Ronald Reagan's memorable age joke

Brut America

Whatever the outcome, the next president will be the oldest in U.S. history. Back in 1984, Ronald Reagan shot down age critics with one memorable joke…

Transcript

00:00This is the story of how a joke cost this man an election and guaranteed a second term

00:09for a president who many thought was too old to lead.

00:13You may have heard of him.

00:14His motto was let's make America great again.

00:18Many have dubbed him the greatest Republican president in history.

00:22You know who I'm talking about.

00:24This is Ronald Reagan, president of the United States.

00:26Well, let's take them on a little stroll down memory lane.

00:30So here's the thing.

00:31It was October 1984 and Reagan was in trouble.

00:35His performance in the first debate against his Democratic challenger, Walter Mondale,

00:40was, let's just say, underwhelming.

00:44He went in riding high with a 23-point lead in the polls and had little to gain and everything

00:50to lose in their faceoff.

00:52The great communicator, that's how he was known, struggled to, well, communicate.

00:57At 73, it seemed the Hollywood star had lost a bit of his shine.

01:02It's time that some people were reminded that actors are people.

01:06He seemed confused throughout the debate and stumbled over his words.

01:10What exactly were his gaffes, you're wondering?

01:12Well, for starters, he took credit for passing laws as governor of California that were actually

01:18passed by his Democratic predecessor, Pat Brown.

01:22He also said that a large portion of the military budget was for food and wardrobe.

01:28He didn't even remember what city he was in.

01:31It was Louisville.

01:32After an hour and a half, the president seemed flustered.

01:35No, I might as well just go with.

01:38You want to go with you?

01:39Okay.

01:40You want to wait?

01:41I'm all confused now.

01:42The next day, it seems the American people were confused too.

01:45Newspaper headlines across the country asked the question that was on everyone's lips.

01:51Was the president too old to lead?

01:53Well, two weeks later, they'd meet for the second debate.

01:5856 year old Mondale was riding high on the age question while the 73 year old president

02:03wanted to put it to bed once and for all.

02:07The president seemed ready this time, drawing on the skills that made him famous in the

02:11first place, his comedic chops.

02:14You already are the oldest president in history and some of your staff say you were tired

02:18after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale.

02:21I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep

02:25during the Cuba Missile Crisis.

02:27Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances?

02:32Not at all, Mr. Truitt, and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue

02:38of this campaign.

02:39I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.

02:49The moment would go down in debate history, but Reagan wasn't content to just ride that

02:54wave to election day.

02:56I'm terrified by the polls.

02:59Please don't read them anymore.

03:02Don't get complacent.

03:04Don't think your vote isn't needed.

03:05Go and vote and take others with you to do that.

03:10So, what happened next?

03:12More voters!

03:14More voters!

03:16I think that's just been arranged.

03:20Reagan's win was historic.

03:23He got the largest electoral college victory ever with 525 of 538 votes.

03:30To put that into perspective, he carried 49 of the 50 states.

03:35Mondale got just one, his home state of Minnesota, oh yeah, and the District of Columbia.

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