During the debates between Lincoln and Douglas, Lincoln combined the nation's moral compass with the Constitution.

While this year’s election may seem like the nastiest campaign in political history, historian David Eisenbach looks back at our nation's other political mudslinging matchups.

George McGovern makes a play for the quintessential undecided voter. Though a clever spot, it would not help McGovern much in the real polls. He had already been branded too liberal advocating withdrawal from Vietnam, amnesty for draft evaders, and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Nixon won in a landslide.

If Democrats could use children to remind the public how dangerous the world can be, so can Republicans. In this ad for his defense, Goldwater implies that LBJ is soft on Communism, and only he could protect America.