1980 Presidential Candidate Debate: Governor Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter - 10/28/80

The full-length 1980 Presidential Candidate Debate between Governor Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter on 10/28/80.
Table of Contents:
0:00 Introduction
2:45 Military Power & Spending
13:42 Inflation
25:06 Race Relations and Crime in Cities
35:35 Acts of Terrorism, Iran/Iraq
45:30 Second Half of Debate
46:00 Arms Race/Treaties
57:08 Reliance on Foreign Oil
1:08:10 Social Security
1:17:23 Reagan vs. Carter: The Opposition
1:27:30 Closing Statements
For more information on the ongoing works of President Reagan's Foundation, please visit www.reaganfoundation.org
For more information on donations, visit www.reaganfoundation.org/supp...
Like us on Facebook: / ronaldreagan
Follow us on Twitter: / ronaldreagan
Follow us on Instagram: / reaganfoundation
Follow us on LinkedIn: / ronald-reagan-presiden...
Newsletter Sign-up: www.reaganfoundation.org/news...

[@Elliven98]

This is a debate, They talk about the issues and are respectful. The debates of today are shameful

[@EverydayStruggles]

Agreed

[@cahivx]

Haha, 32 years later, we're still talking about "what are you going to do about Afghanistan and Iran?"

[@CapAnson12345]

Notice how civilized and relatively informative this is compared to today's debates.

[@rgmo16]

+CapAnson12345 mailny bacsue yiu had serious moderaterors that didnt try to push there agenda by asking dumb qustions also you didnt have donors and other idiots in a auduince

[@RandomEd787]

I know right, I can barely watch most of today's debates.

[@tommybewick]

+CapAnson12345 : It is like night and day. Debates now are like an episode of a reality TV show, and not because of Trump being on reality TV in the past. Notice the panel is sitting down and calmly and respectfully asking questions not standing and confrontational. The TV set is muted and not a flashy stage like American Idol.

[@doman362]

+CapAnson12345 What you said is so right and applies even for far before Mr. Trump's era.

[@hoopsonwheels]

If Ronald could see how his fellow republicans are treating each other he would be absolutely disgusted by what he would see

[@wizarddog5049]

These debates are so civil and respectful. The mod's don't seem biased and the candidates seem to want to talk about issues. What happened?

[@seanwebb605]

When did Reagan ever have a grasp of any of the issues? The man was a plagiarist.

[@sicklehammer4540]

Idk i think trump happened

[@seanwebb605]

Reagan wasn't polite and civilized. Do a simple search for Reagan and My Mic. I Paid For It. Which is a line he stole from a movie.

[@BoxOfOranges84]

the best part of the debates is that the candidates were allowed to pause, gather thoughts sometimes fumble over their words, and no one cared because what they said is what mattered. Nowadays we judge politicians on how well they can polish their empty words

[@MasonCookMrFamous]

This is what a presidential debate is supposed to look like for those who don't know.

[@aybanpali]

So back then, debates were actually focusing on issues in the country rather than boasting about poll numbers and insulting the candidates?

[@samuelbordenthanks1556]

thats right, we need a person like ronald reagan.

[@jaimeacosta6846]

Yup! What a shame it's become. Peace!

[@arianagrande8221]

LITTLE MARCO!

[@seanwebb605]

Oh please no. The world can't afford that again.

[@aybanpali]

+Nightbob Sounds like something Jerry Springer should mediate.

[@bot49999]

Back in an era where you could civilly disagree politically. Nowadays its like everyone wants to cut heads off for simply disagreeing

[@enigma9306]

"We don't have inflation because the people are living too well, we have inflation becsuse the government is living too well" brilliant Ron

[@dcfamous999]

I don't understand what that means. Anyone care to explain?

[@billyjoyce6849]

👏👏

[@joey22306]

Amazing how respectful the moderator and panelists were with their questions. Moreover, how respectful Pres. Carter and Pres. Reagan were as well to one another. In contrast with today, the Presidential candidates and debates are a clown show not to mention out right sickening.

[@MrMsSihrus]

+John S you have to keep in mind the lust for ratings. I'm not against it, but when you mix capitalism, ratings, and political commentary into a modern day world of twitter and other social media, you get today's modern debates

[@alexdelarge703]

+John S It's even more amazing when you think about how deeply Reagan and Carter despised one another, yet they kept the whole debate at a very professional level.

[@nightbob6718]

+John S Don't be such a fuddy duddy ; p

[@crocodile1313]

+MrSihrus It's not only ratings today but the ability to grab and keep the attention of viewers. Many Americans today are, unfortunately, too mentally lazy to sit and watch an intellectual conversation, even one as important as a presidential candidate debate. Today if a TV show doesn't spoon-feed you controversy or egregious sex or violence, it will not be around long.

[@nightbob6718]

Naghi Astnei I didn't say he was wrong, I said he was a fuddy duddy. Politics is and has always been a blood sport, Reagan said some harsh things about his opponents as well, let's not pretend politics has always been super civil. With the exception of Hillary and Trump I don't think the actions of current candidates are "downright sickening".

[@gregford9301]

I was 18 when this debate took place. A lot of people forget this was a tight race, even though things were bad under Carter, with many still being undecided before the debate. The main reason was a lot of people still had this image of Reagan being a belligerent warmonger who was going to send American troops all over the place. The one thing this demonstrated, besides showing Reagan could stand toe-to-toe with Carter in a debate, was that he was not the scary war-loving monster many tried to portray him to be. It played a key role in turning what was close race into a landslide for Reagan.

[@rob2049]

Ron, Nancy RIP

[@darkduck-qg2so]

I know I'm a Republican and comparing Reagan to Trump makes me sad.

[@gallodecombate7953]

+darkduck2000 I am still voting for Trump!!!

[@VincentArdolino]

+Gallo “Greytoppy” de Combate Thats stupid but I guess if you enjoy being lied too, it is still a free country.

[@gallodecombate7953]

Your are stupid and ignorant go cash your food stamps.

[@gallodecombate7953]

Really genius? Maybe you can be a candidate for the Nobel Prize!!!

[@Styxhexenhammer666]

I decided to watch this to see a debate in which even the weaker candidate is clearly better than any candidate in the last four elections.

[@markfenner9543]

Styxhexenhammer666 666, swings and hits a freaking HOMERUN!

[@andrelebaron]

mark fenner he's that "manson didn't kill anyone nutjob" which kind of reflects badly on you.

[@falquest]

REAGAN: The last TRUE Conservative ... God bless him...

[@christianachamon132]

"We don't have inflation because the people are living too well. We have inflation because the government is living too well." ~Reagan #Reagan5ever

[@VanillaThunder930]

Wow, what happened to our Presidential debates? These men actually had to give intellegent, well-thought out, articulate answers to very specific and precise questions. What a revolutionary idea.

[@nemesys6]

The way Reagan speaks... jesus, no one speaks like that anymore. So eloquent and his words are so thought out. Its astonishing and amazing.

[@lorilemonade6649]

Oh please...Obama speaks just as good, even better

[@GeorgiZhukov33]

+lorilemonade Yes, President TelePrompTer speaks really well.

[@seanwebb605]

Obama is a true intellectual. Reagan graduated from a hick Christian college with low academic standards.

[@amschelusmaximus7134]

+lorilemonade Obama's good at giving speeches, but stutters way more than Reagan. Reagan's voice is a strange combination of soothing and bold, and is way more persuasive

[@professorjams]

Reagan was just an outstanding man.

[@togic6243]

My internet explorer is sort of laggy but VOTE FOR REAGAN

[@TeknokaiSipesProductions]

One of the best Internet Explorer jokes I've seen

[@peasantrule3194]

This Reagan guy's got my vote.

[@jorgelouis709]

When Democrats and Republicans did not hate eachother and 2nd amandement wasn't even an issue

[@cml949]

Oh so this is what a real debate looks like...

[@plooker39]

God bless you, Ronald Reagan.

[@kristianhestas5508]

Man, Reagan was presidential material

[@Fsockey]

RIP Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It was a storybook love story. We won't be saying that about bill and hillary

[@lorilemonade6649]

And the folks who love Bill and Hillary won't be saying how the Reagan's cared for the American people

[@Fsockey]

lorilemonade true dar

[@7beers]

Reagan was a well-read, knowledgeable, thoughtful man of vision. The media always portrayed him as a clueless buffoon -- and Reagan loved that!!!

[@GisherJohn24]

Imagine if any of these guys debated Hillary today.

[@ryancarson8942]

I was a child during the Reagan administration. .......it was nice to have a strong leader while I was growing up......these days it hard to know for certain who to trust anymore.....

[@lorilemonade6649]

You were a child with a childlike mind so you're given a pass for thinking he was so great. You don't know any better

[@itsreagan1966]

Reagan was a great president way better than carter he both destroyed the soviets in the inside and outside and reaganomics had an okay affect on clintons term he had his mistakes but his wins were much bigger

[@themig71]

No, Carter was great lol

[@themig71]

Don't let the left wing fool demoralize you. None of these Democrats could hold a candle to Reagan. Democrats who have kept blacks as a permanent underclass - all for the sake of maintaining their power.

[@itsreagan1966]

themig71 agreed

[@jjshaindlin3296]

I turned 18 in September of 1980. I was an avid student of politics, and was very committed to the founders intentions in our Constitution to let the ultimate power rest with the people, controlling the government, rather than government dictating to the people. Reagan dominated Jimmy Carter, because Reagan owned his ideas with true conviction, and he had a clear vision of things as they were, and as they could again be if we righted our course. I proudly cast my first ever vote for Reagan.

[@DonDraperism]

Carter absolutely hated Reagan, but stayed professional nonetheless. Reagan beat Carter fair and square. Today's candidates are a total embarrassment and act like complete tools. Heavens to mercy.

[@mariogamefreak1]

can you imagine trump

[@mrlithel]

mariogamefreak1 Trump will do fine

[@BaronVonRichtofen]

+Billy Killett Long Live President TRUMP!

[@christiancrocetti9940]

+Grampa Reagan also sent a letter to Trump that he should run and he sent a letter to Ron Paul to never stop fighting for The United States.

[@kerimtim]

Reagan is such a good speech maker.

[@brianprendergast2711]

May you rest in peace Ronald Reagan

[@Davids-fb9ub]

RIP Nancy Regan 1921-2016

[@hoopsonwheels]

May her and and Ronald rest in peace.

[@PMusic7]

Reagan, one of the greatest Presidents of all time.

[@apope06]

its more respectful in part because Carter was a decent man.

[@GidgetTheSurferGirl]

Thank you Ronald Reagan for your great leadership. It was you who changed the mind of my parents to leave the democrat party and vote for you. I was taught dinner table politics that were republican ideas by the age of 10. I heard your speeches and we discussed you among my friends walking home from grade school. Thank you.

[@KYExtemper]

Reagan's question at 1:31:45 crystalized this debate perfectly. One of the most powerful closing statements in modern presidential debate history.

[@AABrutell]

Reagan was the greatest President of my time

[@seanwebb605]

You must be joking.

[@jimc6154]

I think that President Carter believed in his heart that Government was the answer to everything. Only Government could save the country. I also believe in my heart that Ronald Reagan believed that the human being was the answer. Only hard work and entrepreneurism could make America better. I like Reagan's answer...after all, it's how America started....That is a fact. We The People.

[@guilhermep8414]

It`s hard to believe Carter is still alive. this debate was like thousands of years ago haha.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

36 moron

[@lesliecarbone]

It was great to have a candidate who understood conservative principles well enough to communicate them.

[@OttoMattak]

I'm endorsing old footage of Reagan for President in 2016!

[@kennethlund8718]

God bless Ronald Reagan. I can't even imagine how he would turn around in his grave seeing America today. Boy do we need him now! 

[@kuwinsitall]

back when debates were intelligent and honorable. both candidates showed class. I liked Reagan and I'm a liberal

[@panthr3037]

"We don't have inflation because the people are living too well. We have inflation because the government is living too well." EXACTLY

[@edwardodavila5617]

Ronald Reagan, master debator.

[@Fsockey]

+Edwardo Davila nice NigaHiga referance

[@seanwebb605]

Hardly.

[@mchpm13]

Reagan's Presentation during thisdebate! Underscores why I am a Republican! I was 7 years old when this debate originally occured. I just wished I could have appreciated it at age 7.

[@1969mach111]

Reagan was the greatest!

[@liamprendergast4598]

Reagan's line about the single line of people unemployed would stretch from New York to Los Angeles at around 1:32:40 was a really interesting technique

[@amschelusmaximus7134]

Carter seems like a good guy with bad policies and lack of charisma Reagan's opening remarks alone must have boosted him up 5%

[@michaelocenar6140]

They shook hands.

[@blogpoon]

Thank you for posting this! I've been looking for decades for a rerun of this but without success, in either video or audio. I heard this on the car radio as a young teen, and never since till now.

[@LEWFROST2]

Conundrum is something that is puzzling or confusing. Six contradictions of socialism in the United States of America: 1. America is capitalist and greedy - yet half of the population is subsidized. 2. Half of the population is subsidized - yet they think they are victims. 3. They think they are victims - yet their representatives run the government. 4. Their representatives run the government - yet the poor keep getting poorer. 5. The poor keep getting poorer - yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about. 6. They have things that people in other countries only dream about - yet they want America to be more like those other countries. That pretty much sums up the USA in the 21st Century.

[@Zac6230]

This was the day before I was born.

[@Yobbie72]

that makes you awesome! 1980 represent!

[@amyterhune9507]

I know your birthday.... Now I know where you live

[@Haaklong]

Zac6230 That makes you old, just kidding, my girlfriend is from the 1970's so I shouldn't complain, but still as a 1990's kid I find you relatively old. :-P

[@yisraelharris2282]

Zac6230 Happy birthday.

[@marcoab1969]

Zac6230 this debate was on the eve of my 11th birthday. lol

[@jeffreysoule3588]

44 states and 489 electoral voes. case closed

[@martymcdonough1111]

THIS is what a Presidential Debate should be and how Presidents and Presidential candidates should act. Unfortunately, both are worried more about getting on The Tonight Show and being a celebrity.

[@jacobguiton9184]

Convinced once again that Ronald Reagan was the best president of the modern age.

[@DROPD5150]

Wow...I was only 7yrs old then....but i remember this election like it was yesterday!

[@Lukyo1984]

1:22:00 "I was a democrat. I said many foolish things back in those days." Ah ha! That really made my day.

[@Tuning_Spork]

REAGAN: (paraphrasing) "...when I was young, the nation didn't know it had a racial problem."

[@tigerarmyrule]

Ronald Reagan: Dignity, grace, strength and courtesy and Pres. Carter though weak and ineffective was a gentleman. None of the blatant NLP usage of Obama.

[@MikeBarbre]

The time in which this debate takes place is incredible pertaining to terrorism and the airliner hijackings of that time. Considering what would eventually happen 21 years later, it's pretty chilling.

[@applecineman]

Amazing how much history repeats itself in terms of the issues and how similar the talking points for both parties remain as they were 32 years ago.

[@Crazy-Horse-Tx.]

Down with the Federal Reserve !

[@themig71]

Amen!!

[@mduke2k]

Yeah, inflation is a bitch! Part of the reason for the fall of Rome. The Denarius was first 100% silver and it's lowest value was a fraction of 1 percent.

[@MOSS4PRESIDENT]

i love reagan

[@mercenarybdu]

He was an actor and spokes person for General Electric, before assuming the office of Governor...that is why he was good.

[@zomadee1007]

Civilized debate.

[@Reality789]

Jimmy never stood a chance.

[@TodayIFoundSomethingShiney]

There you go again...

[@Johnrap]

59:30 Democrats for coal? I'm confused.

[@tirdadgharib2431]

Good Day to all! We Love President Ronald Reagan from all of our hearts!President Ronald Reagan was the greatest President in U.S.History! with Deep respect for President Ronald Reagan,TG.

[@MMAfighter38113]

Back then people voted with their brains and not their emotions like they do today. So many Obama voters today voted for him simply because they liked him, even though a lot of them admitted their lives were no better after 4 years.

[@markanderson100]

msmithstud Throughout history, people have *always* voted with their emotions, including during the time of Reagan.

[@garrylafferty100]

bzy bee Reagan worst president in a generation. Probable worse then Bush w.

[@austinsmith7774]

Reagan why did you have to go?

[@boxtruckbandit3837]

I love carters face after the first question when Reagan answered like he already knew he lost.

[@zoomboy6662]

This country needs another Reagan

[@nickboldan7833]

Just finished watching the GOP debate....my god, bring back the golden days!

[@darkduck-qg2so]

No kidding, I'll Lincoln and Reagan are both spinning in their graves at Donald Trump

[@joelyboyblue]

Regean policies still stand today & we need them now more than ever

[@ChihuahuaboyDH]

Carter fell flat on his face in this debate! Reagan wiped the floor with him! R.I.P., Ronald Wilson Reagan...1911-2004. You were our greatest President EVER!!!

[@cooperdavis4212]

The Misery Index was a mistake for Carter. It did not do too much to win against Ford, but when Reagan used it against Carter himself, he defeated Carter right then and there.

[@godawgs7098]

Ronald Reagan. The greatest president in modern history. I was quite little when he was president. When I heard people talk about him, it was always positive. From both Democrats and Republicans. When he talked to us in his speeches, he talked liked he was our friend. Whenever we had any military action. He would explain what was going on. Why we were going in. And how we were going to do it. He was a great man and a great president.

[@arwurth]

57:05 Best and most relevant question of the debate.

[@MondoBeno]

Carter didn't learn from the Kennedy-Nixon debate. When it comes to TV, presence is everything. Carter looks dopey here, and his stumbling speaking style doesn't help.

[@parallelburrito]

Carter is too analytic for the average American voter. He made careful and calculated decisions but America needed some well communicated leadership which is why Reagan won.

[@P4DDYW4CK]

***** Which is why he raised payroll taxes on average Americans and cut taxes for fat cats, and is also why the median wage essentially stopped growing under his watch, and is also why the budget ballooned. The government stopped growing under Reagan? MY GOD the ignorance. The government had never been bigger. More money was spent on the military than ever before. He grew the government. When he was governor, California's schools started to fall apart. He was a terrible politician. I'm so damn sick of phony libertarians who mistake corporate capitalism for free-market capitalism. Reagan was a bought-out shill, along with his VP Bush 1, and his son Bush 2. And now the whole Republican Party. You want a true Republican? Bring back Eisenhower. That guy had the stuff.

[@markfenner9543]

JoSciFi Hey Ken, I started working under the Nixon years and only saw my taxes increase---until Reagan, just FYI at that point in time I was a private in the USMC and WITHOUT the pay increase my pay after taxes went up $15 per pay period ($30 per month) which was a huge amount in 1982

[@P4DDYW4CK]

I would share that sentiment too if it had any standing in reality. The fact of the matter is the government grew under Reagan, spent more under Reagan (as far as raw percentages), and grew more in debt under Reagan. To blame Obama for taxing and spending? The point of having the government run some things is too ease stress off of markets by putting more money in people's pockets. When few private industries control inelastic goods, they control prices and suck money (and therefore demand) from the people. This is bad for smaller businesses and only good for those few oligopolies. The amount of money Obamacare is going to end up saving people is actually unprecedented, even by the administration's calculations. Spending under Obama? It's low. The deficit, as a share of GDP, fell well below where Bush left it, yet no one speaks about that. But this goes to show the Republicans' strategy: spend and spend, balloon the deficit, then blame the Democrats as tax and spenders. It hasn't been true in any Democratic Presidency since Carter. If you ask me, there are lots of things we could socialize to make the budgets of everyday Americans easier and stimulate the economy. Socialize the internet. Everyone should have free access to it and not have to pay the ridiculous prices they do for private providers, and the infrastructure to maintain it would be very cost efficient and easy. Cell phone providers should be radically broken up and telecom/comcast cronies (and representatives of other competitors) should be banned from running the FCC. And while we're talking about breaking up companies, let's break up New Corp, Time Warner, and GE. Let's break up Bank Of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and CitiGroup. If you're for the free market, wouldn't it make sense to introduce more competition? The Free Market doesn't exist. There is no free market, it is an ideal like communism. For any semblance of a free market to exist, there needs to be perfect competition (perfect knowledge, rational decisions, no barriers of entry, no single firm influencing prices, large number of firms, no externalities). None of these factors of perfect competition are achievable without government intervention, which just goes to show the innate contradiction of the ideology itself. Was Adam Smith great? Yes. Is he right today? We've evolved way past him. What Reagan sold you, ideologically, is a sham. He spoke of free markets but made them more consolidated, and same with Clinton, mind you. That's because they don't work for you, they work for who buys them out. Simple as that.

[@honeyglazedgammon2318]

JoSciFi No, you don't understand the difference between debt and deficit, neither do you understand where different forms of spending originated (oval office or congress), or inflation, since it was Democrats in congress spending under Reagan despite his indignation. Reagan won the cold war whilst still shrinking government in real terms by 10%, Fact! You are just rambling when you say free markets cant operate, when it is government regulation which precisely stifles smaller business the most www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2011/05/05/reaganomics-vs-obamanomics-facts-and-figures/

[@andyv0001]

JoSciFi you do realise what you've written is B.S- Reagan tax cuts, repeated cuts raised more tax revenue. The military grew to stop the country being nuked by the USSR, whilst government declined by10% relative to the size of the economy. Your claims on average wages is economic fallacy. When Regan was governed of California it would have been 6th largest in the world, the equivalent of Germany at that time, not today when it is bankrupt. Etc etc

[@joshua1auhsoj]

"If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism"-Ronald Reagan

[@chuckhankinson9835]

I always find it interesting that those who claim to have 'open minds', are the one's who are the most closed minded. Truth.

[@swoosh50]

Carter was the last conservative Democrat. Reagab was the last conservative Republican. God help us

[@michaelbarrett672]

Reagan wrote checks from the Oval Office to people who wrote to him for help.

[@Itsjustme-ms9ob]

"We must share in scarcity and sacrifice and get used to doing to without....." For people who want to know why many Americans love Reagan so much-that quote right there revealing Jimmy Carter's message regarding economics is the exact reason. For those that wonder why people hate Obama so much: He believes the exact same thing. Reagan brought the attitude that America deserves to be prosperous, and the idea that anyone should "get used to failure" so to speak is absurd. The economy was in the tank in 1980 as it is now and I think Carter is Obama's idol, that isn't a good thing by a long shot. Reagan made Americans proud to be American again, hence the 1984 slogan: It's Morning in American again."

[@skylark304]

you are right . i first listened to his address as governor of CA & i became his fan.Amazing voice & speech , he magestically delivers in Hollywood style as an actor ,it leaves the audience spellbound.

[@75Bird455]

Wow - 60 Billion deficit in 1980 - 16 Trillion Today. Good grief.

[@billmilligan7272]

I like how there's either no audience or they are serious and quiet. It's not treated like a damn sporting event.

[@jmajews1]

Amazing. Almost 30 years later (2010) we are still worrying about the same issues discussed in the debate. Oil dependence, Iran/Iraq and terrorist, economic inflation and unemployment. Regan fixed many of the problems discussed using conservative ideologies. Many of the ideas and policies adopted by Carter which contributed to many of the issues in the first place is being adopted today.

[@cindyjohnson5242]

One of the best!

[@floydefisher]

Sorry pal, but I'm old enough to remember Ronald Reagan, and I can flatly tell you Obama is no Ronald Reagan. It's not even close.

[@mhartonthego]

wish he could have ran a 3rd term,believe it would have been a landslide over Dukakis as well

[@bufnyfan1]

Contrast the class and dignity of Ronald Reagan with the shrill/hysterics of Donald Trump---never during this debate did Reagan call out Carter as a "Liar"/threaten to sue/belittle him etc--Reagan would simply point out that his assertions were wrong and when Carter kept making more of them-Reagan would retort "there you go again"--I really miss Mr. Reagan--you may not have agreed with his policies etc but he was a gentleman and respected his opponent

[@ChihuahuaboyDH]

@elementswi2007 If we don't find the next Ronald Reagan, & quickly, then, in Reagan's own words: "America will be a nation gone under". Truer words could never have been spoken by a more brilliant man! Bless you, Ronald Wilson Reagan...R.I.P..

[@jimc6154]

There you go again at 1:15:10

[@Semonyacob]

Thank you!! I was looking for that forever!

[@dixiedigger9235]

A Tribute to the Troops (Ronald Reagan) Check this out God Bless the USA an Ronald Reagan

[@fundude4566]

Had to come here before tonight's debate.