate shall not be limited by topic and
shall Include an equal number of questions related to
foreign policy and homeland security on the one hand
and economic and domestic policy on the other.
2. Sponsorship
The two campaigns will participate in four debates
sponsored by the Commission. However, If the Commission fails to
execute this agreement on or before September 22, 2004, the two
campaigns shall each have the option of terminating this
agreement, or by agreement between them, seeking other sponsors
for some or all of the proposed debates. The parties agree that
the Commission's Nonpartisan Candidate Selection Criteria for
2004 General Election Debate Participation shall apply in
determining the candidates to be invited to participate in these debates.
3. Participants
If one or more candidates from campaigns other than
the two (2) signatories is invited to participate pursuant to
those Selection Criteria, those candidates shall be included in
the debates, if those candidates accept the terms of this
agreement. Any modifications to this agreement must be agreed
upon by each of the signatories to this agreement as well as all
other candidates selected to join the debate T
4. Moderator
(a) Each debate will have a single moderator,
(b) The parties have accepted the CommissionT s
recommendations of the below listed moderators,
provided that each proposed moderator executes a copy
of this agreement at least seven (7) days prior to the
debate that individual is to moderate in order to
evidence his or her understanding and acceptance of,
and agreement to, the provisions hereof pertaining to
moderators. If any proposed moderator fails to
execute a copy of this agreement at least seven (7)
days prior to the proposed date of the debate he or
she is to moderate, the two campaigns will agree upon
arid select a different individual to moderate that debate:
i) Jim Lehrer for the first presidential debate,
September 30, 2004 at the University of Miami;
ii) Charles Gibson for the second presidential
debate, October 8, 2004 at Washington University
in St. Louis;
ill) Bob Schieffer for the third presidential debate,
October 13, 2004 at Arizona State University, and;
iv) Gwen Ifill for the vice presidential debate,
October 5, 2004 at the Case Western Reserve University,
5, Rules Applicable to All Debates
The following rules shall apply to each of the four debates;
(a) Each debate shall last for ninety (90) minutes,
(b) For each debate there shall be no opening statements,
but each candidate may make a two (2) minute closing statement.
(c) No props, notes, charts, diagrams, or other writings
or other tangible things may be brought into the
debate by any candidate, Neither candidate may
reference or cite any specific individual sitting in a
debate audience at any time during a debate. If a
candidate references or cites any specific
individual(s) in a debate audience, or if a candidate
uses a prop, note, or other writing or other tangible
thing during a debate, the moderator must interrupt
and explain that reference or citation to the specific
individual(s) or the use of the prop, note, or other
writing or thing violates the debate rules agreed to
by that candidate.
(d) Notwithstanding subparagraph 5 (c), the candidates may
take notes during the debate on the size, color, and
type of paper each prefers and using the type of pen
or pencil that each prefers. Each candidate must
submit to the staff of the Commission prior to the
debate all such paper and any pens or pencils with
which a candidate may wish to take notes during the
debate, and the staff of the Commission will place
such paper, pens, and pencils on the podium, table, or
other structure to be used by the candidate in that debate„
(e) Neither film footage nor video footage nor any audio
excerpts from the debates may be used publicly by
either candidate's campaign through any means/
including but not limited to, radio, television,
internet, or videotapes, whether broadcast or
distributed in any other manner.
(f) The candidates may not ask each other direct
questions, but may ask rhetorical questions.
(g) The order of questioning and closing statements shall
be determined as follows:
(i) The Commission will conduct a coin toss at
least seventy-two (72) hours before the first
presidential debate. At that time, the winner of
the coin toss shall have the option of choosing.
for the September 30 debate, either (a) whether
to take the first or second question, or (b)
whether to give the first or second closing
statement* h.t that time, the loser of the
coin toss will have the choice of question
order or closing statement order not exercised
by the winner of the coin toss - For the
October 8 debate, the loser of the coin toss
shall have the option of choosing either (a)
whether to take the first or second question,
or (b) whether to give the first or second
closing statement, with the winner of the coin
toss having the choice of question order or
closing statement not exercised by the loser
of the coin toss * The Commission shall set a
time at least seventytwo (72) hours before the
October 8 debate at which the candidates shall
make their choices for that debate.
(ii) For the October 13 debate, the order of
questioning and closing statements shall be
determined by a separate coin toss in the same
manner as the September 30 debate, to take
place at least seventy-two (72) hours before the
debate *
(in) The order of questioning and closing
statements for the October 5 vice presidential
debate shall be determined by a separate coin
toss in the same manner as for the September 30
. debate, to take place at least seventy-two (72)
hours before the debate.
(h) Each candidate shall determine the manner by which he
prefers to be addressed by the moderator and shall
communicate this to the Commission, at least forty
eight (48) hours before the September 30 debate.
(i) Whether or not a debate runs beyond the planned ending
time, each candidate shall be entitled to make a
closing statement in accordance with subparagraph (b).
The Commission shall use its best efforts to ensure
that the TV networks carry the entire debate even if
it runs past the specified ending time.
(j) No question shall be asked of a candidate by the
moderator if less than six (6) minutes remain in the
scheduled time of the debate.
(k) The candidates shall not address each other with
proposed pledges.
(1) In each debate, the moderator shall:
(i) open and close the debate and enforce all time
limits. In each instance where a candidate
exceeds the permitted time for comment, the
moderators shall interrupt and remind both the
candidate and the audience of the expiration of
the time limit and call upon such candidate to
observe the strict time limits which have been
agreed upon herein by s tat ing, "I am sorry,,,
[Senator Kerry or President Bush as the case may
be] ,„ your time is up";
(II) use his or her best efforts to ensure that the
questions are reasonably well balanced In all
debates and within the designated subject matter
areas of the September 30 and October 13 debates
in terms of addressing a wide range of issues of
major public interest facing the United States
and the world;
(ill) vary the topics on which he or she questions
the candidates and ensure that the topics of
the questions are fairly apportioned between
the candidates;
(iv) use best efforts to ensure that the two
candidates speak for approximately equal
amounts of time during the course of each
debate, and;
(v) use any reasonable method to ensure that the
agreed-upon format Is followed by the
candidates and the audience.
6. Additional Rules Applicable to 30 and October 13
Debates
For the September 30 and October 13 debates, the
candidates will appear at podiums. The September 30 and October
13 debates shall be governed by the rules set forth in section 5
and the following additional rules:
(a) There shall be no audience participation in the
September 30 and October 13 debates. After the start of each
debate and in the event of and in each instance whereby an
audience member (s) attempts to participate in the debate by any
means thereafter, the moderator shall instruct the audience to
refrain from any participation in the debates as described in
section 9(a)(viii) below. The moderator shall direct the first
question to the candidate determined by the procedure set forth
in subparagraph 5(g). The candidate receiving the question shall
be entitled to give an opening response not to exceed two (2)
minutes, and thereafter the other candidate shall be permitted to
comment on the question and/or the first candidatef s answer for
up to one and one-half (1*5) minutes. Thereafter the moderator in
his discretion may extend the discussion for a period of time not
to exceed sixty (60) seconds, but the moderator shall begin each
such discussion by calling upon the candidate who first received
the question. To the extent that the moderator opens extended
discussion, the moderator shall use best efforts to ensure that
each candidate has a maximum of approximately thirty (30) seconds
to comment in the extended discussion period.
(b) The moderator shall then ask a question of the other
candidate, and the answer, comments by the other
candidate, and extension of discussion by the
moderator shall be conducted as set out in paragraph
6(a) above for the first question. Thereafter the
moderator shall follow the procedure in paragraph 6(a)
above by asking a question of the first candidate and
shall continue with questions of the candidates in
rotation until the time for closing statements occurs.
(c) During the extended discussion of a question, no
candidate may speak for more than thirty (30) seconds,
(d) The moderator shall manage the debate so that the
candidates address at least sixteen (16) questions.
(e) At no time during these debates shall either candidate
move from their designated area behind their
respective podiums.
7. Additional Rules Applicable to October 8
The October 8 debate will be conducted in an audience
participation ("town hall11) format. This debate shall be
governed by the rules set forth in section 5 and the following
additional rules:
(a) There shall be no audience participation in the
October 8 debate other than as described below. Other
than an audience member asking a question as
permitted by this section, at the start of the October
8 debate and in the event of and in each instance
whereby an audience member(s) attempts to participate
in the debate by any means thereafter,- the
moderator shall instruct the audience to refrain from
10
any participation in the debate as described in
section 9{a)(viii) below. The moderator shall
facilitate audience members in asking questions to
each of the candidates, beginning with the candidate
determined by the procedure set forth in subparagraph
5{h). The candidate to whom the question is initially
directed shall have up to two (2) minutes to respond,
after which the other candidate shall have up to one
and one-half (1J^) minutes to respond to the question
and/or to comment on the first candidater s answer.
Thereafter, the moderator, in his or her discretion,
may extend the discussion of that question for sixty
(60) seconds, but the moderator shall begin each such
discussion by calling upon the candidate who first
received the question. The moderator shall balance
additional discussion of the question with the
Interest In addressing a wide range of topics during
the debate. To the extent that the moderator opens
extended discuss ion, the moderator shall use best
efforts to ensure that each candidate has a maximum of
approximately thirty (30) seconds to continent in the
extended discussion period,
(b) After completion of the discussion of the first
questIon, the moderator shall call upon an audience
member to direct a question to the candidate to whom
the first question was not directed, and follow the
11
procedure outlined in paragraph 7(a) above.
Thereafter, the moderator shall follow the procedures
in this paragraph by calling upon another audience
member to ask a question of the first candidate and
shall continue facilitating questions of the
candidates in rotation until the time for closing
statements occurs.
(c) During the extended discussion of a question, no
candidate may speak for more than thirty (30) seconds.
(d) The audience members shall not ask follow-up questions
or otherwise participate in the extended discuss ion,
and the audience member's microphone shall be turned
off after he or she completes asking the question.
(e) Prior to the start of the debate, audience members
will be asked to submit their questions in writing to
the moderator. No third party, including both the
Commission and the campaigns, shall be permitted to
see the questions. The moderator shall approve and
select all questions to be posed by the audience
members to the candidates. The moderator shall ensure
that the audience members pose to the candidates an
equal number of questions on foreign policy and
homeland security on the one hand and economic and
domestic policy on the other. The moderator will
further review the questions and eliminate any
questions that the moderator deems inappropriate. At
12
least seven (7) days before the October 8 debate the
moderator shall develop, and describe to the
campaigns, a method for selecting questions at random
while assuring that questions are reasonably well
balanced in terms of addressing a wide range of issues
of major public interest facing the United States and
the world. Each question selected will be asked by the
audience member submitting that question. If any
audience member poses a question or makes a statement
that is in any material way different than the
question that the audience member earlier submitted to
the moderator for review, the moderator will cut-off
the questioner and advise the audience that such non-
reviewed questions are not permitted. Moreover, the
Commission shall take appropriate steps to cut-off the
microphone of any such audience member that attempts
to pose any question or statement different than that
previously posed to the moderator for review.
;f) The debate will take place before a live audience of
between 100 and 150 persons who shall be seated and
who describe themselves as likely voters who are
"soft" Bush supporters or "soft" Kerry supporters as
to their 2004 presidential vote. The number of "soft"
Bush supporters shall equal the number of "soft" Kerry
supporters in the audience. The moderator shall
ensure that an equal number of "soft" Bush supporters
13
and "soft" Kerry supporters pose questions to the
candidates. These participants will be selected by
the Gallup organization ("Gallup"). Gallup shall have
responsibility for selecting the nationally
demographically representative group of voters. At
least fourteen (14) days prior to October 8, Gallup
shall provide a comprehensive briefing on the
selection methodology to the campaigns, and both the
Kerry-Edwards Campaign and the Bush-Cheney Campaign
shall approve the methodology. Either campaign may
raise objections on the methodology to Gallup and to
the Commission within twenty-four (24) hours of the briefing.
(g) Participants selected shall not be contacted directly
or indirectly by the campaigns before the debate, The
Commission shall not contact the participants before
the debate other than for logistical purposes.
8, Additional Rules Applicable to October 5
For the October 5 vice presidential debate, the
candidates will be seated at a table with the moderator. This
debate shall be governed by the rules set forth in sections 5 and
6. There shall be no audience participation in the October 5
vice presidential debate, At the start of the October 5 debate
and in the event of and in each instance whereby an audience
member(s) attempts to participate in the debate by any means
thereafter, the moderator shall instruct the audience to refrain
14
from any participation in the debate as described in section
9(a)(vlii) below.
9. Staging
(a) The following rules apply to each of the four debates;
(I) All staging arrangements for the debates not
specifically addressed In this agreement shall
be jointly addressed by representatives of the
two campaigns.
(ii) The Commission will conduct a coin toss at least
seventy-two hours before the September 30 debate.
At that time, the winner of the coin toss shall
have the option of choosing stage position for
the September 30 debate; The loser of the coin
toss will have first choice of stage position for
the October 8 debate. The loser of the coin toss
or his representative shall communicate his
choice by written facsimile to the Commission and
to the other campaign at least seventy-two (72)
hours before the October 8 debate. The stage
position for the October 13 debate will be
determined by a coin toss to take place at least
seventy-two (72) hours before the debate. The
stage position for the October 5 vice
presidential debate will be determined by a
separate coin toss to take place at least
seventy-two (72) hours before the debate.
15
(Hi) For the September 30, October 8, and October 13
debates, the candidates shall enter the stage
upon a verbal cue by the moderator after the
program goes on the air, proceed to center stagef
shake hands, and proceed directly to their
positions behind their podiums or their stools in
the case of the October 8 debate. For the October
5 vice presidential debate, the candidates shall
be pre-positioned before the program goes on the
air, and immediately after the program goes on
the air the candidates shall shake hands.
(iv) Except as provided in subparagraph (d) (viii)of
this paragraph 9, TV cameras will be locked into
place during all debates. They may, however, tilt
or rotate as needed.
(v) Except as provided in subparagraph (d)(viii),
TV coverage during the question and answer
period shall be limited to shots of the
candidates or moderator and in no case shall
any television shots be taken of any member of
the audience (including candidates' family
members) from the time the first question Is
asked until the conclusion of the closing
statements. When a candidate Is speaking,
either in answering a question or making his
closing statement, TV coverage will be limited
16
to the candidate speaking. There will be no
TV cut-aways to any candidate who is not
responding to a question while another
candidate is answering a question or to a
candidate who is not giving a closing
statement while another candidate is doing so.
(vi) The camera located at the rear of the stage
shall be used only to take shots of the moderator.
(vii) For each debate each candidate shall have camera-
mounted, timing lights corresponding to the
timing system described in section 9(b)(vi) below
positioned in his line of sight. For each debate
additional timing lights, corresponding to the
timing system described in section 9 (b) (vi)
below, shall be placed such that they are visible
to the debate audiences and television viewers.
(viii) All members of the debate audiences will be
instructed by the moderator before the debate
goes on the air and by the moderator after the
debate goes on the air not to applaud, speak, or
otherwise participate in the debate by any means
other than by silent observation, except as
provided by the agreed upon rules of the October
8 town hall debate. In the event of and in each
17
instance whereby an audience member(s) attempts
to participate in a debate by any means, the
moderator shall instruct the audience to refrain
from any participation. The moderator shall use
his or her best efforts to enforce this provision.
(ix) The Commission shall use best efforts to
maintain an appropriate temperature according
to industry standards for the entire debate.
(x) Each candidate shall be permitted to have a
complete, private production and technical
briefing and walk-through ("Briefing") at the
location of the debate on the day of the debate.
The order of the Briefing shall be determined by
agreement or, failing candidate agreement, a coin
flip. Each candidate will have a maximum of one
(1) hour for this Briefing, Production lock-down
will not occur for any candidate unless that
candidate has had his Briefing. There will be no
filming, taping, photography, or recording of any
kind (except by that candidate's personal
photographer) allowed during the candidatesr
Briefing, No media will be allowed into the
auditorium where the debate will take place
during a candidate1s Briefing, All persons,
including but not limited to the media, other
18
candidates and their representativesf and the
employees or other agents of the Commission,
other than those necessary to conduct the
Briefing, shall vacate the debate site while a
candidate has his Briefing, The Commission
will provide to each candidater s representatives
a written statement and plan which describes the
measures to be taken by the Commission to ensure
the complete privacy of all Briefings,
(xi) The color and style of the backdrop will be
recommended by the Commission and mutually
determined by representatives of the
campaigns. The Commission shall make its
recommendation known to the campaigns at least
seventy-two (72) hours before each debate.
The backdrops behind each candidate shall be identical.
(xii) The set will be completed and lit no later
than 3 p.m. at the debate site on the day
before the debate will occur.
(xiii) Each candidate may use his own makeup personf
and adequate facilities shall be provided at
the debate site for makeup,
(xiv) In addition to Secret Service personnel, the
President's military aide, and the President's
physician and the Vice President's military aide
19
and the Vice President's physician, each
candidate will be permitted to have one (1} pre-
designated staff member in the wings or in the
immediate backstage area during the debate at a
location to be mutually agreed upon by
representatives of the campaigns at each site.
All other staff must vacate the wings or
immediate backstage areas no later than five (5)
minutes before the debate commences. A PL phone
line will be provided between each candidate's
staff work area and the producer.
(xv) Other than security personnel not more than
two (2) aides will accompany each candidate on
the stage before the program begins.
(xvi) Each candidate shall be allowed to have one
(1) professional still photographer present on
the stage before the debate begins and in the
wings during the debate as desired and on
the stage Immediately upon the conclusion of
the debate. No photos shall be taken from the
wings by these photographers during the
debate. Photos taken by these photographers
may be distributed to the press as determined
by each candidate.
(b) In addition to the rules in subparagraph (a) the
20
following rules apply to the September 30 and October
13 debates:
(i) The Commission shall construct the podiums
and each shall be identical to view from the
audience side. The podiums shall measure
fifty (50) inches from the stage floor
to the outside top of the podium facing the
audience and shall measure forty-eight (48)
inches from the stage floor to the top of the
inside podium writing surface facing the
respective candidates, and otherwise shall be
constructed in the style and specifications
recommended by the Commission, shown in
attachment A. There shall be no writings or
markings of any kind on the fronts of the
podiums* No candidate shall be permitted to use
risers or any other device to create an
impression of elevated height, and no candidate
shall be permitted to use chairs, stools, or
other seating devices during the debate.
(ii) Each podium shall have installed a fixed
hardwired microphone, and an identical microphone
to be used as backup per industry standards.
(in) The podiums will be equally canted toward the
center of the stage at a degree to be
determined by the Commission's producer. The
21
podiums shall be ten (10) feet apart; such
distance shall be measured from the left-right
center of a podium to the left-right center of
the other podium.
(iv) The moderator will be seated at a table so as
to be positioned in front, between, and
equidistant from the candidates, and between
the cameras to which the candidates direct
their answers.
(v) As soon as possible, the Commission shall
submit for joint consultation with the
campaigns a diagram for camera placement.
(vi) At least seven (7) days before the September 30
debate the Commission shall recommend a systemf
to be used as a model for each successive debate,
of visible and audible time cues and placement
subject to approval by both campaigns. Such a
system shall be comprised of camera mounted
timing lights placed in the line of sight of each
candidate and additional timing lights that are
clearly visible to both the debate audiences and
television viewers. Time cues in the form of
colored lights will be given to the candidates
and the moderator when there are thirty (30)
seconds remaining, fifteen (15) seconds
remaining, and five (5) seconds remaining,
22
respectively for the two (2) minute, one and one-
half (Ik) minute, and sixty (60) second response
times permitted under section 6 (a). Pursuant to
Section 5(1)(i) the moderators shall enforce the
strict time limits described In this agreement.
The Commission shall provide for an audible cue
announcing the end of time for each of the
candidate's responses, rebuttals and rejoinder
time periods to be used in the event the
moderator {s) fail to take action to enforce the
strict time limits described in this Agreement,
The audible cue shall be clearly audible to both
Candidates, the debate audiences and television
viewers. The Commission shall commence the use
of the audible cue and continue its use through
the conclusion of any debate where a moderator
fails to take the action described in Section
5(1)(i) after two (2) instances in which either
candidate has exceeded the time for responses,
rebuttals, or rejoinders described in this
Agreement *
(c) In addition to the rules in subparagraph (a), the
following rules apply to the October 5 vice
presidential debate:
(i) The Commission shall construct the table
according to the style and specifications
23
proposed by the Commission in consultation
with each campaign. The moderator shall be
facing the candidates with his or her back to
the audience,
(ii) The chairs shall be swivel chairs that can be
locked in place, and shall be of equal height.
(in) Each candidate and the moderator shall have a
wireless lapel microphone, and an identical
microphone to be used as a backup per industry standards.
(iv) At least seven (7) days before the October 5
debate the Commission shall recommend a system
of time cues and placement subject to approval
by both campaigns and consistent with the visual
and audible time cues described in section
9(b) (vi) .
(v) As soon as possible, the Commission shall
submit for joint consultation with each
campaign a diagram for camera placement.
(vi) The candidates shall remain seated throughout
the debate,
(d) In addition to the rules in subparagraph (a), the
following rules apply to the October 8 debate:
(i) The candidates shall be seated on stools
before the audience, which shall be seated in
approximately a horseshoe arrangement as
24
symmetrically as possible around the
candidates * The precise staging arrangement
will be determined by the Commission's
producer subject to the approval of
representatives of both campaigns.
(ii) The stools shall be identical and have backs
and a footrest and shall be approved by the
candidates' representatives.
(in) Each candidate shall have a place to put a
glass of water and paper and pens or pencils
for taking notes (in accordance with
subparagraph 5(d)) of sufficient height to
allow note taking while sitting on the stool,
and which shall be designed by the Commission,
subject to the approval of representatives of
both campaigns.
(iv) Each candidate may move about in a predesignated
area, as proposed by the Commission
in consultation with each campaign, and may
not leave that area while the debate is underway,
The pre-designated areas of the candidates may
not overlap.
(v) Each candidate shall have a choice of either
wireless hand held microphone or wireless
lapel microphone to allow him to move about as
provided for in subparagraph (iv) above and to
25
face different directions while responding to
questions from the audience.
(vi) As soon as possible, the Commission shall
submit for joint consultation by the campaigns
a diagram for camera placement,
(vii) At least seven (7) days before the October 8
debate the Commission shall recommend a system
of time cues subject to approval by both
campaigns, and consistent with the visual and
audible cues described in sections 9(b)(vi),
(viii) Notwithstanding sections 9(a)(iv) and
9(a)(v) a roving camera may be used for shots
of an audience member only during the time
that audience member is asking a question.
(ix) Prior to the start of the debate neither the
moderator nor any other person shall engage in a
^warm up" session with the audience by engaging
in a question or answer session or by delivering
preliminary remarks.
10, Ticket Distribution and Seating Arrangements
(a) The Commission shall be responsible for printing and
ensuring security of all tickets to all debates. Each
campaign shall be entitled to receive directly from
the Commission one-third of the available tickets
(excluding those allocated to the participating
audience in the October 8 debate), with the remaining
26
one-third going to the Commission.
(b) In the audience participation debate, the
participating audience shall be separated from any
nonparticipating audience, and steps shall be taken to
ensure that the participating audience is admitted to
the debate site without contact with the campaigns,
the mediaf or the nonparticipating audience.
(c) The Commission shall allocate tickets to the two (2)
campaigns in such a manner to ensure that supporters
of each candidate are interspersed with supporters of
the other candidate. For the September 30, October 5,
and October 13 debates, the family members of each
candidate shall be seated in the front row, diagonally
across from the candidate directly in his line of site
while seated or standing at the podium. For the
October 8 debate, the family members of each
candidate shall be seated as mutually agreed by
representatives of the campaigns.
(d) Any media seated in the auditorium shall be
accommodated only in the last two (2) rows of the
auditorium farthest from the stage. Two (2) still
photo stands may be positioned near either side of the
television camera stands located in the audience. (A
media center with all necessary feeds will be
otherwise available,)
(e) Tickets will be delivered by the Commission to the
27
chairman of each candidate's campaign or his
designated representative by 12:00 noon on the day
preceding each debate. The Commission will invite
from its allotment (two (2) tickets each) an agreed
upon list of officeholders such as the U.S.
Senate and House Majority and Minority Leaders, the
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State holding
the debate, an appropriate list of other public
officials and the President of the University
sponsoring the debate. The Commission shall not favor
one candidate over the other in the distribution of
its allotment of tickets.
11. Dressing Rooms/Holding Rooms
(a) Each candidate shall have a dressing room available of
adequate size so as to provide private seclusion for
that candidate and adequate space for the staff the
candidate desires to have in this area. The two (2)
dressing rooms shall be comparable in size and in
quality and in proximity and access to the debate stage.
(b) An equal number of other backstage rooms will be
available for other staff members of each candidate *
Each candidate shall have a minimum of eight (8) such
rooms, five (5) of which shall be in the debate
facility itself, and three (3) of which shall be
located next to the press center. The rooms located
28
next to the media center shall be located so that each
campaign has equal proximity and ease of access to the
media center. Each of the eight (8) rooms shall be a
minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet. All of these rooms
shall be furnished as deemed necessary by the
candidates' representatives, Each candidatef s rooms
shall be reasonably segregated from those designated
for the other candidate. If sufficient space to
accommodate the above needs is not available at a
particular debate facility/ the Commission shall
provide trailers or alternative space mutually
agreeable to the candidatesf representatives» Space
that is comparable in terms' of size, location, and
quality shall be provided to the two campaigns. These
rooms shall be made available at least seventy-two
(72) hours in advance of the beginning of each debate.
Each campaign may, at its own cost, rent one or more
additional trailers so long as the Commission and
authorities responsible for traffic and security do
not object*
(c) The number of individuals allowed in these rooms or
trailers shall be determined by each candidate. The
Commission shall issue backstage passes (if needed) to
the candidatesr representatives as requested.
(d) The Commission shall provide each candidate with a
direct television feed from the production truck to
29
two (2) monitors placed In the candidate's dressing
room and staff holding rooms as requested by the
candidatesf representatives. In addition, the
Commission shall provide at least one (1) additional
functioning TV set for each of the eight (8) rooms,
12. Media
(a) Each candidate will receive not fewer than thirty (30)
press passes for the Media Center during the debate
and more if mutually agreed upon by the campaigns,
(b) Each candidate will be allowed to have an unlimited
number of people in the Media Center upon the
conclusion of the debate.
(c) The Commission will be responsible for all media credentialing.
13. Survey Research
The sponsor of the debates agrees that it shall
not, prior to two days after the Presidential
Inauguration of 2005, release publicly or to the media
or otherwise make publicly available any survey
research (including polls or focus group results or
data) concerning the performance of the candidates in
the debate or the preferences of the individuals
surveyed for either candidate.
14. Complete Agreement
This memorandum of understanding constitutes the
entire agreement between the parties concerning the debates In
30
which the campaigns will participate in 2004.
15. Amendments
This Agreement will not be changed or amended except
in writing signed by those persons who signed this Agreement or
their designees.
16. Ratification and Acknowledgement
The undersigned moderators selected by the Commission
agree to the terms contained herein and agree to fulfill their
responsibilities as described in the Agreement.
31
Agreed and Accepted:
Bush-Cheney f 04, Inc.
r
B^: A*
Printed Name: _«2M. Title: £•*
*V««JR a. M«*4««»
a.»j»y» M»n*a«^
Executed on September
IjO
, 2004
Executed on September "^Jy^x , 2004
The Commission on Presidential Debates
By:
Printed I^ame:
Title:
Executed on September
, 2004
The provisions hereof pertaining to moderators are understood, agreed to and
accepted:
Jim Lehrer
Charles Gibson
Bob Schieffer
Gwen Ifill
[Date Executed)
(Date Executed)
[Date Executed)
[Date Executed)
32
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