This paper provides an overview of the development of sponsors for primary and general election debates at the presidential level and considers the various sponsorship alternatives for future debates. From a historical perspective, the paper discusses the major role that the broadcasting industry played in the early presidential debates and enumerates the changes in the format, coverage, and sponsorship of the debates through the one vice-presidential and two presidential debates in 1988. The paper appraises the merits of the television networks, the political parties, Congress, the League of Women Voters, and the Commission on Presidential Debates with regard to presidential debate sponsorship. The paper concludes that there has been an apparent shift of control from debate sponsor to the candidates themselves since 1960. (Twenty-one references are attached.) (KEH)