Kristen Welker is the first Black woman to moderate a presidential debate since 1992

Last night, Kristen Welker became the first Black woman to moderate a presidential debate since 1992. And with the help of muting microphones, the final presidential debate was a lot more watchable than the first. Many viewers took to social media during and after the event to suggest that Welker helped to save the debates.

Welker, a Harvard graduate from Philadelphia, is co-anchor on NBC's Weekend Today and has been the network's White House correspondent since 2011. Though this was Welker's first time moderating a presidential debate, she co-moderated a debate between Democratic candidates last November.

Welker earned praised across the political spectrum for her handling of the debate. Chris Wallace, who moderated the first debate, told Fox News: "Well, first of all, I'm jealous. I would have liked to have been able to moderate that debate and to get a real exchange of views instead of hundreds of interruptions." 

Some social media users suggested that the less combative nature could have been a result of Welker's first question. "What [Kristen Welker] did differently from Chris Wallace is that her FIRST question did not pit one candidate against another," one user explained. "This made a big difference in that it set the tone for the rest of the debate and she thus was able to maintain control for full debate."

While another added: "Kristen Welker may have single-handedly saved the presidential debates because she was good!"

"Pretty excited that Kristen Welker did what no one else could," another added.

"Thank you Kristen Welker for giving the American people a real #DebateTonight," Megan McCain added.

While another remarked: "Kristen Welker is a total boss and did a great job moderating the debate tonight."