On October 15, 1992, Americans turned on their televisions to find a sight they’d never seen before. It was an African-American woman serving as the sole moderator of the second presidential debate between President George Bush, Ross Perot, and Governor Bill Clinton. That woman was Carole Simpson, the first woman and first minority to serve as sole moderator in a presidential debate. 

This summer, the Commission on Presidential Debates will announce the moderators for the 2012 debates between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. In the twenty years since Carole's historic night, no woman has moderated a presidential debate (Gwen Ifill moderated the vice presidential debates in 2004 and 2008).

Carole Simpson provides perspective on her moderating experience and explains why she thinks it's important for women to serve as moderators. She was a reporter and anchor for ABC News, and is now a leader-in-residence at Emerson College.