"Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his." Ronald Reagan, October 1980
When looking at the September 10th presidential debate between former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, it was easy to identify the distaste that each candidate demonstrated towards each other. Both had aggressive moments over the most hotly contested topics that these candidates either opposed or supported. Since the days of George Washington, there is no surprise over the negative tensions that are being demonstrated through the hotly contested moments of presidential debates.
In 1960, Americans looked at two different figures between Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy. Newly shown on television, Americans learned about JFK, his political beliefs and the questions about his youth to lead this country. Nixon was not regarded as a warm figure by outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower who barely endorsed his former Vice President. He reasoned that Nixon was not a “likable” figure and was unsure about his ability and temperament. These competitors used the growth of television within American society to bring the debates into the vast expansion of suburbs that were built in huge numbers after World War II.
There was a changing political face, as Americans had two candidates that were World War II veterans who were significantly younger than Eisenhower. Both men had to contend with the growth of the Cold War at home and abroad, especially through the power of Fidel Castro in Cuba and competition over the space race. They had to handle the Civil Rights Movement that repeatedly called for immediate addition of equal rights for African Americans across this nation.
Almost sixty-four years ago this month, Nixon was ahead in the polls, but the luck was turning downward for the Vice President. Nixon had a lack of luck, as he agonized over the flu before the debate, he also injured his bad knee leaving his car. While Nixon suffered from these ailments that also included a fever, JFK for several days prepared for the debate with his aides. As JFK suffered from Addison’s Disease, but between the tan coloring in his face and his sharp ability to speak during this debate, he looked more politically appealing on television, compared to Nixon’s inability to look comfortable. With a gray suit and make-up that wore off from sweating, Nixon’s mother later asked him if he was sick. This was one of the closest elections that was ever witnessed by the American voters and the television played a new role in swaying this political contest.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter sought re-election against the emergence of the former Governor of California Ronald Reagan. While both men grew up in small towns and served in the military during and after World War II, these similarities came to an end. As he campaigned, Carter dealt with the terrible growth of stagflation, the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan, gasoline shortages, and the fundamentalist Islamic take-over of Iran by the Ayatollah Khomeni. With these heightened problems, Carter had to also contend with the taking of sixty-six Americans who were paraded for 444 days on television by the Iranian government and student leaders. Reagan pounced on Carter’s numerous problems and believed that America became a second-rate power that was being pushed around.
Across the nation, Reagan continually expressed that Carter highly demonstrated weakness towards the Soviet Union and criticized the preparedness of the military. Carter stated that if Reagan was elected, he would recklessly push America into another war. While Carter expanded the military budget in 1980, many Americans were concerned about his presidential strength and SALT II was never fully ratified by Congress to limit nuclear weapons. Domestically, as the economy was weak under his term, Carter described encouraging financial signs of enhanced mortgages and business loans. He promised to increase environmental regulations and to protect abortion rights. Reagan viewed these government regulations to protect the environment as hurting economic growth, he promised tax cuts to big business, opposed abortion, and stressed that Carter had not earned the right to gain a second presidential term.
During the first debate on October 28th, 1980, Reagan’s lead diminished, as it reached the margin of era. Americans observed Reagan as being a positive light towards a new direction and Carter looked gray and defensive. Carter had good ideas, as he advocated for enhanced American efforts to limit its dependency on fuel, but the people lost faith in his ability to win a second term. Reagan focused on economic weakness and stated, “He added the rate of unemployment and the rate of inflation, and it came, at that time, to 12.5% under President Ford. He said that no man with that size misery index has a right to seek reelection to the Presidency. Today, by his own decision, the misery index is in excess of 20%, and I think this must suggest something.”
Carter stressed that he had the understanding to navigate America through these harsh political waters. He expressed that “The American people now are facing, next Tuesday, a lonely decision. Those listening to my voice will have to make a judgment about the future of this country. And I think they ought to remember that one vote can make a lot of difference. If one vote per precinct had changed in 1960, John Kennedy would never have been President of this nation.” The Election of 2024 is about two months away as Trump informed the nation that he would not agree to a second term. Hopefully, he changes his mind, as Americans should be able to watch at least one more of these political contests to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of these candidates.