In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, political correspondent John Dickerson explains why 1976 ushered in the kind of presidential debates we see today. This week's show is sponsored by The Great Courses and its collection of lecture series geared toward business professionals, including Scientific Secrets for a Powerful Memory, How Conversation Works, Art of Public Speaking, and Influence: Mastering Life's Most Powerful Skill. Order any of these courses for just $9.95 by visiting thegreatcourses.com/whistlestop. Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, ad-free versions, exclusive podcasts, and more. Start your 2-week free trial at slate.com/podcastsplus. Email: whistlestop@slate.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices