The Ghosts of Vice-Presidential Debates Past

Here’s a test for anyone planning to watch the vice-presidential debate on Tuesday between JD Vance, the Republican senator from Ohio, and Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota: Name a few memorable moments from vice-presidential debates over the past 40 years.

You are forgiven if only one comes to mind: the withering takedown by Lloyd Bentsen, the Democratic senator from Texas, of Dan Quayle, the Republican senator from Indiana, in 1988.

It stands out because there have been so few. Vice-presidential debates just don’t have a lot of action or — if we may be honest — real significance to the outcome of the race. Remember when Al Gore faced off against Jack Kemp in 1996, or when Dick Cheney debated John Edwards in 2004? We don’t either.

Presumably this one, between Mr. Vance, who is Donald J. Trump’s running mate, and Mr. Walz, who is running with Vice President Kamala Harris, will draw a little more attention since Mr. Trump has said he will not debate Ms. Harris a second time and because Mr. Vance’s performance may deserve particular attention given Mr. Trump’s age, 78.

But most likely it will be 90 interesting and potentially contentious minutes that could say much about the future political careers of these two men, particularly Mr. Vance, given his age (he is 40, compared with Mr. Walz, who is 60).

Here are a few debates worth revisiting.

This set the gold standard for vice-presidential debate moments. Mr. Bentsen was the Democratic running mate of Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts, and Mr. Quayle was the Republican vice-presidential candidate for Vice President George H.W. Bush.