According to the Commission on Presidential Debates, “[the] first formal debate ever held between vice presidential candidates” took place in Houston, Texas on October 15, 1976, between Senator Robert Dole (R-KS) and Senator Walter Mondale (D-MN). The 75-minute televised debate was moderated by Chicago Sun-Times Editor James F. Hoge and included panelists Hal Bruno of Newsweek, Marilyn Berger of NBC News, and Walter Mears of the Associated Press.

Nielsen Media Research put viewership for the debate, which was sponsored by the League of Women Voters, at 43.2 million.