Alternate History 🇺🇸 November 2, 1976: President Nelson Rockefeller wins election to full 4-year term and the aftermath

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN '84: THE UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTIONS TO WATCH (PART I)
4:19 PM CST, Thursday, 11 July 1984

*ALABAMA:
United States Senator Howell Helfin (D-AL) is seeking reelection to a second term in 1984. Heflin, a popular Moderate-to-Conservative Democrat is heavily favored to win reelection against former US Rep. Albert L. Smith, Jr., (R-AL 06th) in November.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*ALASKA:
Incumbent United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader Ted Stevens (R-AK) is heavily favored to win reelection to a fourth term (third full six-year term overall against former Alaska State Attorney General John Havelock in November.
Rating: SOLID REPUBLICAN HOLD

*ARKANSAS:
Incumbent United States Senator David Pryor (D-AR) is up for reelection in 1984. He'll be facing off against US Rep. Ed Bethune (R-AR 02nd) in the November general election. Buoyed by his own overall statewide popularity and the popularity of incumbent Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, whose seeking reelection to a third two-year term, Pryor is expected to easily win reelection.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*COLORADO:
Incumbent United States Senator William L. Armstrong (R-CO) is favored to win reelection to a second six-year term against incumbent Colorado Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dick in the November general election.
Rating: SOLID REPUBLICAN HOLD

*DELAWARE:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)'s reelection prospects increased massively and dodged a huge political bullet when popular Delaware Governor Peter du Pont, IV announced mid Summer 1983 that he wasn't going to challenge Senator Biden. Biden's favored to win reelection in November against former State Rep. John M. Burris
Rating: SOLID DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*GEORGIA:
Incumbent United States Senator Rosalynn Carter (D-GA) was appointed in the Summer of 1983 following the shocking assassination of then-United States Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA); Carter won the 1983 special election later that Fall in a landslide victory with no major opposition. Carter, the wife of Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, is heavily favored to win a full six-year term in the November general election.
Rating: SOLID DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*IDAHO:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator James A. McClure (R-ID) is heavily favored to win reelection to a third six-year term against Vietnam War veteran Peter M. Busch in the November general election.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*ILLINOIS:
Three-term incumbent United States Senator Charles Percy (R-IL) is facing a tough battle for his reelection bid to a fourth term against US Rep. Paul Simon (D-IL 22nd) in what would be considered as a close hotly-contested election, which the entire nation will be watching to determine how control of the United States Senate will be turning out.
Rating: TOSS-UP

*IOWA:
Incumbent United States Senator Roger Jepsen (R-IA) is facing multiple controversies during his six years in the United States Senate. Jepsen is facing off against five-term US Rep. Tom Harkin (D-IA 05th) in what many view as one of the ugliest Senate campaigns in the history of the Hawkeye State. Political observers and analysts believe the mudslinging and personal attacks on both campaigns will get more uglier from here on out.
Rating: TOSS-UP
​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN '84: UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTIONS TO WATCH (PART II)
Thursday, 11 July 1984

*KANSAS:
Incumbent United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) is heavily favored to win reelection against Democratic challenger James R. Maher in the November general election.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*KENTUCKY:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator Walter Dee Huddleston (D-KY) is facing a tough challenge from Jefferson County Executive Mitch McConnell in the November general election. Republicans are optimistic they can flip this Senate seat, while Democrats are hoping the presence of Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins on the Democratic Party ticket for Vice President, can push Huddleston over the finish line. The Bluegrass State will be heavily watched from both political parties as control of the United States Senate will depend on this election.
Rating: TOSS-UP

*LOUISIANA:
Two-term incumbent United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA) is heavily favored to overwhelmingly win reelection to a third term with no major party opposition, virtually unopposed inside the Pelican State.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MAINE:
Incumbent United States Senator William Cohen (R-ME) is heavily favored to win reelection against State Rep. Libby Mitchell and Cohen is benefiting from the massive popularity of incumbent President George HW Bush inside the Pine Tree State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MASSACHUSETTS (OPEN):
United States Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA), had held the Bay State's Class 2 US Senate seat since 1977 when then-United States Senator Edward W. Brooke, III (R-MA) resigned to serve as US Attorney General under then-President Nelson Rockefeller; Tsongas later won the 1977 special election very handily and went onto winning reelection to a full six-year term in 1978, announced following the 1982 Midterm elections, that he wasn't going to be seeking reelection to a second full six-year term in 1984. That set up a full-scale brawl inside the Massachusetts Democratic Party, which later resulted in Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor John Kerry becoming the Democratic nominee, where he'll be favored against Ray Shamie in the November general election.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MICHIGAN:
Inside the Wolverine State, incumbent United States Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) will be facing off against former astronaut Jack Lousma in the November general election. Despite polling surveys showing Senator Levin leading by double digits, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee is expected to spend millions into the Michigan US Senate contest, where they think President Bush's likely landslide in Michigan this Fall, could potentially cause an upset victory by Lousma. For his part, Levin will be aggressively campaigning in all 83 counties in order to win reelection.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*MINNESOTA:
Because former US Ambassador to Canada Walter Mondale was unsuccessful in his campaign for the 1984 Democratic Party presidential nomination against Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt, Minnesota Democrats turned to three-term Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe to run against incumbent United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz (R-MN), whose favored to win reelection to a second term in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MISSISSIPPI:
The Magnolia State has a big showdown between the State's two most powerful politicians: incumbent United States Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) against popular Mississippi Governor William F. Winter, who many were surprised that he entered the Senate race in the middle of his second term. However, there are those, who are incensed about Winter's Senate campaign and there are fears of Democrats staying home in November.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MONTANA:
Incumbent United States Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) is favored to win reelection against former State Rep. Chuck Cozzens in the Big Sky Country State in November.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEBRASKA:
In the Cornhusker State, incumbent United States Senator J. James Exon (D-NE) is expected to face a strong challenge from Nancy Koch, where polling surveys are suggested a hotly-contested Senate race.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Inside the Granite State, incumbent United States Senator Gordon J. Humphrey (R-NH) will be facing off against US Rep. Norman D'Amours (D-NH 01st) in the November general election.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*NEW JERSEY:
Incumbent United States Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) is expected to easily win reelection against Montclair Mayor Mary V. Mochary in the November general election.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEW MEXICO:
In the Land of Enchantment, two-term incumbent United States Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) is easily expected to win reelection against State Rep. Judith Pratt in November securing a third term.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*NORTH CAROLINA:
All eyes are focused heavily on the Tar Heel State, where two of the State's most powerful politicians have collided in the 1984 North Carolina US Senate race: two-term incumbent United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) and popular North Carolina Governor James Baxter "Jim" Hunt, Jr., which has turned into one of the most expensive, nastiest and hotly-contested Senate campaigns in North Carolina history. Political analysts, observers and experts all agree this is a battle between the New South (Hunt) versus the Old South (Helms).
Rating: TOSS-UP

*OKLAHOMA:
Incumbent United States Senator David Boren (D-OK) is heavily favored to defeat Republican challenger Bill Crozier by a massive landslide victory inside the Sooner State.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*OREGON:
Three-term incumbent United States Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR) is heavily favored to win a fourth term against State Senator Margie Hendricksen in the Beaver State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD​

COMING UP IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Part III of the 1984 United States Senate Elections to Watch.

​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN '84: UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTIONS TO WATCH (PART III)
Thursday, 11 July 1984

*PUERTO RICO (OPEN):
Incumbent United States Senator Luis Alberto Ferre Aguayo (R-PR) announced that he wasn't seeking reelection to a second term in 1984. This pretty made US Rep. Jefferson Gillespie (D-PR 01st) the overwhelming favorite to replace him, giving Democrats a good pick-up opportunity if they want to regain control of the United States Senate.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*RHODE ISLAND:
Four-term incumbent United States Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) is heavily favored to defeating Republican challenger Barbara Leonard in a massive landslide victory securing his fifth term inside the Ocean State.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*SOUTH CAROLINA:
Long-time incumbent United States Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) is heavily favored to win reelection against Democratic challenger Melvin Purvis inside the Palmetto State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*SOUTH DAKOTA:
Incumbent United States Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) is expected to heavily win reelection against Democratic challenger George V. Cunningham in the November general election inside the Mount Rushmore State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*TENNESSEE (OPEN)
With the elevation of then-United States Senator and then-Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (R-TN) to serve as the 45th Vice President of the United States under President George HW Bush, this left his Senate seat to come open and Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander appointed former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn to the Senate seat, but Dunn announced he wasn't seeking a full six-year term in 1984, presumably planning a campaign of seeking the Tennessee Governor's Mansion again in 1986. This pretty much made US Rep. Albert Gore, Jr., (D-TN 06th) the overwhelming favorite against State Senator Victor Ashe in the November general election. Gore is seen by many national Democrats as one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party and potential contender for the Presidency in 1988.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*TEXAS (OPEN):
Incumbent United States Senator Dolph Briscoe (D-TX) shocked the Lone Star State in early December 1983 when he announced he wasn't seeking reelection to a full six-year term. This left a free-fall for the Texas Democratic Party, which saw an intriguing primary between State Senator Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin); US Rep. Kent Hance (D-TX 19th); and former US Ambassador to Mexico Bob Krueger. Doggett narrowly defeated Hance in the June 2nd Democratic primary runoff by just 1,345 votes. US Rep. Phil Gramm (R-TX 06th) easily won the Republican nomination. Polling suggest Gramm as the front-runner to winning the Senate seat in November.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN PICK-UP

*VIRGINIA:
Incumbent United States Senator John Warner (R-VA) is expected to easily win reelection against State Delegate Edythe Harrison by an overwhelming landslide inside the Old Dominion.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*WEST VIRGINIA (OPEN):
Long-time incumbent United States Senator Jennings Randolph (D-WV) announced in 1983 that he wasn't seeking reelection in 1984, which opened the door for West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller to launch his campaign for the United States Senate; although Rockefeller's expected to have a strong, tough competition from John Raese and national Republicans are expected to campaign hard for Raese, but observers believe Rockefeller's personal wealth will carry him over the finish line inside the Mountaineer State.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*WYOMING:
Incumbent United States Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) is expected to handily win reelection against Democratic challenger Victor Ryan in a massive landslide victory inside the Equality State.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD
​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 84: US STATE/TERRITORY GOVERNORSHIPS TO WATCH (PART I)
Friday, 12 July 1984

*ARKANSAS:
Incumbent Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton is seeking reelection to a third non-consecutive term in the Natural State against Republican challenger Woody Freeman. Clinton, who rebounded after losing reelection to then-Arkansas Governor Frank Durwood White in the Reagan Revolution Landslide of 1980, defeated White in their 1982 rematch; Clinton is heavily favored to win reelection this November and he's being seen as one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party including being hyped up as a potential contender for the Presidency in 1988 or 1992. This will be the last gubernatorial election in Arkansas coinciding with presidential elections due to a statewide constitutional amendment, which will switch gubernatorial elections from presidential years to midterm years (as well as increasing the gubernatorial term from two years to four years) with the implementation of Amendment 63 in the Arkansas State Constitution effective in 1986, when political observers anticipate Clinton will be seeking reelection to a fourth term in 1986.
Rating: SAFE DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*DELAWARE (OPEN)
Popular two-term incumbent Delaware Governor Pierre S. du Pont, IV is prohibited from succeeding himself of seeking a third consecutive term. Delaware Lieutenant Governor Mike Castle is du Pont's choice to replace him in the Governor's Mansion. Castle will face off against former Delaware Supreme Court Associate Justice William T. Quillen in the battle for the Governorship in the First State, however political oddsmakers believe Castle is favored to keep the Governorship in Republican hands.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*INDIANA:
Incumbent Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr is favored to win reelection against State Senator Wayne Townsend in the November general election. Orr's likely reelection would make it the fifth consecutive term in a row for the Indiana Republican Party of keeping the Governor's Residence in Republican control.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MISSOURI (OPEN)
Two-term incumbent Missouri Governor Christopher S. "Kit" Bond announced in 1983 that he wasn't going to be seeking reelection to a third non-consecutive term in 1984, where political analysts and observers expect Bond to be launching a campaign for the United States Senate in 1986 when it's being anticipated of three-term incumbent United States Senator Thomas Eagleton (D-MO) won't be seeking reelection to a fourth six-year term. The battle to replace him in the Show Me State will consist of Missouri State Attorney General John Ashcroft and Missouri Lieutenant Governor Ken Rothman. The campaign between the Show Me State's two prominent statewide officeholders has gotten much uglier and nastier.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN HOLD

*MONTANA (OPEN):
Three-term incumbent Montana Governor Thomas Lee Judge, who held the Governorship in the Big Sky Country State for 12 years since 1 January 1973, having been elected in 1972 and reelected in 1976 and again in 1980, announced in the Summer of 1983 that he wouldn't be seeking reelection to a fourth term. Montana Democrats united behind Montana Lieutenant Governor Ted Schwinden while the Republicans united behind State Senator Pat Goodover. Despite the likelihood of incumbent President George HW Bush's massive landslide victory in the Big Sky Country State, it's expected that Schwinden will be victorious in the gubernatorial election.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Incumbent New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu is favored to win reelection against State Representative Chris Spirou in the Granite State coming up in November.
Rating: SAFE REPUBLICAN HOLD

*NORTH CAROLINA (OPEN):
With two-term incumbent North Carolina Governor James Baxter "Jim" Hunt, Jr., prevented from succeeding himself for a third consecutive term and running for the United States Senate in 1984 against staunch neo-conservative two-term incumbent United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC), attention turned to the nasty Democratic gubernatorial primary which consisted of former Charlotte Mayor H. Edward Knox; North Carolina Lieutenant Governor James Green ;North Carolina Insurance Commissioner John R. Ingram and North Carolina State Attorney General Rufus Edmisten, who ultimately narrowly defeated Knox in the June 5th Runoff election. However, the nasty primary campaign caused backlash against Edmisten, when all of his primary rivals crossed party lines to endorse six-term US Rep. James G. Martin (R-NC 09th). Boosted by the popularity of President Bush and Senator Helms in the Tar Heel State, political observers suggested Martin is likely to benefit and emerge victorious.
Rating: LEANS REPUBLICAN PICK-UP

COMING UP IN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Part II of Campaign 84 on the US State/Territory Governorships to Watch.​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 84: US STATE/TERRITORY GOVERNORSHIPS TO WATCH (PART II)
Friday 12, July 1984

*NORTH DAKOTA:
Incumbent North Dakota Governor Allen I. Olson flip-flopped and announced his bid for reelection in December 1983, which annoyed some North Dakotans inside the Peace Garden State. North Dakota Democrats tapped former State Senator George A. Sinner to run against Governor Olson in the November general election.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*RHODE ISLAND:
Four-term incumbent Rhode Island Governor J. Joseph Garrahy announced he was seeking reelection to a fifth two-year term inside the Ocean State. Republicans tapped Cranston Mayor Edward D. DiPrete to run against the massively popular Democratic Governor, but polling suggests Garrahy is heavily favored to win reelection in an overwhelming margin in November.
Rating: SOLID DEMOCRATIC HOLD

*UTAH (OPEN):
With two-term incumbent Utah Governor Scott M. Matheson not seeking reelection to a third consecutive term, the Beehive State will have a showdown between former US Rep. Wayne Owens (D-UT 02nd) and Utah House of Representatives Speaker Norman Bangerter, who appears to be on the cusp of being Utah's first Republican Governor in 20 years if polling surveys continue the trends as they're showing.
Rating: LIKELY REPUBLICAN PICK-UP

*VERMONT (OPEN):
Inside the Green Mountain State, four-term incumbent Vermont Governor Richard A. Snelling chose not to seek reelection to a fifth two-year term in 1984. Vermont Democrats quickly united behind former Vermont Lieutenant Governor Madeleine Kunin while the Vermont Republicans united behind Vermont State Attorney General John J. Easton, Jr., . Kunin could make history as the Green Mountain State's first female Governor if elected.
Rating: TOSS-UP

*WASHINGTON:
Inside the Evergreen State, incumbent Washington Governor John Spellman and Pierce County Executive Booth Gardner are heading towards an all-out clash in the battle for the Washington Governor's Mansion. Gardner is attempting to become Washington's first Democratic Governor since Albert Rosellini. Odds-makers suggest Gardner is slightly favored to regain the Washington Governor's Mansion for the Washington Democratic Party.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*WEST VIRGINIA (OPEN):
Inside the Mountaineer State, two-term incumbent Governor Jay Rockefeller was prevented from succeeding himself and launched his campaign for the United States Senate in 1984. Former West Virginia Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr., is facing off against West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Clyde M. See, Jr., in the battle for the West Virginia Governor's Mansion. Should Moore prevail in November, he'll become the Mountaineer State's longest-serving Governor with 12 years of service by 16 January 1989.
Rating: LEANS REPUBLICAN PICK-UP

*AMERICAN SAMOA:
Two-term incumbent American Samoa Governor Peter Tali Coleman chose not to seek reelection to a third consecutive term in 1984. Former Delegagte At-Large AP Lutali is favored to win the Governorship for the American Samoa Democratic Party in November.
Rating: LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PICK-UP

*PUERTO RICO:
Inside the Free Association State, the third installment of the battle for La Fortaleza between two-term incumbent Puerto Rico Governor Carlos Romero Barcelo versus former Puerto Rico Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon (where Romero Barcelo defeated Hernandez in 1976 and again in their 1980 rematch) has been very intriguing to watch amongst Puerto Ricans. Political analysts strongly expect voter turnout in the 51st State of the United States to exceed 88% in November.
Rating: LEANS DEMOCRATIC/PPD


​

 

[Sergeant Foley]

1984 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Monday, 16 July-Thursday, 19 July 1984
George Moscone Convention Center
San Francisco, California

​

*(Day 1 Speaker)
Monday, 16 July 1984:
* (3:00 PM PST)
Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley (D-CA).
*United States Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA).
*California Lieutenant Governor Leo T. McCarthy (D-CA).
*Nancy Pelosi.
*Peter Kelly.
*Walter Shorenstein.

*(4:00 PM PST)
*San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
*(4:30 PM PST): Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA) and United States Senator Rosalynn Carter (D-GA).
*Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton (D-AR).
*(5:15 PM PST)
*Texas Governor Mark W. White, Jr., (D-TX).
*New York State Governor Mario M. Cuomo (D-NY State) delivers Keynote Address.

*(Day 2 Speakers)
Tuesday, 17 July 1984
*(1:30 PM PST)
*California State Treasurer Jesse Unruh (D-CA).
*California State Assembly Speaker Willie L. Brown, Jr., (D-CA).
*(4:00 PM PST)
*US House of Representatives Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill (D-MA 08th)
*(5:00 PM PST)
*US Rep. Timothy E. Wirth (D-CO)
*Glenn Watts, President of the Communication Workers of America.
*US Rep. William H. Gray, III (D-PA)
*US Rep. Mary Rose Oakar (D-OH)
US Rep. Claude Pepper (D-FL).
*(6:00 PM PST)
Reverend Jesse Jackson (D-IL), President of the Rainbow Coalition.
*(6:45 PM PST)
*San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros (D-TX).
*Former US Rep. Martha Keys (D-KS).
*US Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO).
*US Rep. Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
*United States Senator George J. Mitchell (D-ME).

*(Day 3 Speakers)
Wednesday, 18 July 1984
*(1:30 PM PST)
*California State Attorney General John Van de Kamp (D-CA).
*California State Senate President Pro Tempore David Roberti (D-CA).
*Virginia Governor Chuck Robb (D-VA).
*US Rep. Daniel Rostenkowski (D-IL).
*US Rep. Gillis Long (D-LA).
*(3:00 PM PST)
*Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower (D-TX).
*Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe (D-MN).
*Nebraska Governor Bob Kerrey (D-NE).
*(4:05 PM PST)
*United States Senator Juan H. Cintron Garcia (D-PR).
*Former US Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX 18th).
*Cicely Tyson.
*United States Senator Daniel Inoyue (D-HI); United States Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD); United States Senator Dolph Briscoe (D-TX).
*(5:30 PM PST)
*United States Senator Gary Hart (D-CO).
*United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA).
*United States Senator Alan J. Dixon (D-IL).
*(6:25 PM PST)
*United States Senator Wendell Ford (D-KY) introduces Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins (D-KY).
*(7:00 PM PST)
*Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins (D-KY) delivers acceptance speech as the Democratic Party Vice Presidential nominee.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My fellow Democrats, I hereby accept your nomination to become the next Vice President of the United States. [Cheers] It's the greatest honor of my life and I can assure you, I will be fighting like Hell to make Bruce Babbitt our next President......
......We've had enough of the same old, same old. The Republicans have held the Presidency for the past 16 years and sell themselves as so-called moderates. They ain't anymore (Crowd chanting 'They ain't anymore'). No, my friends, they have revealed their true faces. It's Goldwater's party and now that President Bush is in office, every poll shows that Bushnomics is NOT working. They want to go back to the failed economic policies of the 1920s. But we have a message for George Bush and the Republicans: We are going to win this election (Cheers). And we will have Bruce Babbitt as our next President. A President, who fights for the future of kids and grandkids. Let's come together and make it happen. Let's win this election in November! [Cheers].
​

*(Day 4 Speakers):
Thursday, 19 July 1984
*(2:00 PM PST)
*California State Controller Kenneth Cory (D-CA).
*Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson (D-CA).
*United States Senator Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ).
*United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX).
*US House Majority Leader James C. Wright (D-TX).
*US Rep. Tony Coelho (D-CA).
*(3:37 PM PST)
*United States Senator John Glenn (D-OH).
*US Rep. Albert A. Gore, Jr., (D-TN 04th).
*United States Senator Jim Sasser (D-TN).
*Chicago Mayor Harold Washington (D-IL).
*West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller (D-WV).
*United States Senator Lawton Chiles (D-FL).
*Florida Governor Bob Graham (D-FL).
*(4:00 PM PST)
*New Orleans Mayor Ernest N. "Dutch" Morial (D-LA).
*US Rep. Lindy Boggs (D-LA 02nd).
*US Rep. John Breaux (D-LA 07th).
*United States Senator Russell B. Long (D-LA).
*Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards (D-LA).
*(5:37 PM PST)
*US Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ 02nd).
*Denver Mayor Frederico Pena (D-CO).
*Colorado Governor Richard "Dick" Lamm (D-CO).
*(6:00 PM PST)
*Arizona First Lady Hattie Babbitt (D-AZ) introduces her husband, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ).
*(6:39 PM PST)
*Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ) delivers his acceptance speech as the Democratic Party presidential nominee.

​

......"Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Americans: Are you ready? Are you ready to building a new future for our great country in peace and prosperity? I can tell you, I am definitely ready. And that's why I strongly accept your nomination for President of the United States! [Cheers]. We all know the Republicans and President Bush and where they want to take us. Back to the disastrous 1920s. Our future. As one nation under God. I am running for President to building a future for all Americans: One of the first bills introduced will be a major comprehensive economic recovery plan, which will help working Americans and their families out of the disastrous failed Bushnomics. The White House has tragically failed by President Bush's unwillingness of listening to common sense. In fact, it seems like he's taking his marching orders from the likes of Jesse Helms [Boos] and Jack Kemp. I want to invest in our nation's future with specific, detailed tax breaks for the Middle Class and asking those, who are living in the life of luxury, to make things a two-way street. Because we are the Democrats. We care about the common people in all 51 States. That's what we have this party for. Not the Fords. Not the Rockefellers. Not the Holtons. Second, I will raise the minimum wage to a living wage and building modern infrastructure. And third, we will turn the federal government around as I already have in Arizona. I cleaned up what some of my predecessors left us, and I will do it again. Lastly, I will make sure that we have proper ethics reforms guidelines in this country. And the great woman to do it: Governor Martha Layne Collins from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the next Vice President of the United States! Let's go my fellow Democrats, we are going to win this election and send President Bush back to Texas, where he belongs and send Vice President Baker back to Tennessee, sending both of them into retirement!"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

1984 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
Monday, 20 August-Thursday, 23 August 1984
Dallas Convention Center
Dallas, Texas

​

*Day 1 Speakers: Monday, 20 August 1984
*5:00 PM CST: Dallas Mayor Starke Taylor (R-TX).
*5:30 PM CST: US Rep. Steve Bartlett (R-TX 03rd).
*6:00 PM CST: Former Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr., (R-TX)
*6:30 PM CST: US Rep. Phil Gramm (R-TX 06th)
*7:00 PM CST: Former Vice President Edward W. Brooke, III (R-MA).
*7:30 PM CST: US Rep. Guy Vander Jagt (R-MI 03rd).
*8:00 PM CST: US Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane J. Kirkpatrick (D-MD).
*8:30 PM CST: US Senate Majority Leader Ted Stevens (R-AK).
*9:00 PM CST: US Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret M. Heckler (R-MA).
*9:30 PM CST: US Treasurer Katherine Davalos Ortega (R-NM) delivers Keynote Address.

*Day 2 Speakers: Tuesday, 21 August 1984
*7:00 PM CST: Oregon Governor Victor G. Atiyeh (R-OR).
*7:30 PM CST: United States Senator Richard G. Lugar (R-IN).
*8:00 PM CST: US Rep. Trent Lott (R-MS 05th).
*8:30 PM CST: Tampa Mayor Robert Martinez (R-FL).
*9:00 PM CST: US House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R-IL 18th).
*9:30 PM CST: Former President Linwood Holton (R-VA).
*10:00 PM CST: United States Senator Robert J. "Bob" Dole (R-KS).
*10:25 PM CST: US Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole (R-KS).

*Day 3 Speakers: Wednesday, 22 August 1984
*6:30 PM CST: Illinois Governor James R. "Big Jim" Thompson (R-IL).
*7:00 PM CST: The Rev. EV Hill (R-CA) of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church: Los Angeles, California.
*7:30 PM CST: United States Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM).
*7:45 PM CST: Former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Roger Staubach (R-TX).
*8:00 PM CST: Tribute Film of the late President Ronald Reagan.
*8:39 PM CST: Former First Lady Nancy Reagan (R-CA).
*9:31 PM CST: Former US Defense Secretary John G. Tower (R-TX) and United States Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ).
*10:00 PM CST: Second Lady Danice Joy Baker (R-TN) introduces her husband, Vice President Baker.
*10:15 PM CST: Vice President Howard Baker (R-TN) delivers Acceptance Speech.

......"They're going to say 'Yes' to George Bush and the Republican Party. We've shown our fellow citizens we know how to govern------and how not to. We're as united in our purpose as the Democrats are divided in theirs. We said we put America back to work. We did.
......We said we'd get government off people's backs. We did. We said we'd make America strong again. We did.
We said we'd restore America's commitment to freedom and justice in the world------and for starters, we rescued freedom and justice and 1,100 Americans on the island of Grenada.

We've done these things because we have faith in the people and the nation we serve. We don't have to wave the flag to prove we love this country. We were waving the flag when some people were burning it. We want America to be successful, not miserable.
We want America to be a strong, compassionate, peaceful country that believes in itself and builds a better future for its people one day at a time. We want the world to remember that the greatest revolution for the rights of mankind was begun in this country two centuries ago------and it's not over yet.

The right to life, the right to liberty, the right to pursue happiness are the gifts of God, not the government. No government on earth should presume to interfere with these fundamental rights of men and women.

People can buy cars, and houses, and take vacations again. Three million small businesses have been started since 1980. Seven million new jobs have been created in the last 19 months alone. Governor Babbitt can't stand it!
People of every race, religion, gender and generation are sharing in this progress. We're spending more money to help people in genuine need than any other government in history. People don't need government to tell them what to do and how to do it. And Governor Babbitt can't stand it!

So he's trying to invent another America------a trembling, despairing, miserable America that needs the Democratic Party to come to its rescue. The Democrats are doing their best to rebuild the old coalition that elected Franklin Roosevelt so many times, but its not going to work (the Crowd chants: IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK! IT'S NOT GOING WORK! IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK!). Governor Babbitt is running for President, and he ain't no FDR (The crowd chants HE AIN'T NO FDR! HE AIN'T NO FDR! HE AINT' NO FDR! HE AIN'T NO FDR! HE AIN'T NO FDR! HE AIN'T NO FDR!) And the only rescue America has lately was from the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress in 1980.

We believe that no right is more fundamental than the right to live in peace, free from harassment of government and the haunting spectre of war.
We long for the day when those who choose now to be our adversaries will choose instead to abandon their dangerous quest for dominion------and join us in fighting the real enemies of this world: hunger, disease, ignorance, want and war itself.

These are goals worthy of a great people. We are a great people. In the last four years, we've shown the world again just how great we are.
We're Americans. We're proud of it. And we're going to celebrate it in 1984 by reelecting George Bush President of the United States."​

*Day 4 Speakers: Thursday, 23 August 1984
*7:00 PM CST: California Governor George Deukmejian (R-CA).
*7:19 PM CST: Michigan Governor William G. Milliken (R-MI).
*7:41 PM CST: United States Senator Jeremiah Denton (R-AL).
*8:00 PM CST: Former US Transportation Secretary Thaddeus Coleman (R-VA).
*8:30 PM CST: United States Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS).
*9:00 PM CST: First Lady Barbara Bush (R-TX) introduces her husband, President Bush.
*9:37 PM CST: Film introduction of President Bush.
*10:00 PM CST: President George HW Bush (R-TX) delivers Acceptance Speech.

......"But our message from Dallas is: The American people want less spending------less regulation, and not more taxes.
They want to keep America's dynamic economy strong.
They want to reduce the deficits by making government more efficient, holding the line on spending, and through economic growth.

And as for a balanced budget, our message is this: Let the big spenders in Congress step aside. Give us a balanced-budget amendment.
Give us the line-item veto and watch yours truly, as the President can do.

I heard that speaker in San Francisco last month exhorting his fellow Democrats with the cry, 'Our time has come; our time has come'. "Your Time Has Passed."

The American people have a message for the tax-raisers, the free spenders, the excess regulators, the government-knows-best handwringers, those who promise every special interest group everything and that message is this: "Your time has passed; your time has passed!"
No matter how your rhetoric------no matter how your rhetoric tries to move away from your voting record, no matter how hard you try to turn your back on the failed big government policies of the past, no matter how much you talk about family values, this country will not retreat. You've had your chance. Your time has passed.

Since coming into office, productivity is up; personal savigns are up; consumer spending is up; housing starts are up; take-home pay is up; inflation, the cruelest tax of all is down, and more Americans are at work than at any time in the history of the United States. And that's a fact!

More Americans are enjoying our country because our parks are cleaner and our air is purer. More lands have been acquired for parks, more for wilderness. The quality of life is better. And that's a fact.

You know, more Americans are giving to help others. Private contributions in that great tradition of neighbor helping neighbor are up. And that's a fact......"
​

*11:00 PM CST: Singing of "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles (D-CA).

 

[Sergeant Foley]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Prayers going out to the Carter family upon learning about today's news about James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr., who according to his grandson, former State Senator Jason Carter, suggesting his grandfather isn't expected to live much longer. I will have lots to say about it WHEN the inevitable news comes out of Plains, Georgia.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 84: CAMPAIGNS AGREEING TO TWO PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES AND ONE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
*Friday, 24 August 1984: Less than 24 hours following the Republican National Convention, the two major campaigns, following long dragged-out negotiations, have agreed to participate in two debates for the presidential nominees and one debate for the vice presidential nominees. Originally, the Babbitt campaign requested five debates for the presidential nominees, but the Bush team only agreed to two debates specifically.

The first presidential debate between President George HW Bush and Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt will be scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Center in Louisville, Kentucky on 7 October 1984 and the second presidential debate will be scheduled to take place at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri on 21 October 1984.

The vice presidential debate between Vice President Howard Baker and Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins is scheduled to take place at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 11 October 1984.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

NEW GALLUP POLLS ON THE 1984 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
*Thursday, 30 August 1984: Just before the 1984 presidential campaign turns into its final stage on Labor Day, President Bush benefited from a huge convention bump following an extraordinary, successful Republican National Convention in Dallas. With his approval rating at 63%, the incumbent President leads Governor Babbitt by 23 percentage points in the nation. With a little more than two months, the Arizona Governor has quite a lot of a huge uphill battle climb. President Bush's popularity and the overwhelming unity inside the Republican Party also benefits the generic ballot question in terms of who Americans want to control Congress. As of now, Republicans are favored to maintain control of the United States Senate with the potential of flipping more Senate seats, while Democrats are going to become hard-pressed in keeping their majority in the US House of Representatives.

President George HW Bush Job Approval Rating:
Approve: 63%
Disapprove: 31%

1984 Presidential Election Match-Up:
President George HW Bush (R-TX): 59%
Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ): 36%

1984 Congressional Ballot:
Democrats: 59%
Republicans: 41%

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: STEVENS AND BYRD KILL POTENTIAL INVESTIGATION INTO RUMORED WEAPONS SHIPMENT TO CONTRAS FIGHTING NICARAGUAN REGIME; STRIKES BUDGETING DEAL WITH BUSH

*Monday, 25 June 1984: Senate Majority Leader Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Senate Minority Leader Robert Byrd (D-WV) held a joint news conference that neither would support any potential Senate investigation of the Bush administration's controversial Contras policy in regards to weapons shipments to Freedom Fighters fighting the regime of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. The administration had received heavy scrutiny following reports of United States Senator Daniel Inoyue (D-HI) accused the Bush administration of lying to Congress when US Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the early part of June. A group of Democratic United States Senators including Inoyue accused Secretary Weinberger of ethical wrongdoing.

The next day, President George HW Bush and Vice President Howard Baker held a meeting with congressional leaders on the 1984/85 federal budget. Following hours of consultations in the White House, an official agreement was reached: the President approved increased aid for farmers and social programs that Senator Byrd asked for, while Stevens got major federal contracting for pork-barrel projects to Alaskans including other necessities. Stevens seemed very pleased with the deal he got; Vice President Baker noted the agreement prevented a dragged-out budget fight over the campaign Season. "In addition, it's a great sign that the administration and a congressional majority can deliver results in an election year," President Bush added.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: PRESIDENT BUSH AND US SECRETARY OF STATE SCHULTZ ANNOUNCE MAJOR DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGH IN US/HONG KONG TALKS; HONG KONG ALLOWED TO GET SEAT ON UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

*Friday, 1 September 1984: On July 11th, the White House invited for "major special announcement on foreign policy", scheduled for the following day. Over the past few weeks, reports had been indicating that major diplomatic talks between the United States and Hong Kong were soon to be concluded successfully; just as US Secretary of State George Schultz told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee just a few months ago. However, because of the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco and the Republican National Convention in Dallas, national attention was focused on the 1984 Presidential campaign.

On September 1st, at the White House, President George HW Bush joined by Secretary Schultz , went before the national and international press:

President Bush: "Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Americans and members of the international community: It's my pleasure to announce that a major comprehensive agreement with the Commonwealth of Hong Kong, known as the United States/Hong Kong Strategic Talks, has been officially reached. After many difficult and tough years, representatives of the United States federal government and representatives of the Hong Konger government were able to negotiate new major diplomatic breakthroughs in continuing the heightening relationship between our two countries. In the 47 years since Hong Kong was able to achieve independence, they have been proving to the entire international community that they deserve a seat at the diplomatic table. Now the final version of the agreement will be presented to the public within the coming weeks, as our representatives working out the final details. The signing ceremony will take place in Victoria, the place where the talks were conducted. Together with my team, I will personally meet with Prime Minister Lei Dang for this special ceremony and sign the document on behalf of the United States of America. We expect this summit to take place in the early days of December. The exact date is published soon. Today, I want to use this opportunity to thank all representatives of the American government for their hardworking tireless efforts and Secretary George P. Schultz in particular for his work. I also want to thank Prime Minister Dang and the Hong Konger delegation for their cooperation. Last but not least, I hope the Senate will subsequently ratify this historic agreement and make its contribution to a more stable and peaceful world. Secretary Schultz will now present some details of the agreement and be available for your questions. Thank you."

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 84: HOT PHASE OF THE 1984 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN BEGINS

Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt during campaign rally with US Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ 02nd) in Shreveport, LA: 5 September 1984.
​

*Tuesday, 5 September 1984: As August turned into September, and the Summer quickly faded into the Fall, the 1984 presidential campaign gained steam. While Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt and Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins focused their criticism on the Bush administration's controversial budgeting cuts and lack of deregulation policies, incumbent President George HW Bush and incumbent Vice President Howard Baker mainly focused on their record in office. While the President and Vice President refrained from taking direct shots at the opposition's ticket, several Bush surrogates viciously attacked Governors Babbitt and Collins. United States Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) stumped the campaign trail and slammed the Democrats for being "weak on foreign policy, weak on national defense and weak on public safety," and "an constant endless desire to tax and regulate 24/7". Especially the Democrats' calls to cutting the Bushnomics economic policies were a frequent target of the Bush campaign and other Republican politicians and officeholders. United States Senator Robert J. Dole (R-KS) argued that a Babbitt administration would sell America out to the highest bidder of our adversaries in contrast to the bold current leadership. Babbitt countered these attacks by accusing the administration of wasting money on some national defense initiatives due to controversial chaotic mismanagement in the Pentagon, referring to the ethics investigations against US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. "The President either doesn't get it or doesn't care about the clear incompetent chaos by Secretary Weinberger due to several controversies under his leadership," he told a crowd during a campaign rally in Georgia. Governor Collins complained about the lack of Senate oversight for intelligence agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the controversial Operation Cointelpro. Claims that Vice President Howard Baker strongly called "downright stupid and ridicolous", pointing to the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatves and Republican-controlled United States Senate.

One of the concerns for the Democratic ticket was the weak polling numbers and the frequent questions by journalists on them. Governor Babbitt and his supporters made confident impressions, often referring to the upset reelection victory of then-President Harry S. Truman in 1948. However, behind closed doors, the mood inside Babbitt campaign headquarters in Phoenix was extremely very nervous and even frustrated or afraid. Closed aides to the Arizona Governor and Democratic members of Congress while they praised Babbitt for his selection of Governor Collins to be Vice President, they also faulted Babbitt, among other things, lacking legislative experience considering neither Babbitt or Collins served in Congress or even offering different alternatives throughout the entire campaign while President Bush was aggressive on the television airwaves. Although the Kentucky Governor brought in a lot of moderate voters including female voters to the campaign and a good ground game including aggressive Southern Strategy counterbalance in competing in the South, polls showed Collins' presence on the ticket not doing much in terms of gaining massive ground against a popular incumbent. Behind the scenes in Phoenix, aides admitted that Governor Babbitt has an extremely uphill battle to pulling off an upset victory in November. Their single greatest hopes are going to hinge on the upcoming televised debates in October if Babbitt wants to turn the tide and turns things around. Otherwise, some voices express concern that President Bush would be reelected in a landslide and could potentially win 49 out of 51 States. However, some Babbitt campaign surrogates express confidence that Babbitt will flip several States especially in the South.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

CAMPAIGN 84: OVER 5 IN 6 ASIAN AMERICANS SUPPORTING BUSH, POLLING SURVEY SAYS

An early September Gallup polling survey is giving Democrats much reasons to be worried about: The polling survey, conducted only among Asian American/Pacific Islanders, showed that 57% of Asians plan to vote for incumbent President George HW Bush in the upcoming November 6th general election. 41% were in favor of the Babbitt/Collins ticket. The poll also found that 73% approved Bush's job performance; 83% approved the administration's handling of foreign policy. Especially the Bush administration's successful Operation BootStick in the late Fall of 1983 and Spring 1984 received excellent high grades among all demographics.

If these numbers continue to hold true on Election Day, this would have major dramatic consequences. Especially in the Southwest and other States with growing Asian and Pacific Islander American population, including parts of the Northeast, Midwest and South. Experts expect a high Asian American turnout nationwide due to the Bush administration's staunchly conservative foreign policy initiatives. In his successful 1976 massive landslide reelection, the late Nelson Rockefeller took 73% of the Asian American vote. The tide continued in 1980, when the late Ronald Reagan won 63% compared to Hugh Carey's 35%. In this election, both candidates have staunch support from Asian Americans.

THE BUSH SALUTE

Quite the unexpected response from the President of the United States: While doing a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 19th, a group of disrupting environmental leftists repeatedly yelled at President Bush while talking to voters and showed him the middle finger; The President himself couldn't hold back his anger. He showed them double barrels of the middle finger in return.

The Babbitt campaign and Democrats, including some political analysts and pundits blasted the President's behavior in their responses. However, President Bush refused to apologized "I was responding to these fools in kind," he said when asked by a reporter the following day in Harrisburg. Republican allies of the White House staunchly defended the President; Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh pointed to his own handling of disruptive demonstrators dating back to 1980, for example when he said "these annoying fellows scream make peace, not nuclear war, but they look like as if they can neither." But whether the middle finger salute incident would have any potential impact on polling numbers remains to be seen.

Gallup Polling Survey (30 September 1984)
Little movement in the polling surveys: President Bush's approval ratings dipped three points, while Governor Babbitt gained numbers in the nationwide head-to-head matchup polling survey. However, Babbitt is still way behind by double digits, including in the State-by-State breakdowns in all 50 States. However, Democrats still hold an advantage in the generic ballot for Congress.

President George HW Bush Job Approval Rating:
Approve: 57%
Disapprove: 39%

1984 General Election Match-Up:
President George HW Bush (R-TX): 55%
Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ): 41%

1984 Generic Congressional Ballott:
Democrats: 54%
Republicans: 42%

 

[Sergeant Foley]

PRESIDENT BUSH MEETS WITH POPE CARLOS I AT THE VATICAN
*Thursday, 30 September/Friday, 1 October 1984: President George HW Bush accompanied by his wife, First Lady Barbara Bush; US Secretary of State George P. Shultz and White House Chief of Staff James A. Baker, III led the US delegation to the formal ceremony at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City just nine months following the official establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See. They met with Pope Carlos I at the Apostolic Palace, where there was a special Courtesy Call and bilateral conference meeting between President Bush and Pope Carlos I, where they discussed the heightened diplomatic relations; spiritual guidance, etc.,

GROWING UNREST ESCALATES IN COLOMBIA
"Something's about to explode in the Americas and soon, if we don't get control of this, it could open the door for crazies like Ortega and Castro", Central Intelligence Agency Director William J. Casey described the situation in Colombia. Over the past few weeks and months, tensions between flamboyant Colombian President Lieutenant General Seymour Quintero and staunch conservative segments of the Colombian Armed Forces including parts of the Roman Catholic Church, increased steadily and causing huge rifts within the South American country. Previous administrations such as the Rockefeller administration; the Holton administration and the Reagan adadministration, all ignored Quintero's unhinged bipolar leftist schtick, the Bush administration ignored Quintero as well; Secret reports revealed in late May confirmed, that then-President Rockefeller approved a secret CIA operation to prevent Quintero from launching a leftist military coup d'etat in the Spring of 1977. The botched operation led to the ouster of then-Colombian President Alfonso Lopez Michelsen and resulted in Quintero taking over the Presidency altogether: Quintero went on to win reelection to full four-year terms in 1978 and 1982. And leaked reports further read: during a meeting on 24 November 1983, 11 days after ascending to the Presidency following Reagan's assassination, President Bush decided to use economic and political pressure by isolating Colombia from the international community and studying possibilities and options in destabilizing the Quintero government. However, the President told Secretaries Shultz and Weinberger that he wouldn't be in favor of anything, which could potentially provoke a full-scale civil war and raised the possibility of tolerating Quintero IF he withdraws and drops his contorversial nationalization plans on putting American businesses and industries under control of the Colombian government.

The most recent uprise in Colombia in these early days of October has made the issue more pressing than ever, especially with President Bush appearing poised to win reelection in November. Most political observers expressed their assumption, that the turmoil wasn't solely a product of American interference as Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Cuban President Fidel Castro have claimed, but the result of increasing tensions within Colombia, that was now on the brink of a potential either a civil war or coup d'etat attempts. The Bush administration had to be prepared for any explosive front in the Americas any moment now.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

COLOMBIA: DIFFERING OPINIONS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION; PRESIDENT BUSH TO DECIDE SOON
*Monday, 4 October 1984: President Bush assembled all major advisors on foreign policy matters and discussed various options. White House sources revealed that Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger was in favor of allowing Quintero to be ousted altogether with violence or even contribute to his downfall through secret operations. "That uppity son of a bitch needs to be GONE! Period!" he reportedly said. Others like Vice President Howard Baker and Secretary of State George P. Shultz warned that a bloody military coup and urged the President to resolving the matter through diplomacy since Quintero still had overwhelming support from the Colombian people, with a 67% approval rating. "President Quintero either has to step down voluntarily because he obviously cannot govern anymore, or at least consider forming a unity government with the opposition," Shultz is quoted to have said. US Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick favored some middle road: A unity government without Quintero. The big question was now: Which of these options presented him, if any, would President George HW Bush ultimately chose?

 

[Sergeant Foley]

First Presidential Debate
9:00 PM EST, Thursday, 7 October 1984
Center for the Performing Arts
Louisville, Kentucky​

Walters: "President Bush."

President Bush: "Well, I'm surprised. I think I just heard Governor Babbitt say that he would do away with all covert actions, and if so, that has serious ramifications, as the intelligence community knows. This is serious business. And sometimes it's quiet support for a friend, and so I'll leave that one there. But let me help you with the difference, Governor Babbitt, between Nicaragua and the embassy in Lebanon. Nicaragua-we were held by a hostile foreign government. In Lebanon you had a wanton, terrorist action where the government opposed it. We went to Lebanon to give peace a chance, to stop the bombing of civilians in Beirut, to remove 13,000 terrorists from Lebanon-and we did. We saw the formation of a government of reconciliation and for somebody to suggest, as our two opponents have, that these men died in shame-they better not tell the parents of those young Marines. They gave peace a chance. And our allies were with us-the British, the French, the Italians.

Walters: "Governor Babbitt."

Governor Babbitt: "Let me just say, first of all, that I strongly resent, President Bush, your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy. I've attended several diplomatic trade missions as Governor of Arizona by fostering economic development and close fostering of bilateral relationships with several countries such as Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea; I was there when the embassy was held hostage in Nicaragua, and I have been there and seen what has happened in the past several months; During your administration, President Bush. Secondly, please don't categorize my answers either. Leave the interpretation of my answers to the American people who are watching this debate. And let me say that no one has ever said that those young men who were killed through the negligence of this administration and others ever died in shame. No one who has a child who is nineteen of twenty years old, a son, would ever say that at the loss of anybody's child."

Walters: "Mr. Barnes."

Barnes: "Governor Babbitt, you've repeatedly said that you didn't want your sons to die in an undeclared war for an uncertain cause. But recently, you also suggested that it may become necessary to erecting a military quarantine or blockade for Nicaragua and potentially other foreign hotspots. Under what circumstances would you advocate the use of military force, American combat forces, in Central America?"

Governor Babbitt: "If elected President, I would advocate the use of military force when it was necessary to protecting the security of our great nation, protecting our national security interests or protecting our people and protecting the interests of our friends and neighbors. When I become the 43rd President on January 20, 1985, when I referred to the quarantine of Central America, a country in Central America, what I am referring to is the last resort after all other means of attempting to settle the situation down in that region of the world had been exhausted and I'm referring to diplomacy efforts. Quite frankly now what's being done by this administration is an Americanizing of a regional conflict. They're moving in militarily instead of promoting the Contadora Process, which you know, is the process that is in place with the support of Mexico and Colombia and Panama and Venezuela. Instead of supporting the Contadora Process, our administration has in Nicaragua been supporting covert activities to keep that revolution going in order to overthrow the Sandinista government; in El Salvador was not pushing the head of the government to moving toward correction of the civil rights; human rights problems that existed there, and now this administration seems almost befuddled by the fact that Nicaragua is moving to participate in the Contadora Process, and El Salvador is, through its President Duarte, is reaching out to the guerillas in order to negotiate a peace. What Governor Collins and I feel about the situation down there is that what you do is you deal first though negotiation. That force is not a first resort but certainly a last resort in any instance.

Walters: "A follow-up, please."

Barnes: "Many times in its history the United States has gone to war in order to defend freedom in other lands. Does your answer mean that you would be willing to forgo the use of military force even if if meant the establishment of a Soviet-backed dictatorship so close to our own borders?"

Governor Babbitt: "Absolutely NOT! I think what you have to do is work with the government-I assume you're speaking about the government of Nicaragua-work with that government to achieving a pluralistic society. I mean they do have elections, which are coming up on November 4th. I think we have to work with them to achieving a peaceful, diplomatic solution in bringing about a pluralistic country. No, I'm not willing to live with a force that could be a danger to our country. Certainly, I would see that our country would be there putting all kinds of pressure on the neighboring countries of Honduras, of Costa Rica, of El Salvador, to promoting the kind of society that we can all live with and security in this country.

Barnes: "President Bush, both Cuba and Nicaragua are reported to be making preparations to defending themselves against a potential American invasion, which they claim could come this fall. And even some of your Democratic opponents in Congress have suggested that the administration might be planning a December surprise invasion. Can you tell us under what circumstances a reelected Bush administration would consider the use of force in Central America or the Caribbean?"

President Bush: "We don't think we're to be required to using force. Let me point out that there are 2,000 Cuban military and 7,500 so-called Cuban advisers in Nicaragua. There are 55 American military in El Salvador. I want to point out, Vice President Baker went down, on my specific instructions, to speak to the commandants in El Salvador and told them that they had to move with Mr. Magna, then the President of El Salvador, to respecting human rights. They have done that. They're moving well. I'm not saying it's perfect, but the difference between El Salvador and Nicaragua is like the difference between night and day. El Salvador went to the polls, Mr. Duarte was elected with 70 percent by the Salvadoran people in 70 percent voting in a certifiably free democratic election. In Nicaragua, you have something very different. You have a Marxist-Leninist group, the Sandinistas, that came into power talking democracy. They have aborted their democracy. They have humiliated the Holy Father. They have cracked down on the only press organ there, La Prensa, censoring the press something that should concern every American. They have not had any human rights at all. They will not permit free elections. Mr. Cruz, who was to be the only viable challenger to Nicaragua, the Sandinistas, to the junta, to Mr. Ortega, went down there and found that the ground rules were so unfair that he couldn't even wage a campaign. One country is devoid of human rights. The other is struggling to perfecting their democracy. We don't like it, frankly, when Nicaragua exports its revolution or serves as a conduit for supplies coming over from such "democracies" as Bulgaria, the Soviet Union and Cuba among others, trying to destabilize El Salvador. Yes, we're concerned about that. Because we want to see this trend toward democracy continue. There have been something like thirteen countries since we've come in move toward the democractic route, and let me say that Grenada is unrelated. And I have a big difference with Governor Babbitt on that one. We gave those four tiny Caribbean countries a fighting chance. We saved the lives, and most of those thousand students said they were in jeopardy. Grenada was a proud moment because we did stand up for democracy. But in terms of threat in these countries, nuclear, I mean, weapons, no. There's not that kind of a threat. It's Governor Babbitt and some of the Democratic cohorts in Congress, who proposed the quarantines. Not this administration!"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

Highlights of the 1984 Vice Presidential Debate
******Vice President Howard Baker (R-TN) vs. Governor Martha Layne Collins (D-KY)******
Monday, 11 October 1984
Pennsylvania Hall Civic Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
​

Sander Vancour (ABC News): "A quick follow-up on this, Vice President Baker: On which issues would you like to work on if reelected? Or to what tasks has or will President Bush assigned to you?"

Vice President Baker: "As it is well known, I've chaired the Commission on Government Efficiency and Transparency, which successfully saved taxpayer dollars, and been the President's representative in working with my old colleagues in the Congress. Additionally, I have traveled the world and supported the extraordinary foreign policy of President Bush and Secretary Shultz. I would like to continue this because our policies have been producing lots of bold results."

Vancour: "Last question before the closing statement: Governor Collins, you pushed Governor Babbitt to demand unconditional initiative on nationwide education reforms. Although then-New York State Governor Hugh Carey proposed something similar to this in 1980, Governor Babbitt seemed reluctant for such calls during the primary. Why do you believe this is the right way forward and not the conditional initiative of national education reforms President Bush had established?"

Governor Collins: "Sander, I'd put this straight: Governor Babbitt has not publicly addressed this specific issue during the campaign, but always been supportive of this demand even then-Governor Carey made the proposal of granting national education reforms subsidies. Now let me address the question: I have been a critic of lack of legislative progress regarding education reforms and believed since the Republicans have controlled the White House for the past 16 years and the United States Senate since 1981, and still no major education reform legislation in tackling the problems of what's happening in public schools across the country in all 51 States. I believe we ought to pursue alternatives which will make schoolchildren successful in the future. Several of the education proposals since I've been Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky included mandatory kindgergarten, remedial programs for elementary schoolchildren, mandatory testing and internship for teachers, including the implementation of academic receivership for underperforming schools. Now that other States such as North Carolina, Louisiana and Texas have pushed similar proposals of education reform and successfully passed these reforms, we should do something similar nationwide."

Vancour: "Vice President Baker, your response?"

Vice President Baker: "Well..... first, these proposals, under President Bush's program, have schoolchildren learning the basics: Mathematics, Science, Reading, Writing and the like. But let's not forget that when it came before the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, the Democrats blocked it. However, this administration wants to see that every child is successful and excelling in the classroom across all 51 States including the US Territories. But it's important that parents are knowing what's going on inside the children's schools to see what's being taught on different subjects. I strongly stand by the President's decision and I believe a vast majority of Americans do likewise. Second, if Governor Collins had her way, our international rankings when it comes to education would become a joke. Instead, we have aggressively pursued the basic education reform initiatives and letting the States and municipalities leading the efforts of education reform."

Vancour: "We're nearing the end of this debate and I would like to come to the closing statements. Governor Collins, you begin."

Governor Collins: "Thank you. My fellow citizens: In roughly three weeks, you will be heading to the polls and electing a new government. And when you do so, I urge you to think what kind of government you want: One that works for everyone or one that has primarily served the interests of big business and has or had cabinet members, who have shown lack of integrity. Governor Babbitt and I offer you a government, which is open, fair, honest and working for everyone by listening to your voice. A government that delivers better jobs, better schools, clean environment and that always puts our safety and national security first. Join Governor Babbitt and me in this effort to reclaiming this government for the common man and common woman. We want to be the servant of the people and ensure a fair living for everyone who is happy to be born in American soil or anyone who comes to this wonderful country to be part of our success story. Thank you and God bless America."

Vancour: "Vice President Baker, your closing statement."

Vice President Baker: "Thank you. My fellow Americans: In the past eight months since I've been serving as your Vice President under President Bush, an extraordinary leader, America has continued becoming stronger at home and more respected around the globe. We have delivered on equal justice for everyone, a growing economy and not just keeping the peace, but have made it safer and stronger than ever before. We have been a force for good and always and forever, be a beacon of hope, which millions of people around the world admire and want to join. The Bush/Baker administration has produced results with a pragmatic approach of governing. President Bush and I intend to continuing this work in the coming years tackling unfinished tasks ahead of us and make America an even better place to live. Therefore, President Bush and I ask for your support on November 6th. God Bless you, good night and may God Bless the United States of America!"

 

[Sergeant Foley]

PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH DECISIVELY WINS SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, SURVEYS SAY
*Wednesday, 23 October 1984: Two days following the second and final Presidential debate took place, Gallup released a survey which found that 63% of viewers felt President George HW Bush was the overwhelming winner of the second debate. Only 23% said the same on Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt. Asked why they voted this way, most respondents answered that President Bush made a more decisive impression with more critical knowledge and better administrative skills. These numbers were horrendous for the Babbitt campaign and even a Democratic spokesperson admitted the debate performance by their nominee was "semi-perfect".

Even more pressing was a new national polling survey, which gave President Bush a 25 percentage point lead over his challenger. While thus survey was seen as an outlier, even among Republicans, the trendline was working against the opposing ticket.

1984 General Election Match-Up
President George HW Bush (R-TX; Incumbent): 61%
Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ): 36%

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 19 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Live Coverage of the 1984 Presidential Election on ABC News.

 

[Sergeant Foley]

1984 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE BY ABC NEWS
WITH PETER JENNINGS AND DAVID BRINKLEY (PART I)
Tuesday, 6 November 1984
ABC News Headquarters
New York City, New York State

​

Peter Jennings: "Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today is November the 6th 1984, and you are watching ABC News live coverage of "The 84 Vote" of the United States presidential election. My name is Peter Jennings and joining with me with tonight's coverage is David Brinkley of ABC's "This Week with David Brinkley". We will be your moderators for tonight. Welcome again! After a long and hard, but overall fair fought campaign, the great showdown between incumbent Republican President George Herbert Walker Bush and his Democratic challenger, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt, has arrived. The President, according to numerous polling surveys, is the clear favorite to winning his first full four-year term in office. He ascended to the Presidency following the shocking, horrific assassination of then-President Ronald Reagan on November 13, 1983. We'll see how this and many down-ballot races will ultimately turn out. First a brief look at the closing time across America:

Let us also check out the blank electoral map. This map shall be filled with red for the Bush/Baker ticket and blue for the Babbitt/Collins ticket. We use yellow for states that are too early to call or too close to call to call. Take a look:

President George HW Bush (R-TX)/Vice President Howard Baker (R-TN): 0 Electoral Votes
Governor Bruce Babbitt (D-AZ)/Governor Martha Layne Collins (D-KY): 0 Electoral Votes
Too Early/Too Close to Call: 0 Electoral Votes.
​

COMING UP IN CHAPTER 19 OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC: Results Coming In!