What was the length of time for the 1858 Lincoln/Douglas debate? (1 hour then 30 minutes, etc.)

Robert,

The first speaker got 60 minutes, the next one 90 minutes and the first speaker then got 30 minutes to close.

Best
Rob

(10-22-2012 09:38 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Robert,

The first speaker got 60 minutes, the next one 90 minutes and the first speaker then got 30 minutes to close.

Best
Rob

Many thanks. Recently I was asked the question & knew the 1st had 60 minutes but thinks became fuzzy after that.

And no tele-prompters!

Does anyone know if they were rude to each other, simpering smiles, press looking for zingers??? I will be committed to a mental institute by the time these current debates and election are over!

Regarding one of Douglas' arguments, Lincoln said it was "as thin as the homeopathic soup that was made by boiling the shadow of a pigeon that had starved to death"

I always found these debates to be fascinating. There is a map somewhere that shows the locations of each debate, and whether or not it was held in Lincoln country, or Douglas country.

Craig

Thanks, Craig. I googled this to see if I could find it, and here is what I found:

Roger,
That's similar to what I remember seeing. good information!

Craig

Where talikng about Lincoln VS Stephen Douglas correct? I just want to make sure i have the the correct parties involved.
Thanks.

That's right, Ashley. Stephen A. Douglas - The Little Giant!

Yes, the Stephen A. Douglas Little Giant, not to be confused with the Little Giant Vacuum Cleaner Company of Walla Walla, Washington.

--Jim, who knows his classic cartoons of the '50s

Thank you. I've never heard of him refurred as the Little Gisnt where did that come from? At one time Mary Lincoln was engaged to Douglas wasnt she?

I don't know about being engaged, but Douglas was an eligible bachelor when Mary was courting.

Douglas was 5'4" - hence the Little Giant handle. An astute politician, my favorite anecdote about Douglas was that at Lincoln's first inaugural, as Lincoln stood up to be inaugurated, Douglas held his hat.

Interestingly enough, according to author Richard Striner, Lincoln didn't fare so well in the debate at Freeport- despite the town's Northern locale in the state and Republican favor. And, as it turned out, Douglas didn't do well in the debate at Jonesboro despite it's Southern locale and Democratic majority. Overall, the debates provided Lincoln the exposure that would help propel him to the presidency-and at the same time doom Douglas for the same.