5 Memorable Vice Presidential Debates In US History

Although public focus tends to center on the presidential candidates, past VP face-offs have produced some noteworthy exchanges.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (L) face each other during the vice presidential debate in St. Louis, Mo., on Oct. 2, 2008. Don Emmert-Pool/Getty Images

On Oct. 1, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will face off in the final debate of the 2024 presidential season.

Vice presidential debates are a relatively new phenomenon in American politics: the first took place in 1976—16 years after the first televised presidential debate.