Page 34 - PINE CREST 1985

-------------------------------Nation -

OVERTIME/1985

Four More Years

Reagan wins re-election after a precedent-setting campaign

O n November 6, 1984, President ed as presidential candidates by their two presidential debates were held. In the
To create a forum for these issues,
Ronald Reagan once again made
respective parties at the party conventions;
his mark in the annals of history
first debate, which centered on domestic
the Democrats met in San Francisco while
when he and his running mate George the Republicans assembled in Dallas. issues, mainly the economy, Mondale
Bush were re-elected by a a landslide Minorities had taken a major leap, fared surprisingly well, according to
victory. Reagan and Bush carried a however, long before Mondale chose post-debate polls. The majority of people
whopping forty-nine states with 49% of the Ferraro as his running mate. The Rev. felt that he performed better than Reagan
nation’s popular vote. The Republicans Jesse Jackson had his
won the largest number of electoral votes name inscribed in the
in the nation’s history, as opponents journals of time as the first
Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro black man to ever become
carried only the District of Columbia and a formidable competitor
Mondale’s home state of Minnesota. for the nomination. Alth­
During the 1984 election season, not ough he did not gain the
only Ronald Reagan made history, but position he sought, Jack-
Walter Mondale did as well. His eventful son delivered a rousing
accomplishment was the selection of Mrs. speech at the Democratic
Geraldine Ferraro as his vice-presidential convention that enthused
running mate. people of all colors and
For the first time in United States which many people com­
history, a woman had been chosen as a pared to Martin Luther
candidate for the second highest office in King, Jr.’s “I Have a
the land. Dream.” Jackson took
In the summer season of 1984, third place in the conven­
Reagan and Bush were officially nominat- tion, preceded by Mondale
in the lead and Senator
Gary Hart second. Reagan and Bush beat a campaign trail to victory.
On the other side of the presidential on that night. However, noted English
coin, the Republicans easily chose Reagan teacher and debate coach Mr. Lee Turner
in his second bid for the candidacy. Things chose Reagan as the winner. In the second
seemed to remain quite the same in the debate, which focused on foreign affairs,
Republican field, with Reagan once again Reagan scored big in the polls. Also, one
choosing George Bush as his vice- vice-presidential debate was held, in which
presidential candidate and running on his Bush emerged as the leader in the survey.
record of the previous four years. At Pine Crest, a straw poll was held
Among the major issues of the cam­ for the students. Not surprisingly, they,
paign was the economy. The Republican like the rest of the nation, voted for
platform called for a continued reduction Reagan by a large majority: 81% for
of taxes, while at the same time, it called Reagan, 19% for Mondale
for a reduction of the national deficit. During the election, the Pine Crest
Likewise, the Democrats called for a ICI Library served as a polling place for
lowered deficit, while criticizing Reagan’s one Broward County precinct. Around the
supposed mishandling of the economy. entire nation, especially South Florida, the
On the foreign affairs front, Reagan voting- turnout was unusually high. Some
advocated his “get tough” policy with the precincts in Dade and Broward reported
Soviets, calling for increased military numbers in excess of 70% of the registered
strength. Mondale, on the other hand, voters.
The Democratic Victory Gala that never was proposed a sharp reduction in nuclear Although the 1984 election did not
weapons and large-scale negotiations with produce any major surprises, it did make
Mondale and Ferraro have high hopes of election. the Russians. history with several American milestones.

30