In 1976 only the two candidates from the major political parties, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, were invited.

As a result, only Bob Dole and Walter Mondale met the criteria for the vice presidential debate.

The second presidential debate between President Gerald Ford and former Governor Jimmy Carter took place on Wednesday, October 6, 1976, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California.

The third and final presidential debate between President Gerald Ford and former Governor Jimmy Carter took place on Friday, October 22, 1976, in the Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The debate was moderated by Barbara Walters of ABC, who posed the questions for each candidate.