US presidential debates are great and defining moments for the candidates, political junkies and, of course, reporters especially those selected to be panelists or moderators. There is always a brouhaha about rules and regulations preceding these quadrennial events, as there was this time when George W. Bush and John Kerry, his challenger, opened a series of three presidential debates on Thursday evening. But, as always, the ruckus quickly subsided, because no one wants to lose the chance to participate.

In 1984, when I worked for NBC News, my chance came to join a panel of reporters who would question President Ronald Reagan and his challenger, Walter Mondale, in the second of three debates. The first had not gone well for the president; he had seemed old and tired. Was he too old, people were beginning to wonder.