Vice President Mondale 1977
Walter F. Mondale
Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981
Ronald W. Reagan
George H. W. Bush, President of the United States, 1989 official portrait (cropped)
George H. W. Bush
Ferraro
Geraldine A. Ferraro
Arguments Table
Speech Name Component Year Date
Good evening from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I am Dorothy Ridings, the president of the League of Women Voters, the sponsor of this final Presidential debate of the 1984 campaign between Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Walter Mondale. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Our panelists for tonight's debate on defense and foreign policy issues are Georgie Anne Geyer, syndicated columnist for Universal Press Syndicate; Marvin Kalb, chief diplomatic correspondent for NBC News; Morton Kondracke, executive editor of the New Republic magazine; and Henry Trewhitt, diplomatic correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Edwin Newman, formerly of NBC News and now a syndicated columnist for King Features, is our moderator. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Ed. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Dorothy Ridings, thank you. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
A brief word about our procedure tonight. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The first question will go to Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
He'll have 2\1/2\ minutes to reply. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Then the panel member who put the question will ask a followup. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The answer to that will be limited to 1 minute. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
After that, the same question will be put to President Reagan. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Again, there will be a followup. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And then each man will have 1 minute for rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The second question will go to President Reagan first. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
After that, the alternating will continue. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
At the end there will be 4-minute summations, with President Reagan going last. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have asked the questioners to be brief. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Let's begin. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Ms. Geyer, your question to Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Central America Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, two related questions on the crucial issue of Central America. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You and the Democratic Party have said that the only policy toward the horrendous civil wars in Central America should be on the economic development and negotiations, with perhaps a quarantine of Marxist Nicaragua. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you believe that these answers would in any way solve the bitter conflicts there? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you really believe that there is no need to resort to force at all? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Are not the solutions to Central America's gnawing problems simply, again, too weak and too late? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe that the question oversimplifies the difficulties of what we must do in Central America. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Our objectives ought to be to strengthen the democracies, to stop Communist and other extremist influences, and stabilize the community in that area. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
To do that we need a three-pronged attack: one is military assistance to our friends who are being pressured; secondly, a strong and sophisticated economic aid program and human rights program that offers a better life and a sharper alternative to the alternative offered by the totalitarians who oppose us; and finally, a strong diplomatic effort that pursues the possibilities of peace in the area. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's one of the big disagreements that we have with the President -- that they have not pursued the diplomatic opportunities either within El Salvador or as between the countries and have lost time during which we might have been able to achieve a peace This brings up the whole question of what Presidential leadership is all about. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think the lesson in Central America, this recent embarrassment in Nicaragua where we are giving instructions for hired assassins, hiring criminals, and the rest -- all of this has strengthened our opponents. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President must not only assure that we're tough, but we must also be wise and smart in the exercise of that power. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We saw the same thing in Lebanon, where we spent a good deal of America's assets. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But because the leadership of this government did not pursue wise policies, we have been humiliated, and our opponents are stronger. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The bottom line of national strength is that the President must be in command, he must lead. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And when a President doesn't know that submarine missiles are recallable, says that 70 percent of our strategic forces are conventional, discovers 3 years into his administration that our arms control efforts have failed because he didn't know that most Soviet missiles were on land -- these are things a President must know to command. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President is called the Commander in Chief. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And he's called that because he's supposed to be in charge of the facts and run our government and strengthen our nation. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, if I could broaden the question just a little bit: Since World War II, every conflict that we as Americans have been involved with has been in non-conventional or irregular terms. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And yet, we keep fighting in conventional or traditional military terms. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Central American wars are very much in the same pattern as China, as Lebanon, as Iran, as Cuba, in their early days. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you see any possibility that we are going to realize the change in warfare in our time, or react to it in those terms? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We absolutely must, which is why I responded to your first question the way I did. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's much more complex. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You must understand the region; you must understand the politics in the area; you must provide a strong alternative; and you must show strength -- and all at the same time. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's why I object to the covert action in Nicaragua. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's a classic example of a strategy that's embarrassed us, strengthened our opposition, and undermined the moral authority of our people and our country in the region. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Strength requires knowledge, command. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We've seen in the Nicaraguan example a policy that has actually hurt us, strengthened our opposition, and undermined the moral authority of our country in that region. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, in the last few months it has seemed more and more that your policies in Central America were beginning to work. GEYER Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yet, just at this moment, we are confronted with the extraordinary story of a CIA guerrilla manual for the anti-Sandinista contras whom we are backing, which advocates not only assassinations of Sandinistas but the hiring of criminals to assassinate the guerrillas we are supporting in order to create martyrs. GEYER Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Is this not, in effect, our own state-supported terrorism? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No, but I'm glad you asked that question, because I know it's on many peoples' minds. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have ordered an investigation. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I know that the CIA is already going forward with one. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have a gentleman down in Nicaragua who is on contract to the CIA, advising -- supposedly on military tactics -- the contras. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And he drew up this manual. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It was turned over to the agency head of the CIA in Nicaragua to be printed. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And a number of pages were excised by that agency head there, the man in charge, and he sent it on up here to CIA, where more pages were excised before it was printed. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But some way or other, there were 12 of the original copies that got out down there and were not submitted for this printing process by the CIA. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, those are the details as we have them. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And as soon as we have an investigation and find out where any blame lies for the few that did not get excised or changed, we certainly are going to do something about that. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We'll take the proper action at the proper time. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I was very interested to hear about Central America and our process down there, and I thought for a moment that instead of a debate I was going to find Mr. Mondale in complete agreement with what we're doing, because the plan that he has outlined is the one we've been following for quite some time, including diplomatic processes throughout Central America and working closely with the Contadora group. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, I can only tell you about the manual -- that we're not in the habit of assigning guilt before there has been proper evidence produced and proof of that guilt. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But if guilt is established, whoever is guilty we will treat with that situation then, and they will be removed. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, Mr. President, you are implying then that the CIA in Nicaragua is directing the contras there. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'd also like to ask whether having the CIA investigate its own manual in such a sensitive area is not sort of like sending the fox into the chicken coop a second time? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm afraid I misspoke when I said a CIA head in Nicaragua. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
There's not someone there directing all of this activity. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
There are, as you know, CIA men stationed in other countries in the world and, certainly, in Central America. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And so it was a man down there in that area that this was delivered to, and he recognized that what was in that manual was in direct contravention of my own Executive order, in December of 1981, that we would have nothing to do with regard to political assassinations. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
What is a President charged with doing when he takes his oath of office? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
He raises his right hand and takes an oath of office to take care to faithfully execute the laws of the land. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President can't know everything, but a President has to know those things that are essential to his leadership and the enforcement of our laws. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
This manual -- several thousands of which were produced -- was distributed, ordering political assassinations, hiring of criminals, and other forms of terrorism. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Some of it was excised, but the part dealing with political terrorism was continued. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
How can this happen? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
How can something this serious occur in an administration and have a President of the United States in a situation like this say he didn't know? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President must know these things. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't know which is worse, not knowing or knowing and not stopping it. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And what about the mining of the harbors in Nicaragua which violated international law? Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
This has hurt this country, and a President's supposed to command. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have so many things there to respond to, I'm going to pick out something you said earlier. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You've been all over the country repeating something that, I will admit, the press has also been repeating -- that I believed that nuclear missiles could be fired and then called back. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I never, ever conceived of such a thing. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I never said any such thing. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
In a discussion of our strategic arms negotiations, I said that submarines carrying missiles and airplanes carrying missiles were more conventional-type weapons, not as destabilizing as the land-based missiles, and that they were also weapons that -- or carriers -- that if they were sent out and there was a change, you could call them back before they had launched their missiles. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I hope that from here on you will no longer be saying that particular thing, which is absolutely false. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
How anyone could think that any sane person would believe you could call back a nuclear missile, I think is as ridiculous as the whole concept has been. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, thank you for giving me a chance to straighten the record. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm sure that you appreciate that. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Laughter] Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Kalb, your question to President Reagan. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Soviet Union Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, you have often described the Soviet Union as a powerful, evil empire intent on world domination. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But this year you have said, and I quote. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
"If they want to keep their Mickey Mouse system, that's okay with me.'' KALB Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Which is it, Mr. President? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you want to contain them within their present borders and perhaps try to reestablish detente -- or what goes for detente -- or do you really want to roll back their empire? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have said on a number of occasions exactly what I believe about the Soviet Union. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I retract nothing that I have said. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe that many of the things they have done are evil in any concept of morality that we have. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I also recognize that as the two great superpowers in the world, we have to live with each other. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I told Mr. Gromyko we don't like their system. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They don't like ours. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we're not going to change their system, and they sure better not try to change ours. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But between us, we can either destroy the world or we can save it. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I suggested that, certainly, it was to their common interest, along with ours, to avoid a conflict and to attempt to save the world and remove the nuclear weapons. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I think that perhaps we established a little better understanding. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think that in dealing with the Soviet Union one has to be realistic. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I know that Mr. Mondale, in the past, has made statements as if they were just people like ourselves, and if we were kind and good and did something nice, they would respond accordingly. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the result was unilateral disarmament. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We canceled the B - 1 under the previous administration. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
What did we get for it? Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Nothing. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Soviet Union has been engaged in the biggest military buildup in the history of man at the same time that we tried the policy of unilateral disarmament, of weakness, if you will. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And now we are putting up a defense of our own. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I've made it very plain to them, we seek no superiority. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We simply are going to provide a deterrent so that it will be too costly for them if they are nursing any ideas of aggression against us. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, they claim they're not. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I made it plain to them, we're not. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
There's been no change in my attitude at all. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I just thought when I came into office it was time that there was some realistic talk to and about the Soviet Union. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we did get their attention. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Regions Vital to U.S. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Interests Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, perhaps the other side of the coin, a related question, sir. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Since World War II, the vital interests of the United States have always been defined by treaty commitments and by Presidential proclamations. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Aside from what is obvious, such as NATO, for example, which countries, which regions in the world do you regard as vital national interests of this country, meaning that you would send American troops to fight there if they were in danger? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Ah, well, now you've added a hypothetical there at the end, Mr. Kalb, about where we would send troops in to fight. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I am not going to make the decision as to what the tactics could be, but obviously there are a number of areas in the world that are of importance to us. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
One is the Middle East, and that is of interest to the whole Western World and the industrialized nations, because of the great supply of energy upon which so many depend there. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Our neighbors here in America are vital to us. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We're working right now in trying to be of help in southern Africa with regard to the independence of Namibia and the removal of the Cuban surrogates, the thousands of them, from Angola. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, I can say there are a great many interests. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe that we have a great interest in the Pacific Basin. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That is where I think the future of the world lies. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I am not going to pick out one and, in advance, hypothetically say, "Oh, yes, we would send troops there.'' Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't want to send troops any place. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm sorry, Mr. President. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Sir, your time was up. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
All right. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Soviet Union Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, you have described the Soviet leaders as, and I'm quoting, ". KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
. KALB NaN 1984 21 Oct 1984
. KALB NaN 1984 21 Oct 1984
cynical, ruthless, and dangerous,'' suggesting an almost total lack of trust in them. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
In that case, what makes you think that the annual summit meetings with them that you have proposed will result in agreements that would satisfy the interests of this country? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Because the only type of agreements to reach with the Soviet Union are the types that are specifically defined, so we know exactly what they must do; subject to full verification, which means we know every day whether they're living up to it; and followups, wherever we find suggestions that they're violating it; and the strongest possible terms. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have no illusions about the Soviet Union leadership or the nature of that state. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They are a tough and a ruthless adversary, and we must be prepared to meet that challenge, and I would. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Where I part with the President is that despite all of those differences we must, as past Presidents before this one have done, meet on the common ground of survival. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's where the President has opposed practically every arms control agreement, by every President, of both political parties, since the bomb went off. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And he now completes this term with no progress toward arms control at all, but with a very dangerous arms race underway instead. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
There are now over 2,000 more warheads pointed at us today than there were when he was sworn in, and that does not strengthen us. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We must be very, very realistic in the nature of that leadership, but we must grind away and talk to find ways of reducing these differences, particularly where arms races are concerned and other dangerous exercises of Soviet power. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
There will be no unilateral disarmament under my administration. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I will keep this nation strong. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I understand exactly what the Soviets are up to, but that, too, is a part of national strength. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
To do that, a President must know what is essential to command and to leadership and to strength. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's where the President's failure to master, in my opinion, the essential elements of arms control has cost us dearly. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
He's 3 years into this administration. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
He said he just discovered that most Soviet missiles are on land, and that's why his proposal didn't work. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I invite the American people tomorrow -- because I will issue the statement quoting President Reagan -- he said exactly what I said he said. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
He said that these missiles were less dangerous than ballistic missiles because you could fire them, and you could recall them if you decided there'd been a miscalculation. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm sorry, sir -- -- Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President must know those things. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Eastern Europe Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
A related question, Mr. Mondale, on Eastern Europe. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you accept the conventional diplomatic wisdom that Eastern Europe is a Soviet sphere of influence? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And if you do, what could a Mondale administration realistically do to help the people of Eastern Europe achieve the human rights that were guaranteed to them as a result of the Helsinki accords? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think the essential strategy of the United States ought not accept any Soviet control over Eastern Europe. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We ought to deal with each of these countries separately. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We ought to pursue strategies with each of them, economic and the rest, that help them pull away from their dependence upon the Soviet Union. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Where the Soviet Union has acted irresponsibly, as they have in many of those countries, especially, recently, in Poland, I believe we ought to insist that Western credits extended to the Soviet Union bear the market rate. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Make the Soviets pay for their irresponsibility. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That is a very important objective -- to make certain that we continue to look forward to progress toward greater independence by these nations and work with each of them separately. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm not going to continue trying to respond to these repetitions of the falsehoods that have already been stated here. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But with regard to whether Mr. Mondale would be strong, as he said he would be, I know that he has a commercial out where he's appearing on the deck of the Nimitz and watching the F - 14's take off. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's an image of strength -- except that if he had had his way when the Nimitz was being planned, he would have been deep in the water out there because there wouldn't have been any Nimitz to stand on -- he was against it. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Laughter] He was against the F - 14 fighter, he was against the M - 1 tank, he was against the B - 1 bomber, he wanted to cut the salary of all of the military, he wanted to bring home half of the American forces in Europe. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And he has a record of weakness with regard to our national defense that is second to none. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Hear, hear! AUDIENCE_MEMBER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Indeed, he was on that side virtually throughout all his years in the Senate. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And he opposed even President Carter, when toward the end of his term President Carter wanted to increase the defense budget. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, I accept your commitment to peace, but I want you to accept my commitment to a strong national defense. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Applause] I propose a budget -- I have proposed a budget which would increase our nation's strength, in real terms, by double that of the Soviet Union. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'll tell you where we disagree. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It is true over 10 years ago I voted to delay production of the F - 14, and I'll tell you why. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The plane wasn't flying the way it was supposed to be; it was a waste of money. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Your definition of national strength is to throw money at the Defense Department. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
My definition of national strength is to make certain that a dollar spent buys us a dollar's worth of defense. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
There's a big difference between the two of us. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President must manage that budget. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I will keep us strong, but you'll not do that unless you command that budget and make certain we get the strength that we need. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
You pay $500 for a $5 hammer, you're not buying strength. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I would ask the audience not to applaud. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
All it does is take up time that we would like to devote to the debate. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Kondracke, your question to Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Use of Military Force Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, in an address earlier this year you said that before this country resorts to military force, and I'm quoting, "American interests should be sharply defined, publicly supported, congressionally sanctioned, militarily feasible, internationally defensible, open to independent scrutiny, and alert to regional history.'' KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, aren't you setting up such a gauntlet of tests here that adversaries could easily suspect that as President you would never use force to protect American interests? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, I believe every one of those standards is essential to the exercise of power by this country. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we can see that in both Lebanon and in Central America. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
In Lebanon, this President exercised American power, all right, but the management of it was such that our marines were killed, we had to leave in humiliation, the Soviet Union became stronger, terrorists became emboldened. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And it was because they did not think through how power should be exercised, did not have the American public with them on a plan that worked, that we ended up the way we did. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Similarly, in Central America: What we're doing in Nicaragua with this covert war -- which the Congress, including many Republicans, have tried to stop -- is finally end up with a public definition of American power that hurts us, where we get associated with political assassins and the rest. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have to decline, for the first time in modern history, jurisdiction in the World Court because they'll find us guilty of illegal actions. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And our enemies are strengthened from all of this. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We need to be strong, we need to be prepared to use that strength, but we must understand that we are a democracy. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We are a government by the people, and when we move, it should be for very severe and extreme reasons that serve our national interests and end up with a stronger country behind us. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
It is only in that way that we can persevere. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Nicaragua Walter F. Mondale NaN 1984 21 Oct 1984
You've been quoted as saying that you might quarantine Nicaragua. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'd like to know what that means. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Would you stop Soviet ships, as President Kennedy did in 1962? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And wouldn't that be more dangerous than President Reagan's covert war? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
What I'm referring to there is the mutual self-defense provisions that exist in the Inter-American treaty, the so-called Rio Pact, that permits the nations, our friends in that region, to combine to take steps -- diplomatic and otherwise -- to prevent Nicaragua, when she acts irresponsibly in asserting power in other parts outside of her border, to take those steps, whatever they might be, to stop it. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Nicaraguans must know that it is the policy of our government that that leadership must stay behind the boundaries of their nation, not interfere in other nations. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And by working with all of the nations in the region -- unlike the policies of this administration and unlike the President said, they have not supported negotiations in that region -- we will be much stronger, because we'll have the moral authority that goes with those efforts. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Lebanon Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
President Reagan, you introduced U.S. forces into Lebanon as neutral peacekeepers, but then you made them combatants on the side of the Lebanese Government. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Eventually you were forced to withdraw them under fire, and now Syria, a Soviet ally, is dominant in the country. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Doesn't Lebanon represent a major failure on the part of your administration and raise serious questions about your capacity as a foreign policy strategist and as Commander in Chief? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No, Morton, I don't agree to all of those things. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
First of all, when we and our allies -- the Italians, the French, and the United Kingdom -- went into Lebanon, we went in there at the request of what was left of the Lebanese Government to be a stabilizing force while they tried to establish a government. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But the first -- pardon me -- the first time we went in, we went in at their request because the war was going on right in Beirut between Israel and the PLO terrorists. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Israel could not be blamed for that. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Those terrorists had been violating their northern border consistently, and Israel chased them all the way to there. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Then we went in with the multinational force to help remove, and did remove, more than 13,000 of those terrorists from Lebanon. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We departed. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And then the Government of Lebanon asked us back in as a stabilizing force while they established a government and sought to get the foreign forces all the way out of Lebanon and that they could then take care of their own borders. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we were succeeding. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We were there for the better part of a year. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Our position happened to be at the airport. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Oh, there were occasional snipings and sometimes some artillery fire, but we did not engage in conflict that was out of line with our mission. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I will never send troops anywhere on a mission of that kind without telling them that if somebody shoots at them, they can darn well shoot back. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And this is what we did. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We never initiated any kind of action; we defended ourselves there. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But we were succeeding to the point that the Lebanese Government had been organized -- if you will remember, there were the meetings in Geneva in which they began to meet with the hostile factional forces and try to put together some kind of a peace plan. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We were succeeding, and that was why the terrorist acts began. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
There are forces there -- and that includes Syria, in my mind -- who don't want us to succeed, who don't want that kind of a peace with a dominant Lebanon, dominant over its own territory. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And so, the terrorist acts began and led to the one great tragedy when they were killed in that suicide bombing of the building. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Then the multilateral force withdrew for only one reason: We withdrew because we were no longer able to carry out the mission for which we had been sent in. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But we went in in the interest of peace and to keep Israel and Syria from getting into the sixth war between them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I have no apologies for our going on a peace mission. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, 4 years ago you criticized President Carter for ignoring ample warnings that our diplomats in Iran might be taken hostage. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Haven't you done exactly the same thing in Lebanon, not once, but three times, with 300 Americans, not hostages, but dead? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And you vowed swift retaliation against terrorists, but doesn't our lack of response suggest that you're just bluffing? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Morton, no. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think there's a great difference between the Government of Iran threatening our diplomatic personnel, and there is a government that you can see and can put your hand on. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
In the terrorist situation, there are terrorist factions all over. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
In a recent 30-day period, 37 terrorist acts in 20 countries have been committed. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The most recent has been the one in Brighton. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
In dealing with terrorists, yes, we want to retaliate, but only if we can put our finger on the people responsible and not endanger the lives of innocent civilians there in the various communities and in the city of Beirut where these terrorists are operating. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have just signed legislation to add to our ability to deal, along with our allies, with this terrorist problem. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And it's going to take all the nations together, just as when we banded together we pretty much resolved the whole problem of skyjackings sometime ago. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, the red light went on. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I could have gone on forever. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Groucho Marx said, "Who do you believe? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
-- me, or your own eyes?'' Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And what we have in Lebanon is something that the American people have seen. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Joint Chiefs urged the President not to put our troops in that barracks because they were indefensible. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
They went to him 5 days before they were killed and said, "Please, take them out of there.'' Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Secretary of State admitted that this morning. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
He did not do so. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The report following the explosion of the barracks disclosed that we had not taken any of the steps that we should have taken. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That was the second time. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Then the Embassy was blown up a few weeks ago, and once again none of the steps that should have been taken were taken. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we were warned 5 days before that explosives were on their way, and they weren't taken. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The terrorists have won each time. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The President told the terrorists he was going to retaliate. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
He didn't. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They called their bluff. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the bottom line is that the United States left in humiliation, and our enemies are stronger. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
First of all, Mr. Mondale should know that the President of the United States did not order the marines into that barracks. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That was a command decision made by the commanders on the spot and based with what they thought was best for the men there. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That is one. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
On the other things that you've just said about the terrorists, I'm tempted to ask you what you would do. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
These are unidentified people, and after the bomb goes off, they're blown to bits because they are suicidal individuals who think they're going to go to paradise if they perpetrate such an act and lose their life in doing it. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We are going to, as I say, we're busy trying to find the centers where these operations stem from, and retaliation will be taken. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But we're not going to simply kill some people to say, "Oh, look, we got even.'' Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We want to know when we retaliate that we're retaliating with those who are responsible for the terrorist acts. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And terrorist acts are such that our own United States Capitol in Washington has been bombed twice. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Trewhitt, your question to President Reagan? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The President's Age Mr. Trewhitt. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, I want to raise an issue that I think has been lurking out there for 2 or 3 weeks and cast it specifically in national security terms. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You already are the oldest President in history. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep during the Cuban missile crisis. Edwin Newman Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Not at all, Mr. Trewhitt, and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Laughter and applause] If I still have time, I might add, Mr. Trewhitt, I might add that it was Seneca or it was Cicero, I don't know which, that said, "If it was not for the elders correcting the mistakes of the young, there would be no state.'' Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Strategic Missiles Mr. Trewhitt. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, I'd like to head for the fence and try to catch that one before it goes over, but I'll go on to another question. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You and Mr. Mondale have already disagreed about what you had to say about recalling submarine-launched missiles. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
There's another, a similar issue out there that relates to your -- it is said, at least, that you were unaware that the Soviet retaliatory power was based on land-based missiles. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
First, is that correct? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Secondly, if it is correct, have you informed yourself in the meantime? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And third, is it even necessary for the President to be so intimately involved in strategic details? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes, this had to do with our disarmament talks. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the whole controversy about land missiles came up because we thought that the strategic nuclear weapons, the most destabilizing are the land-based. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
You put your thumb on a button and somebody blows up 20 minutes later. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, we thought that it would be simpler to negotiate first with those. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And then we made it plain, a second phase, take up the submarine-launched or the airborne missiles. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Soviet Union, to our surprise -- and not just mine -- made it plain when we brought this up that they placed, they thought, a greater reliance on the land-based missiles and, therefore, they wanted to take up all three. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we agreed. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We said, "All right, if that's what you want to do.'' Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But it was a surprise to us, because they outnumbered us 64 to 36 in submarines and 20 percent more bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles than we had. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, why should we believe that they had placed that much more reliance on land-based? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But even after we gave in and said, "All right, let's discuss it all,'' they walked away from the table. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We didn't. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The President's Age Mr. Trewhitt. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, I'm going to hang in there. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Should the President's age and stamina be an issue in the political campaign? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I have not made it an issue, nor should it be. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
What's at issue here is the President's application of his authority to understand what a President must know to lead this nation, secure our defense, and make the decisions and the judgments that are necessary. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
A minute ago the President quoted Cicero, I believe. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I want to quote somebody a little closer to home, Harry Truman. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
He said, "The buck stops here.'' Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We just heard the President's answer for the problems at the barracks in Lebanon, where 241 marines were killed. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
What happened? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
First, the Joint Chiefs of Staff went to the President, said, "Don't put those troops there.'' Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They did it. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And then 5 days before the troops were killed, they went back to the President, through the Secretary of Defense, and said, "Please, Mr. President, take those troops out of there because we can't defend them.'' Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They didn't do it. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we know what happened. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
After that, once again, our Embassy was exploded. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
This is the fourth time this has happened -- an identical attack, in the same region, despite warnings -- even public warnings -- from the terrorists. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Who's in charge? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Who's handling this matter? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's my main point. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, on arms control, we're completing 4 years. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
This is the first administration since the bomb went off that made no progress. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have an arms race underway instead. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President has to lead his government or it won't be done. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Different people with different views fight with each other. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
For 3\1/2\ years, this administration avoided arms control, resisted tabling arms control proposals that had any hope of agreeing, rebuked their negotiator in 1981 when he came close to an agreement, at least in principle, on medium-range weapons. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we have this arms race underway. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And a recent book that just came out by perhaps the Nation's most respected author in this field, Strobe Talbott, called "Deadly Gambits,'' concludes that this President has failed to master the essential details needed to command and lead us, both in terms of security and terms of arms control. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's why they call the President the Commander in Chief. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Good intentions, I grant. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But it takes more than that. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
You must be tough and smart. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The President's Leadership Mr. Trewhitt. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
This question of leadership keeps arising in different forms in this discussion already. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the President, Mr. Mondale, has called you whining and vacillating, among the more charitable phrases -- weak, I believe. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It is a question of leadership. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And he has made the point that you have not repudiated some of the semidiplomatic activity of the Reverend Jackson, particularly in Central America. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Did you approve of his diplomatic activity? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And are you prepared to repudiate him now? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I read his statement the other day. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't admire Fidel Castro at all. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I've said that. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Che Guevara was a contemptible figure in civilization's history. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I know the Cuban state as a police state, and all my life I've worked in a way that demonstrates that. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But Jesse Jackson is an independent person. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't control him. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And let's talk about people we do control. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
In the last debate,\1\ (FOOTNOTE) the Vice President of the United States said that I said the marines had died shamefully and died in shame in Lebanon. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I demanded an apology from Vice President Bush because I had, instead, honored these young men, grieved for their families, and think they were wonderful Americans that honored us all. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
What does the President have to say about taking responsibility for a Vice President who won't apologize for something like that? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
(FOOTNOTE) \1\Mr. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mondale was referring to an earlier debate between George Bush and Geraldine Ferarro, the Vice-Presidential candidates. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I know it'll come as a surprise to Mr. Mondale, but I am in charge. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And, as a matter of fact, we haven't avoided arms control talks with the Soviet Union. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Very early in my administration I proposed -- and I think something that had never been proposed by any previous administration -- I proposed a total elimination of intermediate-range missiles, where the Soviets had better than a 10 -- and still have -- better than a 10-to-1 advantage over the allies in Europe. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
When they protested that and suggested a smaller number, perhaps, I went along with that. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The so-called negotiation that you said I walked out on was the so-called walk in the woods between one of our representatives and one of the Soviet Union, and it wasn't me that turned it down, the Soviet Union disavowed it. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
There are two distinguished authors on arms control in this country -- there are many others, but two that I want to cite tonight. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
One is Strobe Talbott in his classic book, "Deadly Gambits.'' Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The other is John Neuhaus, who's one of the most distinguished arms control specialists in our country. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Both said that this administration turned down the "walk in the woods'' agreement first, and that would have been a perfect agreement from the standpoint of the United States in Europe and our security. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
When Mr. Nitze, a good negotiator, returned, he was rebuked, and his boss was fired. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
This is the kind of leadership that we've had in this administration on the most deadly issue of our times. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now we have a runaway arms race. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
All they've got to show for 4 years in U.S.-Soviet relations is one meeting in the last weeks of an administration, and nothing before. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They're tough negotiators, but all previous Presidents have made progress. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
This one has not. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Ms. Geyer, your question to Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Illegal Immigration Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, many analysts are now saying that actually our number one foreign policy problem today is one that remains almost totally unrecognized: massive illegal immigration from economically collapsing countries. GEYER Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
They are saying that it is the only real territorial threat to the American nation-state. GEYER Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
You, yourself, said in the 1970's that we had a "hemorrhage on our borders.'' GEYER Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yet today you have backed off any immigration reform, such as the balanced and highly crafted Simpson-Mazzoli bill. GEYER Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
What would you do instead today, if anything? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
This is a very serious problem in our country, and it has to be dealt with. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I object to that part of the Simpson-Mazzoli bill which I think is very unfair and would prove to be so. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That is the part that requires employers to determine the citizenship of an employee before they're hired. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm convinced that the result of this would be that people who are Hispanic, people who have different languages or speak with an accent, would find it difficult to be employed. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think that's wrong. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We've never had citizenship tests in our country before, and I don't think we should have a citizenship card today. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That is counterproductive. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I do support the other aspects of the Simpson-Mazzoli bill that strengthen enforcement at the border, strengthen other ways of dealing with undocumented workers in this difficult area and dealing with the problem of settling people who have lived here for many, many years and do not have an established status. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have further strongly recommended that this administration do something it has not done, and that is to strengthen enforcement at the border, strengthen the officials in this government that deal with undocumented workers, and to do so in a way that's responsible and within the Constitution of the United States. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We need an answer to this problem, but it must be an American answer that is consistent with justice and due process. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Everyone in this room, practically, here tonight, is an immigrant. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We came here loving this nation, serving it, and it has served all of our most bountiful dreams. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And one of those dreams is justice. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we need a measure -- and I will support a measure -- that brings about those objectives but avoids that one aspect that I think is very serious. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The second part is to maintain and improve relations with our friends to the south. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We cannot solve this problem all on our own. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's why the failure of this administration to deal in an effective and a good-faith way with Mexico, with Costa Rica, with the other nations in trying to find a peaceful settlement to the dispute in Central America has undermined our capacity to effectively deal diplomatically in this area as well. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Sir, people as well-balanced and just as Father Theodore Hesburgh at Notre Dame, who headed the select commission on immigration, have pointed out repeatedly that there will be no immigration reform without employer sanctions, because it would be an unbalanced bill, and there would be simply no way to enforce it. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
However, putting that aside for the moment, your critics have also said repeatedly that you have not gone along with the bill or with any immigration reform because of the Hispanic groups -- or Hispanic leadership groups -- who actually do not represent what the Hispanic-Americans want, because polls show that they overwhelmingly want some kind of immigration reform. GEYER Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Can you say, or how can you justify your position on this? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And how do you respond to the criticism that this is another, or that this is an example of your flip-flopping and giving in to special interest groups at the expense of the American nation? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think you're right that the polls show that the majority of Hispanics want that bill, so I'm not doing it for political reasons. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm doing it because all my life I've fought for a system of justice in this country, a system in which every American has a chance to achieve the fullness in life without discrimination. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
This bill imposes upon employers the responsibility of determining whether somebody who applies for a job is an American or not. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And just inevitably, they're going to be reluctant to hire Hispanics or people with a different accent. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
If I were dealing with politics here, the polls show the American people want this. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I am for reform in this area, for tough enforcement at the border, and for many other aspects of the Simpson-Mazzoli bill, but all my life I've fought for a fair nation. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And despite the politics of it, I stand where I stand, and I think I'm right, and before this fight is over we're going to come up with a better bill, a more effective bill that does not undermine the liberties of our people. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, you, too, have said that our borders are out of control. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yet this fall you allowed the Simpson-Mazzoli bill -- which would at least have minimally protected our borders and the rights of citizenship -- because of a relatively unimportant issue of reimbursement to the States for legalized aliens. GEYER Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Given that, may I ask what priority can we expect you to give this forgotten national security element? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
How sincere are you in your efforts to control, in effect, the nation-state that is the United States? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Georgie Anne, we, believe me, supported the Simpson-Mazzoli bill strongly -- and the bill that came out of the Senate. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
However, there were things added in in the House side that we felt made it less of a good bill; as a matter of fact, made it a bad bill. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And in conference -- we stayed with them in conference all the way to where even Senator Simpson did not want the bill in the manner in which it would come out of the conference committee. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
There were a number of things in there that weakened that bill. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I can't go into detail about them here. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But it is true our borders are out of control. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
It is also true that this has been a situation on our borders back through a number of administrations. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I supported this bill. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even though sometime back they may have entered illegally. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
With regard to the employer sanctions, we must have that not only to ensure that we can identify the illegal aliens, but also, while some keep protesting about what it would do to employers, there is another employer that we shouldn't be so concerned about, and these are employers down through the years who have encouraged the illegal entry into this country because they then hire these individuals and hire them at starvation wages and with none of the benefits that we think are normal and natural for workers in our country, and the individuals can't complain because of their illegal status. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We don't think that those people should be allowed to continue operating free. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And this was why the provisions that we had in with regard to sanctions, and so forth -- and I'm going to do everything I can, and all of us in the administration are, to join in again when Congress is back at it to get an immigration bill that will give us, once again, control of our borders. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And with regard to friendship below the border and with the countries down there, yes, no administration that I know has established the relationship that we have with our Latin friends. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But as long as they have an economy that leaves so many people in dire poverty and unemployment, they are going to seek that employment across our borders. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we work with those other countries. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, the experts also say that the situation today is terribly different quantitatively -- qualitatively different from what it has been in the past because of the gigantic population growth. GEYER Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
For instance, Mexico's population will go from about 60 million today to 120 million at the turn of the century. GEYER Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Many of these people will be coming into the United States not as citizens, but as illegal workers. GEYER Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
You have repeatedly said recently that you believe that Armageddon, the destruction of the world, may be imminent in our times. GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you ever feel that we are in for an Armageddon or a situation, a time of anarchy, regarding the population explosion in the world? GEYER O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, the population explosion, if you look at the actual figures, has been vastly exaggerated -- over exaggerated. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, there are some pretty scientific and solid figures about how much space there still is in the world and how many more people we can have. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's almost like going back to the Malthusian theory, when even then they were saying that everyone would starve with the limited population they had then. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But the problem of population growth is one, here, with regard to our immigration. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we have been the safety valve, whether we wanted to or not, with the illegal entry here, in Mexico, where their population is increasing and they don't have an economy that can absorb them and provide the jobs. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And this is what we're trying to work out, not only to protect our own borders but to have some kind of fairness and recognition of that problem. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
One of the biggest problems today is that the countries to our south are so desperately poor that these people who will almost lose their lives if they don't come north, come north despite all the risks. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And if we're going to find a permanent, fundamental answer to this, it goes to American economic and trade policies that permit these nations to have a chance to get on their own two feet and to get prosperity, so that they can have jobs for themselves and their people. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's why this enormous national debt, engineered by this administration, is harming these countries in fueling this immigration. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
These high interest rates -- real rates that have doubled under this administration -- have had the same effect on Mexico and so on, and the cost of repaying those debts is so enormous that it results in massive unemployment, hardship, and heartache. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that drives our friends to the south up into our region, and we need to end those deficits as well. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, my rebuttal is I've heard the national debt blamed for a lot of things, but not for illegal immigration across our border -- [laughter] -- and it has nothing to do with it. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But with regard to these high interest rates, too, at least give us the recognition of the fact that when you left office, Mr. Mondale, they were 21\1/2\ -- the prime rate. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's now 12\1/4\, and I predict it'll be coming down a little more shortly. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, we're trying to undo some of the things that your administration did. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Applause] Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No applause, please. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Kalb, your question to President Reagan. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Armageddon Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, I'd like to pick up this Armageddon theme. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You've been quoted as saying that you do believe, deep down, that we are heading for some kind of biblical Armageddon. KALB Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Your Pentagon and your Secretary of Defense have plans for the United States to fight and prevail in a nuclear war. KALB Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you feel that we are now heading perhaps, for some kind of nuclear Armageddon? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And do you feel that this country and the world could survive that kind of calamity? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Kalb, I think what has been hailed as something I'm supposedly, as President, discussing as principle is the recall of just some philosophical discussions with people who are interested in the same things; and that is the prophecies down through the years, the biblical prophecies of what would portend the coming of Armageddon, and so forth, and the fact that a number of theologians for the last decade or more have believed that this was true, that the prophecies are coming together that portend that. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But no one knows whether Armageddon, those prophecies mean that Armageddon is a thousand years away or day after tomorrow. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
So, I have never seriously warned and said we must plan according to Armageddon. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, with regard to having to say whether we would try to survive in the event of a nuclear war, of course we would. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But let me also point out that to several parliaments around the world, in Europe and in Asia, I have made a statement to each one of them, and I'll repeat it here: A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that is why we are maintaining a deterrent and trying to achieve a deterrent capacity to where no one would believe that they could start such a war and escape with limited damage. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But the deterrent -- and that's what it is for -- is also what led me to propose what is now being called the Star Wars concept, but propose that we research to see if there isn't a defensive weapon that could defend against incoming missiles. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And if such a defense could be found, wouldn't it be far more humanitarian to say that now we can defend against a nuclear war by destroying missiles instead of slaughtering millions of people? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Strategic Defense Initiative Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, when you made that proposal, the so-called Star Wars proposal, you said, if I'm not mistaken, that you would share this very super-sophisticated technology with the Soviet Union. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
After all of the distrust over the years, sir, that you have expressed towards the Soviet Union, do you really expect anyone to take seriously that offer that you would share the best of America's technology in this weapons area with our principal adversary? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why not? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
What if we did -- and I hope we can; we're still researching -- what if we come up with a weapon that renders those missiles obsolete? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
There has never been a weapon invented in the history of man that has not led to a defensive, a counterweapon. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But suppose we came up with that? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, some people have said, "Ah, that would make war imminent, because they would think that we could launch a first strike because we could defend against the enemy.'' Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But why not do what I have offered to do and asked the Soviet Union to do? Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Say, "Look, here's what we can do. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We'll even give it to you. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, will you sit down with us and once and for all get rid, all of us, of these nuclear weapons and free mankind from that threat?'' Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think that would be the greatest use of a defensive weapon. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, you've been very sharply critical of the President's Strategic Defense Initiative. KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And yet, what is wrong with a major effort by this country to try to use its best technology to knock out as many incoming nuclear warheads as possible? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
First of all, let me sharply disagree with the President on sharing the most advanced, the most dangerous, the most important technology in America with the Soviet Union. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have had for many years, understandably, a system of restraints on high technology because the Soviets are behind us. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And any research or development along the Star Wars schemes would inevitably involve our most advanced computers, our most advanced engineering. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the thought that we would share this with the Soviet Union is, in my opinion, a total non-STARTer. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I would not let the Soviet Union get their hands on it at all. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, what's wrong with Star Wars? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
There's nothing wrong with the theory of it. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
If we could develop a principle that would say both sides could fire all their missiles and no one would get hurt, I suppose it's a good idea. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But the fact of it is we're so far away from research that even comes close to that, that the Director of Engineering Research at the Defense Department said to get there we would have to solve eight problems, each of which are more difficult than the atomic bomb and the Manhattan project. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It would cost something like a trillion dollars to test and deploy weapons. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The second thing is this all assumes that the Soviets wouldn't respond in kind. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And they always do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We don't get behind. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They won't get behind. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's been the tragic story of the arms race. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have more at stake in space satellites than they do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
If we could stop, right now, the testing and the deployment of these space weapons -- and the President's proposals go clear beyond research; if it was just research we wouldn't have any argument, because maybe someday, somebody will think of something -- but to commit this nation to a buildup of antisatellite and space weapons at this time, in their crude state, would bring about an arms race that's very dangerous indeed. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
One final point. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The most dangerous aspect of this proposal is, for the first time, we would delegate to computers the decision as to whether to start a war. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's dead wrong. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
There wouldn't be time for a President to decide; it would be decided by these remote computers. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It might be an oil fire, it might be a jet exhaust, the computer might decide it's a missile -- and off we go. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why don't we stop this madness now and draw a line and keep the heavens free from war? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Applause] Nuclear Freeze Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, in this general area, sir, of arms control, President Carter's national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, said, "A nuclear freeze is a hoax.'' KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yet the basis of your arms proposals, as I understand them, is a mutual and verifiable freeze on existing weapons systems. KALB Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
In your view, which specific weapons systems could be subject to a mutual and verifiable freeze, and which could not? KALB O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Every system that is verifiable should be placed on the table for negotiations for an agreement. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I would not agree to any negotiations or any agreement that involved conduct on the part of the Soviet Union that we couldn't verify every day. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I would not agree to any agreement in which the United States security interest was not fully recognized and supported. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's why we say mutual and verifiable freezes. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, why do I support the freeze? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Because this ever-rising arms race madness makes both nations less secure. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's more difficult to defend this nation. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's putting a hair-trigger on nuclear war. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
This administration, by going into the Star Wars system, is going to add a dangerous new escalation. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have to be tough on the Soviet Union, but I think the American people -- -- Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Your time is up, Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
-- -- and the people of the Soviet Union want it to stop. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
President Reagan, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes, my rebuttal, once again, is that this invention that has just been created here of how I would go about rolling over for the Soviet Union -- no, Mr. Mondale, my idea would be with that defensive weapon that we would sit down with them and then say, "Now, are you willing to join us? Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Here's what we'' -- give them a demonstration and then say -- "Here's what we can do. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, if you're willing to join us in getting rid of all the nuclear weapons in the world, then we'll give you this one, so that we would both know that no one can cheat; that we're both got something that if anyone tries to cheat . Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
. Ronald W. Reagan NaN 1984 21 Oct 1984
. Ronald W. Reagan NaN 1984 21 Oct 1984
.'' Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But when you keep star-warring it -- I never suggested where the weapons should be or what kind; I'm not a scientist. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I said, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed with me, that it was time for us to turn our research ability to seeing if we could not find this kind of defensive weapon. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And suddenly somebody says, "Oh, it's got to be up there, and it's Star Wars,'' and so forth. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't know what it would be, but if we can come up with one, I think the world will be better off. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, that's what a President's supposed to know -- where those weapons are going to be. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
If they're space weapons, I assume they'll be in space. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Laughter] If they're antisatellite weapons, I assume they're going to be aimed against satellites. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, this is the most dangerous technology that we possess. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Soviets try to spy on us, steal this stuff. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And to give them technology of this kind, I disagree with. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
You haven't just accepted research, Mr. President. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
You've set up a Strategic Defense Initiative, an agency, you're beginning to test, you're talking about deploying, you're asking for a budget of some $30 billion for this purpose. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
This is an arms escalation. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And we will be better off, far better off, if we stop right now, because we have more to lose in space then they do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
If someday, somebody comes along with an answer, that's something else. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But that there would be an answer in our lifetime is unimaginable. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why do we start things that we know the Soviets will match and make us all less secure? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's what a President's for. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Kondracke, your question to Mr. Mondale. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Strategic Weapons Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, you say that with respect to the Soviet Union you want to negotiate a mutual nuclear freeze, yet you would unilaterally give up the MX missile and the B - 1 bomber before the talks have even begun. KONDRACKE Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And you have announced, in advance, that reaching an agreement with the Soviets is the most important thing in the world to you. KONDRACKE Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, aren't you giving away half the store before you even sit down to talk? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
No. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, we have a vast range of technology and weaponry right now that provides all the bargaining chips that we need. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I support the air launch cruise missile, the ground launch cruise missile, the Pershing missile, the Trident submarine, the D - 5 submarine, Stealth technology, the Midgetman -- we have a whole range of technology. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why I disagree with the MX is that it's a sitting duck. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It'll draw an attack. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
It puts a hair-trigger, and it is a dangerous, destabilizing weapon. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the B - 1 is similarly to be opposed, because for 15 years the Soviet Union has been preparing to meet the B - 1. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Secretary of Defense himself said it would be a suicide mission if it were built. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Instead, I want to build the Midgetman, which is mobile and thus less vulnerable, contributing to stability, and a weapon that will give us security and contribute to an incentive for arms control. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's why I'm for Stealth technology, to build a Stealth bomber -- which I've supported for years -- that can penetrate the Soviet air defense system without any hope that they can perceive where it is because their radar system is frustrated. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
In other words, a President has to make choices. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
This makes us stronger. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The final point is that we can use this money that we save on these weapons to spend on things that we really need. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Our conventional strength in Europe is under strength. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We need to strengthen that in order to assure our Western allies of our presence there, a strong defense, but also to diminish and reduce the likelihood of a commencement of a war and the use of nuclear weapons. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's in this way, by making wise choices, that we're stronger, we enhance the chances of arms control. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Every President until this one has been able to do it, and this nation -- or the world is more dangerous as a result. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Nuclear Freeze Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I want to follow up on Mr. Kalb's question. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It seems to me on the question of verifiability, that you do have some problems with the extent of the freeze. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It seems to me, for example, that testing would be very difficult to verify because the Soviets encode their telemetry. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Research would be impossible to verify. KONDRACKE Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Numbers of warheads would be impossible to verify by satellite, except for with onsite inspection, and production of any weapon would be impossible to verify. KONDRACKE Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, in view of that, what is going to be frozen? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I will not agree to any arms control agreement, including a freeze, that's not verifiable. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Let's take your warhead principle. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The warhead principle -- there have been counting rules for years. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Whenever a weapon is tested we count the number of warheads on it, and whenever that warhead is used we count that number of warheads, whether they have that number or less on it, or not. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
These are standard rules. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I will not agree to any production restrictions -- or agreements, unless we have the ability to verify those agreements. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't trust the Russians. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe that every agreement we reach must be verifiable, and I will not agree to anything that we cannot tell every day. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
In other words, we've got to be tough. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But in order to stop this arms madness, we've got to push ahead with tough negotiations that are verifiable so that we know the Soviets are agreeing and living up to their agreement. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Support for U.S. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Allies Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, I want to ask you a question about negotiating with friends. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You severely criticized President Carter for helping to undermine two friendly dictators who got into trouble with their own people -- the Shah of Iran and President Somoza of Nicaragua. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now there are other such leaders heading for trouble, including President Pinochet of Chile and President Marcos of the Philippines. KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
What should you do, and what can you do to prevent the Philippines from becoming another Nicaragua? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Morton, I did criticize the President because of our undercutting of what was a stalwart ally -- the Shah of Iran. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I am not at all convinced that he was that far out of line with his people or that they wanted that to happen. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Shah had done our bidding and carried our load in the Middle East for quite some time, and I did think that it was a blot on our record that we let him down. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Have things gotten better? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The Shah, whatever he might have done, was building low-cost housing, had taken land away from the Mullahs and was distributing it to the peasants so they could be landowners -- things of that kind. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But we turned it over to a maniacal fanatic who has slaughtered thousands and thousands of people, calling it executions. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The matter of Somoza -- no, I never defended Somoza. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And, as a matter of fact, the previous administration stood by and so did I -- not that I could have done anything in my position at that time -- but for this revolution to take place. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And the promise of the revolution was democracy, human rights, free labor unions, free press. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And then, just as Castro had done in Cuba, the Sandinistas ousted the other parties to the revolution. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Many of them are now the contras. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They exiled some, they jailed some, they murdered some. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And they installed a Marxist-Leninist totalitarian government. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And what I have to say about this is, many times -- and this has to do with the Philippines, also, I know there are things there in the Philippines that do not look good to us from the standpoint right now of democratic rights, but what is the alternative? Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
It is a large Communist movement to take over the Philippines. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
They have been our friend since their inception as a nation. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I think that we've had enough of a record of letting -- under the guise of revolution -- someone that we thought was a little more right than we would be, letting that person go, and then winding up with totalitarianism, pure and simple, as the alternative. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I think that we're better off, for example with the Philippines, of trying to retain our friendship and help them right the wrongs we see, rather than throwing them to the wolves and then facing a Communist power in the Pacific. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, since the United States has two strategically important bases in the Philippines, would the overthrow of President Marcos constitute a threat to vital American interests and, if so, what would you do about it? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, as I say, we have to look at what an overthrow there would mean and what the government would be that would follow. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And there is every evidence, every indication that that government would be hostile to the United States. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that would be a severe blow to our abilities there in the Pacific. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And what would you do about it? KONDRACKE O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Sorry. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm sorry, you've asked the followup question. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Perhaps in no area do we disagree more than this administration's policies on human rights. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I went to the Philippines as Vice President, pressed for human rights, called for the release of Aquino, and made progress that had been stalled on both the Subic and the Clark airfield bases. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
What explains this administration cozying up to the Argentine dictators after they took over? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Fortunately, a democracy took over, but this nation was embarrassed by this current administration's adoption of their policies. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
What happens in South Africa, where, for example, the Nobel Prize winner, 2 days ago, said this administration is seen as working with the oppressive government of South Africa. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That hurts this nation. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We need to stand for human rights. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We need to make it clear we're for human liberty. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
National security and human rights must go together. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But this administration time and time again has lost its way in this field. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
President Reagan, your rebuttal. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, the invasion of Afghanistan didn't take place on our watch. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I have described what has happened in Iran, and we weren't here then either. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I don't think that our record of human rights can be assailed. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think that we have observed, ourselves, and have done our best to see that human rights are extended throughout the world. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale has recently announced a plan of his to get the democracies together and to work with the whole world to turn to democracy. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I was glad to hear him say that, because that's what we've been doing ever since I announced to the British Parliament that I thought we should do this. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Human rights are not advanced when, at the same time, you then stand back and say, "Whoops, we didn't know the gun was loaded,'' and you have another totalitarian power on your hands. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
In this segment, because of the pressure of time, there will be no rebuttals, and there will be no followup questions. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Trewhitt, your question to President Reagan. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Trewhitt. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
One question to each candidate? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
One question to each candidate. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Nuclear Weapons Mr. Trewhitt. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, could I take you back to something you said earlier, and if I'm misquoting you, please correct me. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I understood you to say that if the development of space military technology was successful, you might give the Soviets a demonstration and say, "Here it is,'' which sounds to me as if you might be trying to gain the sort of advantage that would enable you to dictate terms, and which I will then suggest to you might mean scrapping a generation of nuclear strategy called mutual deterrence in which we, in effect, hold each other hostage. Edwin Newman Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Is that your intention? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, I can't say that I have roundtabled that and sat down with the Chiefs of Staff, but I have said that it seems to me that this could be a logical step in what is my ultimate goal, my ultimate dream, and that is the elimination of nuclear weapons in the world. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And it seems to me that this could be an adjunct, or certainly a great assisting agent in getting that done. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I am not going to roll over, as Mr. Mondale suggests, and give them something that could turn around and be used against us. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I think it's a very interesting proposal, to see if we can find, first of all, something that renders those weapons obsolete, incapable of their mission. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But Mr. Mondale seems to approve MAD -- MAD is mutual assured destruction -- meaning, if you use nuclear weapons on us, the only thing we have to keep you from doing it is that we'll kill as many people of yours as you'll kill of ours. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think that to do everything we can to find, as I say, something that would destroy weapons and not humans is a great step forward in human rights. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Trewhitt. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, could I ask you to address the question of nuclear strategy then? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The formal doctrine is very arcane, but I'm going to ask you to deal with it anyway. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Do you believe in MAD, mutual assured destruction, mutual deterrence as it has been practiced for the last generation? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe in a sensible arms control approach that brings down these weapons to manageable levels. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I would like to see their elimination. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And in the meantime, we have to be strong enough to make certain that the Soviet Union never tempts us. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Now, here we have to decide between generalized objectives and reality. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
The President says he wants to eliminate or reduce the number of nuclear weapons. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But, in fact, these last 4 years have seen more weapons built, a wider and more vigorous arms race than in human history. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
He says he wants a system that will make nuclear wars safe, so nobody's going to get hurt. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, maybe someday, somebody can dream of that. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But why start an arms race now? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why destabilize our relationship? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why threaten our space satellites upon which we depend? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Why pursue a strategy that would delegate to computers the question of starting a war? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President, to defend this country and to get arms control, must master what's going on. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I accept his objective and his dream; we all do. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But the hard reality is that we must know what we're doing and pursue those objectives that are possible in our time. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
He's opposed every effort of every President to do so, and in the 4 years of his administration he's failed to do so. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And if you want a tough President who uses that strength to get arms control and draws the line in the heavens, vote for Walter Mondale. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
[Applause] Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Please, I must again ask the audience not to applaud, not to cheer, not to demonstrate its feelings in any way. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We've arrived at the point in the debate now where we call for closing statements. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You have the full 4 minutes, each of you. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, will you go first? Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Closing Statements Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I want to thank the League of Women Voters, the good citizens of Kansas City, and President Reagan for agreeing to debate this evening. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
This evening we talked about national strength. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I believe we need to be strong, and I will keep us strong. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I think strength must also require wisdom and smarts in its exercise. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's key to the strength of our nation. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President must know the essential facts essential to command. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But a President must also have a vision of where this nation should go. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Tonight, as Americans, you have a choice. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And you're entitled to know where we would take this country if you decide to elect us. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
As President, I would press for long-term, vigorous economic growth. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
That's why I want to get these debts down and these interest rates down, restore America's exports, help rural America, which is suffering so much, and bring the jobs back here for our children. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I want this next generation to be the best educated in American history, to invest in the human mind and science again, so we're out front. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I want this nation to protect its air, its water, its land, and its public health. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
America is not temporary; we're forever. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And as Americans, our generation should protect this wonderful land for our children. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I want a nation of fairness, where no one is denied the fullness of life or discriminated against, and we deal compassionately with those in our midst who are in trouble. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
And, above all, I want a nation that's strong. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Since we debated 2 weeks ago, the United States and the Soviet Union have built a hundred more warheads, enough to kill millions of Americans and millions of Soviet citizens. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
This doesn't strengthen us. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
This weakens the chances of civilization to survive. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I remember the night before I became Vice President. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
I was given the briefing and told that any time, night or day, I might be called upon to make the most fateful decision on Earth -- whether to fire these atomic weapons that could destroy the human species. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
That lesson tells us two things: One, pick a President that you know will know if that tragic moment ever comes what he must know, because there'll be no time for staffing committees or advisers. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
A President must know right then. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
But above all, pick a President who will fight to avoid the day when that God-awful decision ever needs to be made. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
And that's why this election is so terribly important. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
America and Americans decide not just what's happening in this country. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We are the strongest and most powerful free society on Earth. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
When you make that judgment, you are deciding not only the future of our nation; in a very profound respect, you're deciding the future of the world. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We need to move on. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
It's time for America to find new leadership. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
Please, join me in this cause to move confidently and with a sense of assurance and command to build the blessed future of our nation. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 21 Oct 1984
President Reagan, your summation, please. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
My thanks to the League of Women Voters, to the panelists, the moderator, and to the people of Kansas City for their warm hospitality and greeting. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I think the American people tonight have much to be grateful for -- an economic recovery that has become expansion, freedom and, most of all, we are at peace. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
I am grateful for the chance to reaffirm my commitment to reduce nuclear weapons and, one day, to eliminate them entirely. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
The question before you comes down to this: Do you want to see America return to the policies of weakness of the last 4 years? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Or do we want to go forward, marching together, as a nation of strength and that's going to continue to be strong? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We shouldn't be dwelling on the past, or even the present. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
The meaning of this election is the future and whether we're going to grow and provide the jobs and the opportunities for all Americans and that they need. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Several years ago, I was given an assignment to write a letter. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
It was to go into a time capsule and would be read in 100 years when that time capsule was opened. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I remember driving down the California coast one day. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
My mind was full of what I was going to put in that letter about the problems and the issues that confront us in our time and what we did about them. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
But I couldn't completely neglect the beauty around me -- the Pacific out there on one side of the highway, shining in the sunlight, the mountains of the coast range rising on the other side. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And I found myself wondering what it would be like for someone -- wondering if someone 100 years from now would be driving down that highway, and if they would see the same thing. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And with that thought, I realized what a job I had with that letter. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I would be writing a letter to people who know everything there is to know about us. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
We know nothing about them. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
They would know all about our problems. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
They would know how we solved them, and whether our solution was beneficial to them down through the years or whether it hurt them. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
They would also know that we lived in a world with terrible weapons, nuclear weapons of terrible destructive power, aimed at each other, capable of crossing the ocean in a matter of minutes and destroying civilization as we knew it. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
And then I thought to myself, what are they going to say about us, what are those people 100 years from now going to think? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
They will know whether we used those weapons or not. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Well, what they will say about us 100 years from now depends on how we keep our rendezvous with destiny. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Will we do the things that we know must be done and know that one day, down in history 100 years or perhaps before, someone will say, "Thank God for those people back in the 1980's for preserving our freedom, for saving for us this blessed planet called Earth, with all its grandeur and its beauty.'' Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
You know, I am grateful to all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve you for these 4 years, and I seek reelection because I want more than anything else to try to complete the new beginning that we charted 4 years ago. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
George Bush, who I think is one of the finest Vice Presidents this country has ever had -- George Bush and I have crisscrossed the country, and we've had, in these last few months, a wonderful experience. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have met young America. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
We have met your sons and daughters. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 21 Oct 1984
Mr. President, I'm obliged to cut you off there under the rules of the debate. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I'm sorry. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
All right. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I was just going to -- -- Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Perhaps I should point out that the rules under which I did that were agreed upon by the two campaigns -- -- Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I know. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
-- -- with the league, as you know, sir. Edwin Newman O 1984 21 Oct 1984
I know, yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 21 Oct 1984
Good evening from the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville, Kentucky. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm Dorothy Ridings, president of the League of Women Voters, the sponsor of tonight's first Presidential debate between Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Walter Mondale. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Tonight's debate marks the third consecutive Presidential election in which the League is presenting the candidates for the Nation's highest office in face-to-face debate. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our panelists are James Wieghart, national political correspondent for Scripps-Howard News Service; Diane Sawyer, correspondent for the CBS program ``60 Minutes;'' and Fred Barnes, national political correspondent for the Baltimore Sun. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Barbara Walters of ABC News, who is appearing in her fourth Presidential debate, is our moderator. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Barbara. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you, Dorothy. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
A few words as we begin tonight's debate about the format. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The position of the candidates -- that is, who answers questions first and who gives the last statement -- was determined by a toss of a coin between the two candidates. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale won, and that means that he chose to give the final closing statement. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It means, too, that the President will answer the first question first. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I hope that's clear. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
If it isn't, it will become clear as the debate goes on. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Further, the candidates will be addressed as they each wanted and will, therefore, be called "Mr. President'' and "Mr. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mondale.'' WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Since there will also be a second debate between the two Presidential candidates, tonight will focus primarily on the economy and other domestic issues. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The debate, itself, is built around questions from the panel. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In each of its segments, a reporter will ask the candidates the same general question. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Then -- and this is important -- each candidate will have the chance to rebut what the other has said. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And the final segment of the debate will be the closing segment, and the candidates will each have 4 minutes for their closing statements. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And as I have said, Mr. Mondale will be the last person on the program to speak. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now I would like to add a personal note if I may. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
As Dorothy Ridings pointed out, I have been involved now in four Presidential debates, either as a moderator or as a panelist. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In the past, there was no problem in selecting panelists. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Tonight, however, there were to have been four panelists participating in this debate. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The candidates were given a list of almost 100 qualified journalists from all the media and could agree on only these three fine journalists. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
As moderator, and on behalf of my fellow journalists, I very much regret, as does the League of Women Voters, that this situation has occurred. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now let us begin the debate with the first question from James Wieghart. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Wieghart. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The Nation's Economy TOPIC O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, in 1980 you promised the American people -- in your campaign -- a balanced budget by 1983. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We've now had more and bigger deficits in the 4 years you've been in office. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, do you have a secret plan to balance the budget sometime in a second term, and if so, would you lay out that plan for us tonight? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have a plan -- not a secret plan. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, it is the economic recovery program that we presented when I took office in 1981. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
It is true that earlier, working with some very prominent economists, I had come up, during the campaign, with an economic program that I thought could rectify the great problems confronting us -- the double-digit inflation, the high tax rates that I think were hurting the economy, the stagflation that we were undergoing. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Before even the election day, something that none of those economists had even predicted had happened, that the economy was so worsened that I was openly saying that what we had thought on the basis of our plan could have brought a balanced budget -- no, that was no longer possible. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, the plan that we have had and that we are following is a plan that is based on growth in the economy, recovery without inflation, and reducing the share that the Government is taking from the gross national product, which has become a drag on the economy. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Already, we have a recovery that has been going on for about 21 months to the point that we can now call it an expansion. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Under that, this year, we have seen a $21 billion reduction in the deficit from last year, based mainly on the increased revenues the Government is getting without raising tax rates. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our tax cut, we think, was very instrumental in bringing about this economic recovery. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have reduced inflation to about a third of what it was. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The interest rates have come down about 9 or 10 points and, we think, must come down further. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
In the last 21 months, more than 6 million people have gotten jobs -- there have been created new jobs for those people to where there are now 105 million civilians working, where there were only 99 million before; 107, if you count the military. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, we believe that as we continue to reduce the level of government spending -- the increase, rate of increase in government spending, which has come down from 17 to 6 percent, and, at the same time, as the growth in the economy increases the revenues the Government gets, without raising taxes, those two lines will meet. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And when they meet, that is a balanced budget. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, the Congressional Budget Office has some bad news. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The lines aren't about to meet, according to their projections. WIEGHART Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They project that the budget deficit will continue to climb. WIEGHART Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
In the year 1989 they project a budget deficit of $273 billion. WIEGHART Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
In view of that, and in view of the economic recovery we are now enjoying, would it make sense to propose a tax increase or take some other fiscal measures to reduce that deficit now, when times are relatively good? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The deficit is the result of excessive government spending. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I do not, very frankly, take seriously the Congressional Budget Office projections, because they have been wrong on virtually all of them, including the fact that our recovery wasn't going to take place to begin with. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
But it has taken place. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But, as I said, we have the rate of increase in government spending down to 6 percent. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
If the rate of increase in government spending can be held at 5 percent -- we're not far from there -- by 1989 that would have reduced the budget deficits down to a $30 or $40 billion level. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
At the same time, if we can have a 4-percent recovery continue through that same period of time, that will mean -- without an increase in tax rates -- that will mean $400 billion more in government revenues. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And so, I think that the lines can meet. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Actually, in constant dollars, in the domestic side of the budget, there has been no spending increase in the 4 years that we have been here. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, the Carter-Mondale administration didn't come close to balancing the budget in its 4 years in office either, despite the fact that President Carter did promise a balanced budget during his term. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You have proposed a plan combining tax increases and budgetary cuts and other changes in the administration of the Government that would reduce the projected budget deficit by two-thirds, to approximately $87 billion in 1989. WIEGHART Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That still is an enormous deficit that will be running for these 4 years. WIEGHART Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
What other steps do you think should be taken to reduce this deficit and position the country for economic growth? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
One of the key tests of leadership is whether one sees clearly the nature of the problems confronted by our nation. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And perhaps the dominant domestic issue of our times is what do we do about these enormous deficits. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I respect the President; I respect the Presidency, and I think he knows that. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
But the fact of it is, every estimate by this administration about the size of the deficit has been off by billions and billions of dollars. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, over 4 years, they've missed the mark by nearly $600 billion. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We were told we would have a balanced budget in 1983. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It was $200 billion deficit instead. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now we have a major question facing the American people as to whether we'll deal with this deficit and get it down for the sake of a healthy recovery. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Virtually every economic analysis that I've heard of, including the distinguished Congressional Budget Office, which is respected by, I think, almost everyone, says that even with historically high levels of economic growth, we will suffer a $263 billion deficit. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
In other words, it doesn't converge as the President suggests. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It gets larger even with growth. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
What that means is that we will continue to have devastating problems with foreign trade. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
This is the worst trade year in American history by far. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our rural and farm friends will have continued devastation. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Real interest rates -- the real cost of interest -- will remain very, very high, and many economists are predicting that we're moving into a period of very slow growth because the economy is tapering off and may be a recession. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I get it down to a level below 2 percent of gross national product with a policy that's fair. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I've stood up and told the American people that I think it's a real problem, that it can destroy long-term economic growth, and I've told you what I think should be done. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think this is a test of leadership, and I think the American people know the difference. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, one other way to attack the deficit is further reductions in spending. WIEGHART Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President has submitted a number of proposals to Congress to do just that, and in many instances the House, controlled by the Democrats, has opposed them. WIEGHART Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Isn't it one aspect of leadership for prominent Democrats such as yourself to encourage responsible reductions in spending, and thereby reduce the deficit? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Absolutely, and I proposed over a hundred billion dollars in cuts in Federal spending over 4 years, but I am not going to cut it out of Social Security and Medicare and student assistance and things -- [applause] -- that people need. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
These people depend upon all of us for the little security that they have, and I'm not going to do it that way. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
The rate of defense spending increase can be slowed. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Certainly we can find a coffeepot that costs something less than $7,000. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And there are other ways of squeezing this budget without constantly picking on our senior citizens and the most vulnerable in American life. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And that's why the Congress, including the Republicans, have not gone along with the President's recommendations. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I would like to ask the audience please to refrain from applauding either side; it just takes away from the time for your candidates. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now it is time for the rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, 1 minute for rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't believe that Mr. Mondale has a plan for balancing the budget; he has a plan for raising taxes. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, as a matter of fact, the biggest single tax increase in our nation's history took place 1977. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And for the 5 years previous to our taking office, taxes doubled in the United States, and the budgets increased $318 billion. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, there is no ratio between taxing and balancing a budget. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Whether you borrow the money or whether you simply tax it away from the people, you're taking the same amount of money out of the private sector, unless and until you bring down government's share of what it is taking. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
With regard to Social Security, I hope there'll be more time than just this minute to mention that, but I will say this: A President should never say "never.'' Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I'm going to violate that rule and say "never.'' Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I will never stand for a reduction of the Social Security benefits to the people that are now getting them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, that's exactly the commitment that was made to the American people in 1980: He would never reduce benefits. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And of course, what happened right after the election is they proposed to cut Social Security benefits by 25 percent -- reducing the adjustment for inflation, cutting out minimum benefits for the poorest on Social Security, removing educational benefits for dependents whose widows were trying -- with widows trying to get them through college. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Everybody remembers that; people know what happened. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
There's a difference. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have fought for Social Security and Medicare and for things to help people who are vulnerable all my life, and I will do it as President of the United States. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you very much. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We'll now begin with segment number two with my colleague, Diane Sawyer. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Ms. Sawyer? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Leadership Qualities WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, Mr. Mondale, the public opinion polls do suggest that the American people are most concerned about the personal leadership characteristics of the two candidates, and each of you has questioned the other's leadership ability. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, you have said that Mr. Mondale's leadership would take the country down the path of defeatism and despair, and Vice President Bush has called him whining and hoping for bad news. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, Mr. Mondale, you have said that President Reagan offers showmanship, not leadership, that he has not mastered what he must know to command his government. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'd like to ask each of you to substantiate your claims -- Mr. Mondale first. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Give us specifics to support your claim that President Reagan is a showman, not a leader; has not mastered what he must know to be President after 4 years, and then, second, tell us what personal leadership characteristics you have that he does not. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, first of all, I think the first answer this evening suggests exactly what I'm saying. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There is no question that we face this massive deficit, and almost everybody agrees unless we get it down, the chances for long-term, healthy growth are nil. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And it's also unfair to dump these tremendous bills on our children. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President says it will disappear overnight because of some reason. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
No one else believes that's the case. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I do, and I'm standing up to the issue with an answer that's fair. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think that's what leadership is all about. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
There's a difference between being a quarterback and a cheerleader, and when there's a real problem, a President must confront it. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
What I was referring to, of course, in the comment that you referred to was the situation in Lebanon. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, for three occasions, one after another, our Embassies were assaulted in the same way by a truck with demolitions. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The first time -- and I did not criticize the President, because these things can happen -- once, and sometimes twice -- the second time the barracks in Lebanon were assaulted, as we all remember. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There was two or three commission reports, recommendations by the CIA, the State Department, and the others, and the third time there was even a warning from the terrorists themselves. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, I believe that a President must command that White House and those who work for him. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's the toughest job on Earth, and you must master the facts and insist that things that must be done are done. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe that the way in which I will approach the Presidency is what's needed, because all my life that has been the way in which I have sought to lead. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And that's why in this campaign I'm telling you exactly what I want to do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I am answering your questions. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I am trying to provide leadership now, before the election, so that the American people can participate in that decision. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
You have said, Mr. Mondale, that the polls have given you lower ratings on leadership than President Reagan because your message has failed to get through. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Given that you have been in public office for so many years, what accounts for the failure of your message to get through? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, I think we're getting better all the time. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think tonight, as we contrast for the first time our differing approach to government, to values, to the leadership in this country, I think as this debate goes forward, the American people will have for the first time a chance to weigh the two of us against each other. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think, as a part of that process, what I am trying to say will come across, and that is that we must lead, we must command, we must direct, and a President must see it like it is. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
He must stand for the values of decency that the American people stand for, and he must use the power of the White House to try to control these nuclear weapons and lead this world toward a safer world. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, the issue is leadership in personal terms. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
First, do you think, as Vice President Bush said, that Mr. Mondale's campaign is one of whining and hoping for bad news? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And second, what leadership characteristics do you possess that Mr. Mondale does not? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, whether he does or not, let me suggest my own idea about the leadership factor, since you've asked it. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, incidentally, I might say that with regard to the 25-percent cut in Social Security -- before I get to the answer to your question -- the only 25-percent cut that I know of was accompanying that huge 1977 tax increase, was a cut of 25 percent in the benefits for every American who was born after 1916. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, leadership. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
First of all, I think you must have some principles you believe in. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
In mine, I happen to believe in the people and believe that the people are supposed to be dominant in our society -- that they, not government, are to have control of their own affairs to the greatest extent possible, with an orderly society. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, having that, I think also that in leadership -- well, I believe that you find people, positions such as I'm in who have the talent and ability to do the things that are needed in the various departments of government. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't believe that a leader should be spending his time in the Oval Office deciding who's going to play tennis on the White House court. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And you let those people go with the guidelines of overall policy, not looking over their shoulder and nitpicking the manner in which they go at the job. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
You are ultimately responsible, however, for that job. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I also believe something else about that. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe that -- and when I became Governor of California, I started this, and I continue it in this office -- that any issue that comes before me, I have instructed Cabinet members and staff they are not to bring up any of the political ramifications that might surround the issue. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't want to hear them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I want to hear only arguments as to whether it is good or bad for the people -- is it morally right? Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And on that basis and that basis alone, we make a decision on every issue. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, with regard to my feeling about why I thought that his record bespoke his possible taking us back to the same things that we knew under the previous administration, his record is that he spoke in praise of deficits several times, said they weren't to be abhorred -- that, as a matter of fact, he at one time said he wished the deficit could be doubled, because they stimulate the economy and helped reduce unemployment. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
As a followup, let me draw in another specific, if I could -- a specific that the Democrats have claimed about your campaign -- that it is essentially based on imagery. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And one specific that they allege is that, for instance, recently you showed up at the opening ceremony of a Buffalo old-age housing project, when in fact, your policy was to cut Federal housing subsidies for the elderly. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yet you were there to have your picture taken with them. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our policy was not to cut subsidies. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have believed in partnership, and that was an example of a partnership between, not only local government and the Federal Government but also between the private sector that built that particular structure. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And this is what we've been trying to do, is involve the Federal Government in such partnerships. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
We are today subsidizing housing for more than 10 million people, and we're going to continue along that line. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have no thought of throwing people out into the snow, whether because of age or need. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have preserved the safety net for the people with true need in this country, and it has been pure demagoguery that we have in some way shut off all the charitable programs or many of them for the people who have real need. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The safety net is there, and we're taking care of more people than has ever been taken care of before by any administration in this country. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, an opportunity for you to rebut. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, I guess I'm reminded a little bit of what Will Rogers once said about Hoover. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
He said, "It's not what he doesn't know that bothers me; it's what he knows for sure that just ain't so.'' Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] The fact of it is: The President's budget sought to cut Social Security by 25 percent. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's not an opinion; it's a fact. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And when the President was asked the other day, "What do you want to cut in the budget? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
'', he said, "Cut those things I asked for but didn't get.'' Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's Social Security and Medicare. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The second fact is that the housing unit for senior citizens that the President dedicated in Buffalo was only made possible through a Federal assistance program for senior citizens that the President's budget sought to terminate. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, if he'd had his way, there wouldn't have been any housing project there at all. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
This administration has taken a meat cleaver out, in terms of Federal-assisted housing, and the record is there. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have to see the facts before we can draw conclusions. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, let me just respond with regard to Social Security. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
When we took office, we discovered that the program that the Carter-Mondale administration had said would solve the fiscal problems of Social Security for the next 50 years wouldn't solve them for 5. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Social Security was due to go bankrupt before 1983. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Any proposals that I made at that time were at the request of the chairman, a Democrat, of one of the leading committees, who said we have to do something before the program goes broke and the checks bounce. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And so, we made a proposal. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And then in 1982, they used that proposal in a demagogic fashion for the 1982 campaign. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And 3 days after the election in 1982, they came to us and said, Social Security, we know, is broke. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Indeed, we had to borrow $17 billion to pay the checks. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And then I asked for a bipartisan commission, which I'd asked for from the beginning, to sit down and work out a solution. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And so, the whole matter of what to do with Social Security has been resolved by bipartisan legislation, and it is on a sound basis now for as far as you can see into the next century. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, we begin segment number three with Fred Barnes. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Religion WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, would you describe your religious beliefs, noting particularly whether you consider yourself a born-again Christian, and explain how these beliefs affect your Presidential decisions? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, I was raised to have a faith and a belief and have been a member of a church since I was a small boy. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In our particular church, we did not use that term, "born again,'' so I don't know whether I would fit that -- that particular term. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I have -- thanks to my mother, God rest her soul -- the firmest possible belief and faith in God. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I don't believe -- I believe, I should say, as Lincoln once said, that I could not -- I would be the most stupid man in the world if I thought I could confront the duties of the office I hold if I could not turn to someone who was stronger and greater than all others. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I do resort to prayer. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
At the same time, however, I have not believed that prayer should be introduced into an election or be a part of a political campaign -- or religion a part of that campaign. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, I think religion became a part of this campaign when Mr. Mondale's running mate said I wasn't a good Christian. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, it does play a part in my life. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have no hesitancy in saying so. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, as I say, I don't believe that I could carry on unless I had a belief in a higher authority and a belief that prayers are answered. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Given those beliefs, Mr. President, why don't you attend services regularly, either by going to church or by inviting a minister to the White House, as President Nixon used to do, or someone to Camp David, as President Carter used to do? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The answer to your question is very simple about why I don't go to church. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have gone to church regularly all my life, and I started to here in Washington. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now, in the position I hold and in the world in which we live, where Embassies do get blown up in Beirut -- we're supposed to talk about that on the debate the 21st, I understand -- but I pose a threat to several hundred people if I go to church. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I know the threats that are made against me. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We all know the possibility of terrorism. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have seen the barricades that have had to be built around the White House. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, therefore, I don't feel -- and my minister knows this and supports me in this position -- I don't feel that I have a right to go to church, knowing that my being there could cause something of the kind that we have seen in other places, in Beirut, for example. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I miss going to church, but I think the Lord understands. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Applause] Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
May I ask you, please -- [applause] -- may I ask the audience please to refrain from applause. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Fred, your second question. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, would you describe your religious beliefs and mention whether you consider yourself a born-again Christian, and explain how those beliefs would affect your decisions as President? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
First of all, I accept President Reagan's affirmation of faith. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm sure that we all accept and admire his commitment to his faith, and we are strengthened, all of us, by that fact. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I am a son of a Methodist minister. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
My wife is the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I don't know if I've been born again, but I know I was born into a Christian family. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I believe I have sung at more weddings and more funerals than anybody ever to seek the Presidency. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Whether that helps or not, I don't know. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have a deep religious faith. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our family does. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It is fundamental. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's probably the reason that I'm in politics. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think our faith tells us, instructs us, about the moral life that we should lead. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think we're all together on that. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
What bothers me is this growing tendency to try to use one's own personal interpretation of faith politically, to question others' faith, and to try to use the instrumentalities of government to impose those views on others. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
All history tells us that that's a mistake. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
When the Republican platform says that from here on out, we're going to have a religious test for judges before they're selected for the Federal court, and then Jerry Falwell announces that that means they get at least two Justices of the Supreme Court, I think that's an abuse of faith in our country. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
This nation is the most religious nation on Earth -- more people go to church and synagogues than any other nation on Earth -- and it's because we kept the politicians and the state out of the personal exercise of our faith. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's why faith in the United States is pure and unpolluted by the intervention of politicians. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think if we want to continue -- as I do -- to have a religious nation, lets keep that line and never cross it. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Barnes, next question. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have time for rebuttal now. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think I have a followup. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, I asked you if you did. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm sorry -- -- WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, I do. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
-- -- I thought you waived it. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, Mr. Mondale, you've complained, just now, about Jerry Falwell, and you've complained other times about other fundamentalists in politics. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall your ever complaining about ministers who are involved in the civil rights movement or in the anti-Vietnam war demonstrations or about black preachers who've been so involved in American politics. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is it only conservative ministers that you object to? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
No. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What I object to -- [applause] -- what I object to -- what I object to is someone seeking to use his faith to question the faith of another or to use that faith and seek to use the power of government to impose it on others. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
A minister who is in civil rights or in the conservative movement, because he believes his faith instructs him to do that, I admire. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
The fact that the faith speaks to us and that we are moral people, hopefully, I accept and rejoice in. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's when you try to use that to undermine the integrity of private political -- or private religious faith and the use of the state is where -- for the most personal decisions in American life -- that's where I draw the line. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, Mr. President, rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, it's very difficult to rebut, because I find myself in so much agreement with Mr. Mondale. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I, too, want that wall that is in the Constitution of separation of church and state to remain there. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The only attacks I have made are on people who apparently would break away at that wall from the government side, using the government, using the power of the courts and so forth to hinder that part of the Constitution that says the government shall not only not establish a religion, it shall not inhibit the practice of religion. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And they have been using these things to have government, through court orders, inhibit the practice of religion. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
A child wants to say grace in a school cafeteria and a court rules that they can't do it because it's school property. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
These are they types of things that I think have been happening in a kind of a secular way that have been eroding that separation, and I am opposed to that. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
With regard to a platform on the Supreme Court, I can only say one thing about that. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have appointed one member to the Supreme Court: Sandra Day O'Connor. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'll stand on my record on that. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And if I have the opportunity to appoint any more, I'll do it in the same manner that I did in selecting her. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, your rebuttal, please. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The platform to which the President refers, in fact, calls for a religious test in the selection of judges. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And Jerry Falwell says that means we get two or three judges. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And it would involve a religious test for the first time in American life. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Let's take the example that the President cites. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe in prayer. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
My family prays. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We've never had any difficulty finding time to pray. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But do we want a constitutional amendment adopted of the kind proposed by the President that gets the local politicians into the business of selecting prayers that our children must either recite in school or be embarrassed and asked to excuse themselves? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Who would write the prayer? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What would it say? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
How would it be resolved when those disputes occur? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It seems to me that a moment's reflection tells you why the United States Senate turned that amendment down, because it will undermine the practice of honest faith in our country by politicizing it. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We don't want that. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you, Mr. Mondale. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our time is up for this round. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We go into the second round of our questioning, begin again with Jim Wieghart. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Jim? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Political Issues WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
After that discussion, this may be like going from the sublime to the ridiculous, but here goes. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have a political question for you, Mr. Mondale. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] Polls indicate a massive change in the electorate, away from the coalition that has long made the Democratic Party a majority. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Blue-collar workers, young professionals, their children, and much of the middle class now regard themselves as Independents or Republican instead of Democrats, and the gap -- the edge the Democrats had in party registration seems to be narrowing. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'd like to ask you, Mr. Mondale, what is causing this? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is the Democratic Party out of sync with the majority of Americans? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And will it soon be replaced as the majority party by the Republicans? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What do you think needs to be done about it, as a Democrat? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
My answer is that this campaign isn't over yet. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And when people vote, I think you're going to see a very strong verdict by the American people that they favor the approach that I'm talking about. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The American people want arms control. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They don't want this arms race. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And they don't want this deadly new effort to bring weapons into the heavens. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And they want an American foreign policy that leads toward a safer world. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The American people see this debt, and they know it's got to come down. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And if it won't come down, the economy's going to slow down, maybe go into a recession. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They see this tremendous influx and swamping of cheap foreign imports in this country that has cost over 3 million jobs, given farmers the worst year in American history. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And they know this debt must come down as well, because it's unfair to our children. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The American people want this environment protected. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They know that these toxic waste dumps should have been cleaned up a long time ago, and they know that people's lives and health are being risked, because we've had an administration that has been totally insensitive to the law and the demand for the protection of the environment. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The American people want their children educated. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They want to get our edge back in science, and they want a policy headed by the President that helps close this gap that's widening between the United States and Europe and Japan. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The American people want to keep opening doors. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They want those civil rights laws enforced. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They want the equal rights amendment ratified. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They want equal pay for comparable effort for women. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And they want it because they've understood from the beginning that when we open doors, we're all stronger, just as we were at the Olympics. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think as you make the case, the American people will increasingly come to our cause. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, isn't it possible that the American people have heard your message -- and they are listening -- but they are rejecting it? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, tonight we had the first debate over the deficit. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President says it'll disappear automatically. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I've said it's going to take some work. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the American people will draw their own conclusions. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Secondly, I've said that I will not support the cuts in Social Security and Medicare and the rest that the President has proposed. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President answers that it didn't happen or, if it did, it was resolved later in a commission. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
As the record develops, I think it's going to become increasingly clear that what I am saying and where I want to take this country is exactly where the country wants to go, and the comparison of approaches is such that I think will lead to further strength. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, you and your party are benefiting from what appears to be an erosion of the old Democratic coalition, but you have not laid out a specific agenda to take this shift beyond November 6th. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What is your program for America for the next decade, with some specificity? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, again, I'm running on the record. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think sometimes Mr. Mondale's running away from his. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I'm running on the record of what we have asked for. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We'll continue to try to get things that we didn't get in a program that has already brought the rate of spending of government down from 17 percent to 6.1 percent, a program of returning authority and autonomy to the local and State governments that has been unjustly seized by the Federal Government. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And you might find those words in a Democratic platform of some years ago -- I know, because I was a Democrat at that time. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I left the party eventually, because I could no longer follow the turn in the Democratic leadership that took us down an entirely different path, a path of centralizing authority in the Federal Government, lacking trust in the American people. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I promised, when we took office, that we would reduce inflation. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have, to one-third of what it was. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I promised that we would reduce taxes. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We did, 25 percent across the board. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
That barely held even with -- if it did that much -- with the gigantic tax increase imposed in 1977. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But at least it took that burden away from them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I said that we would create jobs for our people, and we did -- 6 million in the last 20 or 21 months. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I said that we would become respected in the world once again and that we would refurbish our national defense to the place that we could deal on the world scene and then seek disarmament, reduction of arms, and, hopefully, an elimination of nuclear weapons. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have done that. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
All of the things that I said we would do, from inflation being down, interest rates being down, unemployment falling, all of those things we have done. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think this is something the American people see. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think they also know that we had a commission that came in a year ago with a recommendation on education -- on excellence in education. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And today, without the Federal Government being involved other than passing on to them, the school districts, the words from that commission, we find 35 States with task forces now dealing with their educational problems. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
We find that schools are extending the curriculum to now have forced teaching of mathematics and science and so forth. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
All of these things have brought an improvement in the college entrance exams for the first time in some 20 years. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, I think that many Democrats are seeing the same thing this Democrat saw: The leadership isn't taking us where we want to go. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, much of what you said affects the quality of life of many Americans -- their income, the way they live, and so forth -- but there's an aspect to quality of life that lies beyond the private sector which has to do with our neighborhoods, our cities, our streets, our parks, our environment. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In those areas, I have difficulty seeing what your program is and what you feel the Federal responsibility is in these areas of the quality of life in the public sector that affects everybody, and even enormous wealth by one individual can't create the kind of environment that he might like. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There are tasks that government legitimately should enforce and tasks that government performs well, and you've named some of them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Crime has come down the last 2 years, for the first time in many, many decades that it has come down -- or since we've kept records -- 2 consecutive years, and last year it came down the biggest drop in crime that we've had. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think that we've had something to do with that, just as we have with the drug problem nationwide. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The environment? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, I feel as strongly as anyone about the preservation of the environment. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
When we took office, we found that the national parks were so dirty and contained so many hazards, lack of safety features, that we stopped buying additional park land until we had rectified this with what was to be a 5-year program -- but it's just about finished already -- a billion dollars. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now we're going back to budgeting for additional lands for our parks. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have added millions of acres to the wilderness lands, to the game refuges. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think that we're out in front of most -- and I see that the red light is blinking, so I can't continue. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I've got more. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, you'll have a chance when your rebuttal time comes up, perhaps, Mr. President. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, now it's your turn for rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President says that when the Democratic Party made its turn, he left it. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The year that he decided we had lost our way was the year that John F. Kennedy was running against Richard Nixon. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I was chairman of "Minnesotans for Kennedy;'' President Reagan was chairman of a thing called "Democrats for Nixon.'' Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, maybe we made a wrong turn with Kennedy, but I'll be proud of supporting him all of my life. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I'm very happy that John Kennedy was elected, because John Kennedy looked at the future with courage, saw what needed to be done, and understood his own government. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President just said that his government is shrinking. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's not. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's now the largest peacetime government ever in terms of the take from the total economy. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And instead of retreating -- instead of being strong where we should be strong, he wants to make it strong and intervene in the most private and personal questions in American life. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's where government should not be. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Before I campaigned as a Democrat for a Republican candidate for President, I had already voted for Dwight Eisenhower to be President of the United States. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And so, my change had come earlier than that. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I hadn't gotten around to reregistering as yet. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I found that was rather difficult to do. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I finally did it. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
There are some other things that have been said here -- back, and you said that I might be able to dredge them up. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale referred to the farmers' worst year. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The farmers are not the victims of anything this administration has done. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The farmers were the victims of the double-digit inflation and the 21\1/2\-percent interest rates of the Carter-Mondale administration and the grain embargo, which destroyed our reliability nationwide as a supplier. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
All of these things are presently being rectified, and I think that we are going to salvage the farmers. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, there has been less than one-quarter of 1 percent of foreclosures of the 270,000 loans from government that the farmers have. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you, Mr. President. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We'll now turn to Diane Sawyer for her round of questions. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Diane? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Abortion WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'd like to turn to an area that I think few people enjoy discussing, but that we probably should tonight because the positions of the two candidates are so clearly different and lead to very different policy consequences -- and that is abortion and right to life. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm exploring for your personal views of abortion and specifically how you would want them applied as public policy. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
First, Mr. President. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do you consider abortion murder or a sin? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And second, how hard would you work -- what kind of priority would you give in your second term legislation to make abortion illegal? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And specifically, would you make certain, as your party platform urges, that Federal justices that you appoint be prolife? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have believed that in the appointment of judges that all that was specified in the party platform was that they respect the sanctity of human life. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, that I would want to see in any judge and with regard to any issue having to do with human life. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But with regard to abortion, and I have a feeling that this is -- there's been some reference without naming it here in the remarks of Mr. Mondale tied to injecting religion into government. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
With me, abortion is not a problem of religion, it's a problem of the Constitution. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe that until and unless someone can establish that the unborn child is not a living human being, then that child is already protected by the Constitution, which guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all of us. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think that this is what we should concentrate on, is trying -- I know there were weeks and weeks of testimony before a Senate committee, there were medical authorities, there were religious -- there were clerics there -- everyone talking about this matter of prolife. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And at the end of all of that, not one shred of evidence was introduced that the unborn child was not alive. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have seen premature births that are now grown-up, happy people going around. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Also, there is a strange dichotomy in this whole position about our courts ruling that abortion is not the taking of a human life. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In California, sometime ago, a man beat a woman so savagely that her unborn child was born dead with a fractured skull, and the California State Legislature unanimously passed a law that was signed by the then-Democratic Governor -- signed a law that said that any man who so abuses a pregnant woman that he causes the death of her unborn child shall be charged with murder. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, isn't it strange that that same woman could have taken the life of her unborn child, and it was abortion and not murder, but if somebody else does it, that's murder? Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And it used the term "death of the unborn child.'' Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, this has been my feeling about abortion, that we have a problem now to determine -- and all the evidence so far comes down on the side of the unborn child being a living human being. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
A two-part followup. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do I take it from what you've said about the platform, then, that you don't regard the language and don't regard in your own appointments, abortion position a test of any kind for justices -- that it should be? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And also, if abortion is made illegal, how would you want it enforced? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Who would be the policing units that would investigate? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And would you want the women who have abortions to be prosecuted? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The laws regarding that always were State laws. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It was only when the Supreme Court handed down a decision that the Federal Government intervened in what had always been a State policy. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Our laws against murder are State laws. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, I would think that this would be the point of enforcement on this. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
As I say, I feel that we have a problem here to resolve. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And no one has approached it from that matter. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It does not happen that the church that I belong to had that as part of its dogma. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I know that some churches do. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, it is a sin if you're taking a human life. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
At the same time, in our Judeo-Christian tradition, we recognize the right of taking a human life in self-defense. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And therefore, I've always believed that a mother, if medically it is determined that her life is at risk if she goes through with the pregnancy, she has a right then to take the life of even her own unborn child in defense of her own. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, to turn to you, do you consider abortion a murder or a sin? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And bridging from what President Reagan said, he has written that if society doesn't know whether life does -- human life, in fact, does begin at conception, as long as there is a doubt, that the unborn child should at least be given the benefit of the doubt and that there should be protection for that unborn child. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
This is one of the most emotional and difficult issues that could possibly be debated. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think your questions, however, underscore the fact there is probably no way that government should or could answer this question in every individual case and in the private lives of the American people. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The constitutional amendment proposed by President Reagan would make it a crime for a woman to have an abortion if she had been raped or suffered from incest. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is it really the view of the American people, however you feel on the question of abortion, that government ought to be reaching into your livingrooms and making choices like this? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think it cannot work, won't work, and will lead to all kinds of cynical evasions of the law. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Those who can afford to have them will continue to have them. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The disadvantaged will go out in the back alley as they used to do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think these questions are inherently personal and moral, and every individual instance is different. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Every American should be aware of the seriousness of the step. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But there are some things that government can do and some things they cannot do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, the example that the President cites has nothing to do with abortion. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Somebody went to a woman and nearly killed her. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's always been a serious crime and always should be a serious crime. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But how does that compare with the problem of a woman who is raped? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do we really want those decisions made by judges who've been picked because they will agree to find the person guilty? Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't think so, and I think it's going in exactly the wrong direction. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
In America, on basic moral questions we have always let the people decide in their own personal lives. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We haven't felt so insecure that we've reached for the club of state to have our point of view. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's been a good instinct. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And we're the most religious people on Earth. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
President Reagan, as Governor of California, signed a bill which is perhaps the most liberal proabortion bill of any State in the Union. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But if I can get you back for a moment on my point, which was the question of when human life begins -- a two-part followup. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
First of all, at what point do you believe that human life begins in the growth of a fetus? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And second of all, you said that government shouldn't be involved in the decisions. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yet there are those who would say that government is involved, and the consequence of the involvement was 1.5 million abortions in 1980. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And how do you feel about that? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The basic decision of the Supreme Court is that each person has to make this judgment in her own life, and that's the way it's been done. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And it's a personal and private, moral judgment. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't know the answer to when life begins. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And it's not that simple, either. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
You've got another life involved. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And if it's rape, how do you draw moral judgments on that? Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
If it's incest, how do you draw moral judgments on that? Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Does every woman in America have to present herself before some judge picked by Jerry Falwell to clear her personal judgment? Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It won't work. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Applause] Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm sorry to do this, but I really must talk to the audience. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You're all invited guests. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I know I'm wasting time in talking to you, but it really is very unfair of you to applaud -- sometimes louder, less loud -- and I ask you, as people who were invited here, and polite people, to refrain. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have our time now for rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, with regard to this being a personal choice, isn't that what a murderer is insisting on, his or her right to kill someone because of whatever fault they think justifies that? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, I'm not capable, and I don't think you are, any of us, to make this determination that must be made with regard to human life. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I am simply saying that I believe that that's where the effort should be directed -- to make that determination. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't think that any of us should be called upon here to stand and make a decision as to what other things might come under the self-defense tradition. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
That, too, would have to be worked out then, when you once recognize that we're talking about a life. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But in this great society of ours, wouldn't it make a lot more sense, in this gentle and kind society, if we had a program that made it possible for when incidents come along in which someone feels they must do away with that unborn child, that instead we make it available for the adoption? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There are a million and a half people out there standing in line waiting to adopt children who can't have them any other way. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I agree with that, and that's why I was a principal sponsor of a liberal adoption law, so that more of these children could come to term, so that the young mothers were educated, so we found an option, an alternative. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm all for that. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But the question is whether this other option proposed by the President should be pursued. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I don't agree with it. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Since I've got about 20 seconds, let me just say one thing. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The question of agriculture came up a minute ago. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Net farm income is off 50 percent in the last 3 years, and every farmer knows it. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And the effect of these economic policies is like a massive grain embargo, which has caused farm exports to drop 20 percent. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's been a big failure. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I opposed the grain embargo in my administration. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm opposed to these policies as well. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm sitting here like the great schoolteacher, letting you both get away with things -- because one did it, the other one did it. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
May I ask in the future that the rebuttal stick to what the rebuttal is. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And also, foreign policy will be the next debate. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Stop dragging it in by its ear into this one. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] Now, having admonished you, I would like to say to the panel, you are allowed one question and one followup. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Would you try, as best you could, not to ask two and three -- I know it's something we all want to do -- two and three questions as part one and two and three as part two. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Having said that, Fred, it's yours. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Federal Taxation WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, let me ask you about middle-class Americans and the taxes they pay. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, I'm talking not about the rich or the poor -- I know your views on their taxes -- but about families earning 25,000 to 45,000 a year. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do you think that those families are overtaxed or undertaxed by the Federal Government? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In my opinion, as we deal with this deficit, people from about $70,000 a year on down have to be dealt with very, very carefully, because they are the ones who didn't get any relief the first time around. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Under the 1981 tax bill, people making $200,000 a year got $60,000 in tax relief over 3 years, while people making $30,000 a year, all taxes considered, got no relief at all or their taxes actually went up. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's why my proposal protects everybody from $25,000 a year or less against any tax increases, and treats those $70,000 and under in a way that is more beneficial than the way the President proposes with a sales tax or a flat tax. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
What does this mean in real life? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, the other day, Vice President Bush disclosed his tax returns to the American people. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
He's one of the wealthiest Americans, and he's our Vice President. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In 1981 I think he paid about 40 percent in taxes. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
In 1983, as a result of these tax preferences, he paid a little over 12 percent, 12.8 percent in taxes. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That meant that he paid a lower percent in taxes than the janitor who cleaned up his office or the chauffeur who drives him to work. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe we need some fairness. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And that's why I've proposed what I think is a fair and a responsible proposal that helps protect these people who've already got no relief or actually got a tax increase. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It sounds as if you are saying you think this group of taxpayers making 25,000 to 45,000 a year is already overtaxed, yet your tax proposal would increase their taxes. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think your aides have said those earning about 25,000 to 35,000, their tax rate would go up -- their tax bill would go up a hundred dollars, and from 35,000 to 45,000, more than that, several hundred dollars. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Wouldn't that stifle their incentive to work and invest and so on, and also hurt the recovery? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The first thing is, everybody 25,000 and under would have no tax increase. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Reagan, after the election, is going to have to propose a tax increase, and you will have to compare what he proposes. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And his Secretary of the Treasury said he's studying a sales tax or a value-added tax. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
They're the same thing. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
They hit middle- and moderate-income Americans and leave wealthy Americans largely untouched. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Up until about $70,000, as you go up the ladder, my proposals will be far more beneficial. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
As soon as we get the economy on a sound ground as well, I'd like to see the total repeal of indexing. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't think we can do that for a few years. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But at some point, we want to do that as well. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, let me try this on you. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do you think middle-income Americans are overtaxed or undertaxed? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You know, I wasn't going to say this at all, but I can't help it. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There you go again. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] I don't have a plan to tax -- or increase taxes. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm not going to increase taxes. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I can understand why you are, Mr. Mondale, because as a Senator you voted 16 times to increase taxes. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, I believe that our problem has not been that anybody in our country is undertaxed; it's that government is overfed. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I think that most of our people -- this is why we had a 25-percent tax cut across the board which maintained the same progressivity of our tax structure in the brackets on up. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, as a matter of fact, it just so happens that in the quirks of administering these taxes, those above $50,000 actually did not get quite as big a tax cut percentage-wise as did those from 50,000 down. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
From 50,000 down, those people paid two-thirds of the taxes, and those people got two-thirds of the tax cut. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, the Social Security tax of '77 -- this indeed was a tax that hit people in the lower brackets the hardest. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It had two features. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It had several tax increases phased in over a period of time -- there are two more yet to come between now and 1989. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
At the same time every year, it increased the amount of money -- virtually every year, there may have been one or two that were skipped in there -- that was subject to that tax. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Today it is up to about $38,000 of earnings that is subject to the payroll tax for Social Security. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And that tax, there are no deductions, so a person making anywhere from 10, 15, 20 -- they're paying that tax on the full gross earnings that they have after they have already paid an income tax on that same amount of money. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, I don't think that to try and say that we were taxing the rich, and not the other way around, it just doesn't work out that way. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The system is still where it was with regard to the progressivity, as I've said, and that has not been changed. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But if you take it in numbers of dollars instead of percentage, yes, you could say, well, that person got 10 times as much as this other person. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, but he paid 10 times as much, also. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But if you take it in percentages, then you find out that it is fair and equitable across the board. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I thought I caught, Mr. President, a glimmer of a stronger statement there in your answer than you've made before. BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the operative position you had before was that you would only raise taxes in a second term as a last resort, and I thought you said flatly that "I'm not going to raise taxes.'' BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is that what you meant to say, that you will not -- that you will flatly not raise taxes in your second term as President? BARNES O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, I had used -- "last resort'' would always be with me. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
If you got the Government down to the lowest level, that you yourself could say it could not go any lower and still perform the services for the people, and if the recovery was so complete that you knew you were getting the ultimate amount of revenues that you could get through that growth, and there was still some slight difference there between those two lines, then I had said once that, yes, you would have to then look to see if taxes should not be adjusted. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't foresee those things happening, so I say with great confidence I'm not going to go for a tax. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
With regard to assailing Mr. Bush about his tax problems and the difference from the tax he once paid and then the later tax he paid, I think if you looked at the deductions, there were great legal expenses in there -- had to do, possibly, with the sale of his home, and they had to do with his setting up of a blind trust. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
All of those are legally deductions, deductible in computing your tax, and it was a 1-year thing with him. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, here we go again. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's time for rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, first of all, I gave him the benefit of the doubt on the house deal. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm just talking about the 12.8 percent that he paid, and that's what's happening all over this country with wealthy Americans. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
They've got so many loopholes they don't have to pay much in taxes. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, Mr. President, you said, "There you go again,'' right? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You remember the last time you said that? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mm-hmm. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You said it when President Carter said that you were going to cut Medicare, and you said, "Oh, no, there you go again, Mr. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
President.'' Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And what did you do right after the election? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You went out and tried to cut $20 billion out of Medicare. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And so, when you say, "There you go again'' -- people remember this, you know. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] And people will remember that you signed the biggest tax increase in the history of California and the biggest tax increase in the history of the United States, and what are you going to do? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You've got a $260 billion deficit. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You can't wish it away. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You won't slow defense spending; you refuse to do that -- -- Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, I'm afraid your time is up. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Sorry. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
With regard to Medicare, no, but it's time for us to say that Medicare is in pretty much the same condition that Social Security was, and something is going to have to be done in the next several years to make it fiscally sound. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And, no, I never proposed any $20 billion should come out of Medicare; I have proposed that the program we must treat with that particular problem. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And maybe part of that problem is because during the 4 years of the Carter-Mondale administration medical costs in this country went up 87 percent. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
All right. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Fine. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I gave you back some of that time. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We can't keep going back for other rebuttals; there'll be time later. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We now go to our final round. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The way things stand now, we have time for only two sets of questions, and by lot, it will be Jim and Diane. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And we'll start with Jim Wieghart. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Social Welfare Programs WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, the economic recovery is real, but uneven. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The Census Bureau, just a month ago, reported that there are more people living under poverty now, a million more people living under it, than when you took office. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There have been a number of studies, including studies by the Urban Institute and other nonpolitical organizations, that say that the impact of the tax and budget cuts and your economic policies have impacted severely on certain classes of Americans -- working mothers, head of households, minority groups, elderly poor. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In fact, they're saying the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer under your policies. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What relief can you offer to the working poor, to the minorities, and to the women head of households who have borne the brunt of these economic programs? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What can you offer them in the future, in your next term? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, some of those facts and figures just don't stand up. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, there has been an increase in poverty, but it is a lower rate of increase than it was in the preceding years before we got here. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
It has begun to decline, but it is still going up. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
On the other hand, women heads of household -- single women heads of household have -- for the first time there's been a turndown in the rate of poverty for them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have found also in our studies that in this increase in poverty, it all had to do with their private earnings. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It had nothing to do with the transfer of payments from government by way of many programs. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We are spending now 37 percent more on food for the hungry in all the various types of programs than was spent in 1980. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We're spending a third more on all of the -- well, all of the programs of human service. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have more people receiving food stamps than were ever receiving them before -- 2,300,000 more are receiving them -- even though we took 850,000 off the food stamp rolls because they were making an income that was above anything that warranted their fellow citizens having to support them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We found people making 185 percent of the poverty level were getting government benefits. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have set a line at 130 percent so that we can direct that aid down to the truly needy. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Some time ago, Mr. Mondale said something about education and college students and help of that kind. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Half -- one out of two of the full-time college students in the United States are receiving some form of Federal aid. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But there, again, we found people that there under the previous administration, families that had no limit to income were still eligible for low-interest college loans. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We didn't think that was right. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And so, we have set a standard that those loans and those grants are directed to the people who otherwise could not go to college, their family incomes were so low. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, there are a host of other figures that reveal that the grant programs are greater than they have ever been, taking care of more people than they ever have. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
7.7 million elderly citizens who were living in the lowest 20 percent of earnings -- 7.7 million have moved up into another bracket since our administration took over, leaving only 5 million of the elderly in that bracket when there had been more than 13 million. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, in a visit to Texas -- in Brownsville, I believe it was, in the Rio Grande Valley -- you did observe that the economic recovery was uneven. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In that particular area of Texas, unemployment was over 14 percent, whereas statewide, it was the lowest in the country, I believe -- 5.6 percent. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And you made the comment, however, that man does not live by bread alone. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What did you mean by that comment? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And if I interpret it correctly, it would be a comment more addressed to the affluent who obviously can look beyond just the bread they need to sustain them, with their wherewithal. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
That had nothing to do with the other thing of talking about their needs or anything. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I remember distinctly, I was segueing into another subject. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I was talking about the things that have been accomplished, and that was referring to the revival of patriotism and optimism, the new spirit that we're finding all over America. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And it is a wonderful thing to see when you get out there among the people. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, that was the only place that that was used. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I did avoid, I'm afraid, in my previous answer, also, the idea of uneven, yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There is no way that the recovery is even across the country, just as in the depths of the recession, there were some parts of the country that were worse off, but some that didn't even feel the pain of the recession. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We're not going to rest and not going to be happy until every person in this country who wants a job can have one, until the recovery is complete across the country. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, as you can gather from the question to the President, the celebrated War on Poverty obviously didn't end the problem of poverty, although it may have dented it. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The poor and the homeless and the disadvantaged are still with us. WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What should the Federal Government's role be to turn back the growth in the number of people living below the poverty level, which is now 35 million in the United States, and to help deal with the structural unemployment problems that the President was referring to in an uneven recovery? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Number one, we've got to get the debt down to get the interest rates down so the economy will grow and people will be employed. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Number two, we have to work with cities and others to help generate economic growth in those communities -- through the Urban Development Action Grant Program. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't mind those enterprise zones; let's try them, but not as a substitute for the others. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Certainly education and training is crucial. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
If these young Americans don't have the skills that make them attractive to employees, they're not going to get jobs. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
The next thing is to try to get more entrepreneurship in business within the reach of minorities so that these businesses are located in the communities in which they're found. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The other thing is, we need the business community as well as government heavily involved in these communities to try to get economic growth. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
There is no question that the poor are worse off. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the President genuinely believes that they're better off. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But the figures show that about 8 million more people are below the poverty line than 4 years ago. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
How you can cut school lunches, how you can cut student assistance, how you can cut housing, how you can cut disability benefits, how you can do all of these things and then the people receiving them -- for example, the disabled, who have no alternative -- how they're going to do better, I don't know. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, we need a tight budget, but there's no question that this administration has singled out things that affect the most vulnerable in American life, and they're hurting. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
One final point if I might. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There's another part of the lopsided economy that we're in today, and that is that these heavy deficits have killed exports and are swamping the Nation with cheap imports. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We are now $120 billion of imports, 3 million jobs lost, and farmers are having their worst year. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's another reason to get the deficit down. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, is it possible that the vast majority of Americans who appear to be prosperous have lost interest in the kinds of programs you're discussing to help those less privileged than they are? WIEGHART O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the American people want to make certain that that dollar is wisely spent. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think they stand for civil rights. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I know they're all for education in science and training, which I strongly support. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
They want these young people to have a chance to get jobs and the rest. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the business community wants to get involved. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think they're asking for new and creative ways to try to reach it with everyone involved. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think that's part of it. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think also that the American people want a balanced program that gives us long-term growth so that they're not having to take money that's desperate to themselves and their families and give it to someone else. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm opposed to that, too. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And now it is time for our rebuttal for this period. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The connection that's been made again between the deficit and the interest rates -- there is no connection between them. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
There is a connection between interest rates and inflation, but I would call to your attention that in 1981 while we were operating still on the Carter-Mondale budget that we inherited -- that the interest rates came down from 21\1/2\, down toward the 12 or 13 figure. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And while they were coming down, the deficits had started their great increase. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
They were going up. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, if there was a connection I think that there would be a different parallel between deficits getting larger and interest rates going down. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The interest rates are based on inflation. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And right now I have to tell you I don't think there is any excuse for the interest rates being as high as they are because we have brought inflation down so low. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think it can only be that they're anticipating or hope -- expecting, not hoping, that maybe we don't have a control of inflation and it's going to go back up again. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, it isn't going to go back up. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We're going to see that it doesn't. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I haven't got time to answer with regard to the disabled. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you, Mr. President. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, if I heard you correctly, you said that these deficits don't have anything to do with interest rates. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I will grant you that interest rates were too high in 1980, and we can have another debate as to why -- energy prices and so on. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
There's no way of glossing around that. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But when these huge deficits went in place in 1981, what's called the real interest rates -- the spread between inflation and what a loan costs you doubled -- and that's still the case today. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And the result is interest costs that have never been seen before in terms of real charges, and it's attributable to the deficit. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Everybody -- every economist, every businessman -- believes that. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Your own Council of Economic Advisers -- Mr. Feldstein in his report told you that. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Every chairman of the Finance and Ways and Means Committee, Republican leaders in the Senate and the House are telling you that. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That deficit is ruining the long-term hopes for this economy. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's causing high interest rates. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's ruining us in trade. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's given us the highest small business failure in 50 years. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
The economy is starting downhill with housing failure -- -- Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you, Mr. Mondale. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You're both very obedient. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have to give you credit for that. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We now start our final round of questions. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We do want to have time for your rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We start with Diane -- Diane Sawyer. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Presidential Campaign WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Since we are reaching the end of the question period, and since in every Presidential campaign, the candidates tend to complain that the opposition candidate is not held accountable for what he or she says, let me give you the chance to do that. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, beginning with you. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What do you think the most outrageous thing is your opponent said in this debate tonight? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do you want to give me some suggestions? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] I'm going to use my time a little differently. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm going to give the President some credit. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the President has done some things to raise the sense of spirit, morale, good feeling in this country, and he's entitled to credit for that. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
What I think we need, however, is not just that but to move forward, not just congratulating ourselves but challenging ourselves to get on with the business of dealing with America's problems. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think in education, when he lectured the country about the importance of discipline, I didn't like it at first, but I think it helped a little bit. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But now we need both that kind of discipline and the resources and the consistent leadership that allows this country to catch up in education and science and training. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I like President Reagan. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And this is not personal -- there are deep differences about our future, and that's the basis of my campaign. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Follow up in a similar vein, then. SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What remaining question would you most like to see your opponent forced to answer? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Without any doubt, I have stood up and told the American people that that $263 billion deficit must come down. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I've done what no candidate for President has ever done, I told you before the election what I'd do. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Reagan, as you saw tonight -- President Reagan takes the position it will disappear by magic. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It was once called voodoo economics. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I wish the President would say: Yes, the CBO is right. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, we have a $263 billion deficit. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
This is how I'm going to get it done. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Don't talk about growth, because even though we need growth, that's not helping. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's going to go in the other direction, as they've estimated. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And give us a plan. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
What will you cut? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Whose taxes will you raise? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Will you finally touch that defense budget? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Are you going to go after Social Security and Medicare and student assistance and the handicapped again as you did last time? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
If you'd just tell us what you're going to do, then the American people could compare my plan for the future with your plan. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And that's the way it should be. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The American people would be in charge. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. President, the most outrageous thing your opponent has said in the debate tonight? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, now, I have to start with a smile, since his kind words to me. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'll tell you what I think has been the most outrageous thing in political dialog, both in this campaign and the one in '82. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And that is the continued discussion and claim that somehow I am the villain who is going to pull the Social Security checks out from those people who are dependent on them. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And why I think it is outrageous -- first of all, it isn't true. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But why it is outrageous is because, for political advantage, every time they do that, they scare millions of senior citizens who are totally dependent on Social Security, have no place else to turn. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And they have to live and go to bed at night thinking, "Is this true? Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is someone going to take our check away from us and leave us destitute?'' Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I don't think that that should be a part of political dialog. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, to -- I still -- I just have a minute here? Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You have more time. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Oh, I -- -- Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You can keep going. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Okay. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
All right. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, Social Security, let's lay it to rest once and for all. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I told you never would I do such a thing. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I tell you also now, Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Social Security is totally funded by the payroll tax levied on employer and employee. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
If you reduce the out-go of Social Security, that money would not go into the general fund to reduce a deficit. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It would go into the Social Security Trust Fund. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, Social Security has nothing to do with balancing a budget or erasing or lowering the deficit. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, again, to get to whether I am depending on magic, I think I have talked in straight economic terms about a program of recovery that I was told wouldn't work. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And then, after it worked, I was told that lowering taxes would increase inflation. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And none of these things happened. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
It is working, and we're going to continue on that same line. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
As to what we might do, and find in further savings cuts, no, we're not going to starve the hungry. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But we have 2,478 specific recommendations from a commission of more than 2,000 business people in this country, through the Grace commission, that we're studying right now -- and we've already implemented 17 percent of them -- that are recommendations as to how to make government more efficient, more economic. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And to keep it even, what remaining question would you most like to see your opponent forced to answer? SAWYER O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Why the deficits are so much of a problem for him now, but that in 1976, when the deficit was $52 billion and everyone was panicking about that, he said, no, that he thought it ought to be bigger, because a bigger deficit would stimulate the economy and would help do away with unemployment. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
In 1979 he made similar statements, the same effect, that the deficits -- there was nothing wrong with having deficits. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Remember, there was a trillion dollars in debt before we got here. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's got to be paid by our children and grandchildren, too, if we don't do it. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I'm hoping we can start some payments on it before we get through here. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's why I want another 4 years. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, we have time now, if you'd like to answer the President's question, or whatever rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, we've just finished almost the whole debate. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
And the American people don't have the slightest clue about what President Reagan will do about these deficits. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] And yet, that's the most important single issue of our time. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I did support the '76 measure that he told about, because we were in a deep recession and we needed some stimulation. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I will say as a Democrat, I was a real piker, Mr. President. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
In 1979 we ran a $29 billion deficit all year. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
This administration seems to run that every morning. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
And the result is exactly what we see. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
This economy is starting to run downhill. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Housing is off. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Last report on new purchases, it's the lowest since 1982. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Growth is a little over 3 percent now. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Many people are predicting a recession. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And the flow of imports into this country is swamping the American people. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We've got to deal with this problem, and those of us who want to be your President should tell you now what we're going to do, so you can make a judgment. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you very much. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We must stop now. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I want to give you time for your closing statements. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
It's indeed time for that from each of you. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
We will begin with President Reagan. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Reagan, you had your rebuttal, and I just cut you off because our time is going. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You have a chance now for rebuttal before your closing statement. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is that correct? WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
No, I might as well just go with -- -- Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Do you want to go with your -- -- WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't think so. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm all confused now. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Technically, you did. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have little voices that come in my ear. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
[Laughter] You don't get those same voices. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm not hearing it from here -- I'm hearing it from here. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
All right. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You have waived your rebuttal. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
You can go with your closing statement. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Closing Statements WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, we'll include it in that. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Okay. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Four years ago, in similar circumstances to this, I asked you, the American people, a question. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
"Are you better off than you were 4 years before?'' Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The answer to that obviously was no, and as the result, I was elected to this office and promised a new beginning. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Now, maybe I'm expected to ask that same question again. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I'm not going to, because I think that all of you -- or not everyone, those people that are in those pockets of poverty and haven't caught up, they couldn't answer the way I would want them to -- but I think that most of the people in this country would say, yes, they are better off than they were 4 years ago. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The question, I think, should be enlarged. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Is America better off than it was 4 years ago? Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And I believe the answer to that has to also be "yes.'' Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I promised a new beginning. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So far, it is only a beginning. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
If the job were finished, I might have thought twice about seeking reelection for this job. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
But we now have an economy that, for the first time -- well, let's put it this way: In the first half of 1980, gross national product was down a minus 3.7 percent. Ronald W. Reagan O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The first half of '84 it's up 8\1/2\ percent. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Productivity in the first half of 1980 was down a minus 2 percent. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Today it is up a plus 4 percent. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Personal earnings after taxes per capita have gone up almost $3,000 in these 4 years. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
In 1980 -- or 1979, a person with a fixed income of $8,000 was $500 above the poverty line, and this maybe explains why there are the numbers still in poverty. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
By 1980 that same person was $500 below the poverty line. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have restored much of our economy. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
With regard to business investment, it is higher than it has been since 1949. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
So, there seems to be no shortage of investment capital. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have, as I said, cut the taxes, but we have reduced inflation, and for 2 years now it has stayed down there, not at double digit, but in the range of 4 or below. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We believe that we had also promised that we would make our country more secure. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Yes, we have an increase in the defense budget. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But back then we had planes that couldn't fly for lack of spare parts or pilots. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
We had navy vessels that couldn't leave harbor because of lack of crew or, again, lack of spare parts. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Today we're well on our way to a 600-ship navy. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have 543 at present. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We have -- our military, the morale is high. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think the people should understand that two-thirds of the defense budget pays for pay and salary, or pay and pension. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And then you add to that food and wardrobe, and all the other things, and you only have a small portion going for weapons. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But I am determined that if ever our men are called on, they should have the best that we can provide in the manner of tools and weapons. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
There has been reference to expensive spare parts, hammers costing $500. Ronald W. Reagan Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, we are the ones who found those. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think we've given the American people back their spirit. Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think there's an optimism in the land and a patriotism, and I think that we're in a position once again to heed the words of Thomas Paine, who said: "We have it in our power to begin the world over again.'' Ronald W. Reagan Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you, Mr. Reagan. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, the closing words are now yours. WALTERS O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I want to thank the League of Women Voters and the city of Louisville for hosting this evening's debate. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I want to thank President Reagan for agreeing to debate. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
He didn't have to, and he did, and we all appreciate it. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President's favorite question is: Are you better off? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Well, if you're wealthy, you're better off. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
If you're middle income, you're about where you were. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And if you're modest income, you're worse off. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's what the economists tell us. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
But is that really the question that should be asked? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Isn't the real question is will we be better off? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Will our children be better off? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Are we building the future that this nation needs? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe that if we ask those questions that bear on our future, not just congratulate ourselves but challenge us to solve those problems, you'll see that we need new leadership. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Are we better of with this arms race? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Will we be better off if we start this star wars escalation into the heavens? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Are we better off when we deemphasize our values in human rights? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Are we better off when we load our children with this fantastic debt? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Would fathers and mothers feel proud of themselves if they loaded their children with debts like this nation is now -- over a trillion dollars on the shoulders of our children? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Can we say, really say that we will be better off when we pull away from sort of that basic American instinct of decency and fairness? Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
I would rather lose a campaign about decency than win a campaign about self-interest. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I don't think this nation is composed of people who care only for themselves. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And when we sought to assault Social Security and Medicare, as the record shows we did, I think that was mean-spirited. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
When we terminated 400,000 desperate, hopeless, defenseless Americans who were on disability -- confused and unable to defend themselves, and just laid them out on the street, as we did for 4 years, I don't think that's what America is all about. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
America is a fair society, and it is not right that Vice President Bush pays less in taxes than the janitor who helps him. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe there's fundamental fairness crying out that needs to be achieved in our tax system. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe that we will be better off if we protect this environment. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
And contrary to what the President says, I think their record on the environment is inexcusable and often shameful. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
These laws are not being enforced, have not been enforced, and the public health and the air and the water are paying the price. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
That's not fair for our future. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I think our future requires a President to lead us in an all-out search to advance our education, our learning, and our science and training, because this world is more complex and we're being pressed harder all the time. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
I believe in opening doors. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
We won the Olympics, in part, because we've had civil rights laws and the laws that prohibit discrimination against women. Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
I have been for those efforts all my life. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The President's record is quite different. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
The question is our future. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
President Kennedy once said in response to similar arguments, "We are great, but we can be greater.'' Walter F. Mondale Premise 1984 07 Oct 1984
We can be better if we face our future, rejoice in our strengths, face our problems, and by solving them, build a better society for our children. Walter F. Mondale Claim 1984 07 Oct 1984
Thank you. Walter F. Mondale O 1984 07 Oct 1984
Good evening from the Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm Dorothy Ridings, president of the League of Women Voters, the sponsor of tonight's vice-presidential debate between Republican George Bush and Democrat Geraldine Ferraro. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Our panelists for tonight's debate are John Mashek, correspondent for U.S. News & World Report; Jack White, correspondent for Time magazine; Norma Quarles, correspondent for NBC News; and Robert Boyd, Washington bureau chief for Knight-Ridder Newspapers. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Sander Vanocur, senior political correspondent for ABC News, is our moderator tonight. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Sandy. Dorothy Ridings O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Thank you, Dorothy. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
A few words about the order of our format tonight. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The order of questioning was determined by a toss of the coin. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro won the toss. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
She elected to speak last. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Therefore Vice President Bush will get the first question. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The debate will be built upon a series of questions from the four reporters on the panel. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
A reporter will ask a candidate a question, a follow-up question and then the same to the other candidate; then each candidate will get to rebut the other. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The debate will be divided into two parts. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
There'll be a section, the first: one, on domestic affairs; the second on foreign affairs. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now the manner of address was decided by the candidates. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Therefore it will be Vice President Bush, Congresswoman Ferraro. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And we begin our questioning with Mr. Mashek. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
John Adams, our nation's first vice-president, once said: "Today I am nothing. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Tomorrow I may be everything." MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
With that in mind, I'd like to ask the following question: Vice President Bush, four years ago, you ran against Mr. Reagan for the Republican nomination. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
You disagreed with him on such issues as the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion, and you labeled his economic policies as voodoo. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now you apparently agree with him on every issue. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
If you should be called upon to assume the presidency, would you follow Mr. Reagan's policies down the line or would you revert to some of your own ideas. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, I don't think there's a great difference, Mr. Mashek, between my views and President Reagan's. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
One of the reasons I think we're an effective team is that I believe firmly in his leadership. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
He's really turned this country around. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We agree on the economic program. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
When we came into office, why, inflation was 21, 12 1/2 percent interest was wiping out every single American were 21 1/2 percent if you can believe it. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Productivity was down. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Savings was down. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
There was despair. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
In fact, the leadership of the country told the people that there was a malaise out there. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And this president turned it around and I've been with him every step of the way. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And of course I would continue those kinds of programs because it's brought America back. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
America's better off. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
People are going back to work. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And why Mr. Monad can't understand that there's a new enthusiasm in this country, that America is back, there's new strong leadership, I don't know. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
He has one answer to the problem. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Raise everybody's taxes. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
He looked right into that lens and he said out there in San Francisco, he said, "I'm gonna raise your taxes." George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well he's had a lot of experience in that and he's sure gonna go ahead and do it. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But I remember a statement of Lyndon Johnson's when he was looking around, why his party people weren't supporting him, and he said, "Hey, they painted their tails white and they ran with the antelopes." George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's a lot of Democratic white tails running with the antelopes. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Not one single Democrat has introduced the Mondale tax bill into the Congress. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Of course I support the president's economic program and I support him in everything else. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'm not sure, because of my concept of the vice presidency, that if I didn't, I'd go doing what Mr. Mondale has done with Jimmy Carter; jump away from him. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I couldn't do that to Ronald Reagan, now, next year or any other time. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I have too much trust in him. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I have too much friendship for him. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'd feel very uncomfortable doing that. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well some Republicans have criticized Mr. Mondale for now claiming he disagreed privately with Jimmy Carter's decision to impose the grain embargo. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Have you ever disagreed with any decision of the Reagan Administration and its inner circles? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And in following that up, where in your judgment does loyalty end and principle begin? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I owe my president my judgment and then I owe him loyalty. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You can't have the president of the United States out there looking over his shoulder wondering whether his vice president is going to be supporting him. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mrs. Ferraro has quite a few differences with Vice-President Mondale and I understood it when she changed her position on tuition tax credits. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're different on busing; she voted to extend the grain embargo; he now says that he was against it. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
If they win - and I hope they don't - but if they win, she'll have to accommodate some views. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But she'll give him the same kind of loyalty that I'm giving President Reagan. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
One, we're not far apart on anything. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Two, I can walk into that Oval Office anytime and give him my judgment and he might agree or he might not. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But he also knows I won't be talking about it to the press or I won't be knifing him in the back by leaking to make me look good and complicate the problems of the president of the United States. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, your opponent has served in the House Of Representatives, he's been ambassador to the United Nations, ambassador to China, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and now he's been vice president for four years. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
How does your three terms in the House of Representatives stack up against experience like that? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, let me first say that I wasn't born at the age of forty-three when I entered Congress. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I did have a life before that as well. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I was a prosecutor for almost five years in the district attorney's office in Queens County and I was a teacher. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's not only what is on your paper resume that makes you qualified to run for or to hold office. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's how you approach problems and what your values are. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think if one is taking a look at my career they'll see that I level with the people; that I approach problems analytically; that I am able to assess the various facts with reference to a problem, and I can make the hard decisions. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm intrigued when I hear Vice-President Bush talk about his support of the president's economic program and how everything is just going so beautifully. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I, too, recall when Vice President Bush was running in the primary against President Reagan and he called the program voodoo economics, and it was and it is. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We are facing absolutely massive deficits; this administration has chosen to ignore it; the president has failed to put forth a plan to deal with those deficits and if everything believes that everything is corning up roses, perhaps the vice-president should join me as I travel around the country and speak to people. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
People in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, are not terribly thrilled with what's happening in the economy because they're standing in the light of a closed plant because they've lost their jobs. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The people in Youngstown, Ohio, have stores that are boarded up because the economy is not doing well. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's not only the old industries that are failing, it's also the new ones. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
In San Jose, California, they're complaining because they can't export their high-tech qualities - goods - to Japan and other countries. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The people in the Northwest - in the state of Washington and Oregon - are complaining about what's happening to the timber industry and to the agriculture industry. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So, so things are not as great as the administration is wanting us to believe in their television commercials. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
My feeling, quite frankly, is that I have enough experience to see the problems, address them and make the tough decisions and level with people with reference to those problems. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Despite the historic aspects of your candidacy, how do you account for the fact that a majority of women - at least according to the polls - favor the Reagan-Bush ticket over the Mondale-Ferraro ticket? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I don't. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me say that I'm not a believer in polls and let me say further that what we are talking about are problems that are facing the entire nation. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're not just problems facing women. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The issues in this campaign are the war-peace issues; the problems of deficits; the problems of trade deficits. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We are now facing a $120 billion trade deficit in this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We're facing problems of the environment. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think what we're going to be doing over the next several weeks - and I'm absolutely delighted that the League is sponsoring these debates and that we are, we are able to now speak to the American public and address the issues in a way such as this. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think you're going to see a change in those polls. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice President Bush, you have one minute to rebuttal. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, I was glad to get that vote of confidence from Mrs. Ferraro in my economic judgment. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
So let me make a statement on the economy. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The other clay she was in a plant and she said to the workers, Why are you all voting for, why are so many of you voting for the Reagan-Bush ticket. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And there was a long, deathly silence and she said come on, we delivered. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's the problem. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'm not blaming her except for the liberal voting record in the House. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They delivered. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They delivered 21 ® percent interest rates. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They delivered what they called malaise. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They delivered interest rates that were right off the charts. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They delivered take-home pay, checks that were shrinking, and we've delivered optimism. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
People are going back to work; 6 million of them. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And 300,000 jobs a month being created. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's why there was that deathly silence out there in that plant. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They delivered the wrong thing. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Ronald Reagan is delivering leadership. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, one-minute rebuttal. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I, I think what I'm going to have to do is I'm going to start correcting the vice-president's statistics. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
There are 6 million more people who have jobs and that's supposed to happen in a growing economy. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
In fact in the prior administration, with all their problems, they created 10 million jobs. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The housing interest rates during this administration, for housing for middle-class Americans, was 14.5 percent. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Under the prior administration, with all their problems, the average rate was 10.6 percent. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
If you take a look at the number of people living in poverty as a result of this administration, 6 million people, 500,000 people knocked off disability rolls. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
You know, it's, you can walk around saying things are great and that's what we're going to be hearing, we've been hearing that on those commercials for the past couple of months. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I expect they expect the American people to believe that. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'll become a one-woman truth squad and we'll start tonight. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. White. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, I would like to ask you about civil rights. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
You have in the past been a supporter of tuition tax credits for private parochial schools. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And also of a constitutional amendment to ban busing. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Both these measures are opposed not only by your running mate but by about every educational and civil rights organization in the country. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now that you're Mr. Mondale's running mate have you changed your position on either of those? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
With reference to the busing vote that I cast in 1979, both Fritz Mondale and I agree on the same goal and that is nondiscrimination. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I just don't agree on the same direction he does on how to achieve it. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But I don't find any problem with that. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think that's been something that's been handled by the courts, and not being handled by Congress and will not be handled by the White House. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But we both support nondiscrimination in housing and integration of neighborhoods. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The goals we both set forth. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
With reference to tuition tax credits, I have represented a district in Queens which is 70 percent Catholic. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I represented my district. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me say as well that I have also been a great supporter of public school education and that is something that Fritz and I feel very, very strongly about for the future of this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And this administration over the past several years has gutted the educational programs available to our young people. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It has attempted to knock out Pell Grants, which are monies to young individuals who are poor and who cannot afford to go to college. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It has reduced by 25 percent the amount of monies going into college education and by a third those going into secondary and primary schools. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But Fritz Mondale and I feel very strongly that if you educate your children that that's an effort and the way that you build up and make a stronger America. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
With reference to civil rights I think you've got to go beyond that and if you take a look, also, at my record in the Congress and Fritz Mondale's record, both in the Senate and as vice president, we both have extremely strong civil rights records. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
This administration does not. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It has come in in the Bob Jones on the side of segregated academies. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It came in in the Grove City case on the side of discrimination against women, the handicapped, and the elderly. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact, in the Congress we just passed overwhelmingly the Civil Rights Bill of 1984 and this administration, the Republican-controlled Senate, just killed it in the last week or two in Congress. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So there is a real difference between how the Mondale-Ferraro administration will address the problems of civil rights and the failure of this administration specifically in that particular area. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
In the area of affirmative action, what steps do you think government can take to increase the representation of minorities and women in the work force, and in colleges and universities, and specifically, would you support the use of quotas to achieve those goals? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I do not support the use of quotas. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Both Mr. Mondale and I feel very strongly about affirmative action to correct inequities, and we believe that steps should be taken both through government - for instance, the Small Business Administration. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We have supported set-asides for minority and women's businesses. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's a positive thing. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We don't feel that you're in any way hurting anybody else by reaching out with affirmative action to help those who've been disenfranchised. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
On the contrary, if you have a growing economy, if you create the jobs, if you allow for small business the opportunity with lower interest rates to reach out and grow, there will be more than enough space for everybody. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And affirmative action is a very positive way to deal with the problems of discrimination. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, many critics of your administration say that it is the most hostile to minorities in recent memory. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Have you inadvertently perhaps encouraged that view by supporting tuition tax credits, the antibusing amendment, and siding with Bob Jones University in a case before the Supreme Court, your original opposition to the Voting Rights Act extension and so forth? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, Mr. White, I think our record on civil rights is a good record. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You mentioned the Voting Rights extension; it was extended for the longest period of time by President Reagan. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But we have some problems in attracting the black vote, and I think our record deserves better. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We have done more for black colleges than any previous administration. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We favor enterprise zones to give - and it's been blocked by Tip O'Neill and that House of Representatives, those liberals in that House blocked a new idea to bring jobs into the black communities across the country. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And because it's not an old handout, special federal spending program, it's blocked there - a good idea. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'd like to sec that tried. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've brought more civil rights cases in the Justice Department than the previous administration by far. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We believe in trying something new to help these black teenage kids; the minimum wage differential that says, "Look," to an employer, "hire these guys. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And, yes, they're willing to work for slightly less than the minimum wage. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Give 'em a training job in the private sector." George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We threw out that old CETA that didn't train people for jobs that existed, simply rammed them onto the government payroll, and we put in a thing called the Job Training Partnership Act. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Wonderful new legislation that's helping blacks more and more. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We think of civil rights as something like crime in your neighborhoods. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And, for example, when crime figures are going in the right direction that's good, that's a civil right. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Similarly, we think of it in terms of quality of life, and that means interest rates. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You know, it's funny, Mr. Mondale talks about real interest rates. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The real interest rate is what you pay when you go down and try to buy a TV set or buy a car, or do whatever it is. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The interest rates when we left office were 21% percent. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Inflation! George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Is it a civil right to have the going right off the chart so you're busting every American family, those who can afford it the least? George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, we've got a good record. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've got it on civil rights legislation, minority set-asides, more help for black colleges, and we've got it in terms of an economy that's offering people opportunity and hope instead of despair. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Along those lines, sir, many recent studies have indicated that the poor and minorities have not really shared in the new prosperity generated by the current economic recovery. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Was it right for your administration to pursue policies, economic policies, that required those at the bottom of the economic ladder to wait for prosperity to trickle clown from people who are much better off than they? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. White, it's not trickling down. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'm not suggesting there's no poverty, but I am suggesting the way to work out of poverty is through real opportunity. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And in the meantime, the needy are getting more help. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Human resource spending is way, way up. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Aid for Dependent Children spending is up. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Immunization programs are up. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Almost every place you can point, contrary to Mr. Mondale's - I gotta be careful - but contrary of how he goes around just saying everything bad. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
If somebody sees a silver lining, he finds a big black cloud out there. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Whine on harvest moon! George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I mean, there's a lot going on, a lotta opportunity. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, your rebuttal. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The vice-president indicates that the President signed the Voting Rights Act. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That was after he was - he did not support it while it was in the Congress, in the Senate, it was passed despite his opposition, and he did sign it because he was required to do so. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
In the civil rights cases that he mentioned, the great number of cases that they have enforced, the reason they enforced them because under the law they're required to do that. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'm delighted that the administration is following the law. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
With reference Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Excuse me - this will be out of my time, not yours - knowing and cherishing the people of this city and knowing their restraint and diffidence about emotion especially of athletic contexts of which this is not one, I beseech you, try to hold your applause please. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm sorry. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I just have to correct in my thirty seconds that are left the comment that the vice-president made with reference specifically to a program like AFDC. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
If you take AFDC, if you take food stamps, if you take - oh, go down the line on poor people's programs, those are the programs that suffered considerably under this administration's first budget cuts and those are the ones that in the second part of their part of their term, we were able to restore some of those terribly, terribly unfair cuts to the poor people of this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, maybe we have a factual - maybe we can ask the experts to go to the books. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They'll do it anyway. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Spending for food stamps is way, way up under the Reagan administration, AFDC is up under the Reagan administration, and I'm not going to be found wrong on that. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I am sure of my facts, and we are trying to help and I think we're doing a reasonable job, but we are not going to rest until every single American that wants a job and until this prosperity and this recovery that's benefiting many Americans, benefits all Americans. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Miss Quarles. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, one of the most emotional issues in this campaign has been the separation of church and state. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
What are your views on the separation of church and state specifically with regard to abortion, and do you believe it was right for the archbishop of Philadelphia to have a letter read in 305 churches urging Catholics to fight abortion with their votes? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I do believe in pluralism. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I do believe in separation of church and state. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I don't consider abortion a religious issue. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I consider it a moral issue. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I believe the archbishop has every right to do everything he wants in that direction, just as I never faulted Jesse Jackson from taking his message to the black pulpits all across this country, just as I never objected when the nuclear arms, the nuclear freeze or the antinuclear people - many of those movements were led by priests. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Suddenly, because a Catholic bishop or an evangelist feels strongly on a political issue, people are saying it's merging of church and state. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We favor - and I speak confidently for the president - we favor separation of church and state. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We favor pluralism. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now somebody says you ought to restore prayer in schools. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
You don't think it's right to prohibit a kid from praying in schools. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
For years kids were allowed to pray in schools. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We don't think that's a merger of church and stare to have nonmandatory voluntary, nongovernment-ordered prayer. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And yet some are accusing us of injecting religion into politics. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I have no problem with what the archbishop does, and I have no problem with what the evangelists on the right do and I have no problem what the priests on the left do. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And it didn't bother me when during the Vietnam War much of the opposition to the government - Democrat and Republican governments - was led by priests, encouraging people to break the law and the adage of the - you know - the civil disobedience thing. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
So our position, separation of church and stare, pluralism, so no little kid with a minority religion of some sort is going to feel offended or feel left out or feel uncomfortable. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But, yes, prayer in school on a voluntary basis worked for many, many years until the Supreme Court ruled differently And I'm glad we got this question because I think there's been too much said about religion and politics. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We don't believe in denominationally moving in. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It wasn't our side that raised the question about our president whether he was a good Christian or not and so I, so that's our position - separation of church and state, pluralism, respect for all. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, four years ago you would have allowed federal financing of abortions in cases of rape and incest ass well as when the mother's life was threatened. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Does your position now agree with Reagan who in Sunday's debate came very close to saying abortion is murder? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
You know, there has been - I have to make a confession - an evolution in my position. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's been 15 million abortions since 1973, and I don't take that lightly. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's been a million and a half this year. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The president and I do favor a human rights amendment. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I favor one that would have an exception for incest and rape, and he doesn't, but we both - only for the life of the mother. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I agree with him on that. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
So yes, my position's evolved, but I'd like to see the American who faced with 15 million abortions isn't rethinking his or her position and I'll just stand with the answer. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I support the president's position - and comfortably - from a moral standpoint. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
So you believe it's akin to murder? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, I support the president's position. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Fine. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, what are your views on the separation of church and state with regard to abortions, and do you believe it was right for the archbishop of Philadelphia to have those letters read in the pulpits and urged the voters to fight abortion with their vote? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me say first of all I believe very, very sincerely in the separation of church and state. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm taking it from the historical viewpoint, if you go back to the 1600s when people came here, the reason they came to this country was to escape religious persecution, and that's the same reason why people are coming here today in the 1940s to escape Nazism, now in the 1980s and 1984 when they can get our of the country to escape communism so they can come here and practice their religion. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Our country is founded on the principle that our government should be neutral as far as religion is concerned. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now what's happened over the past several years, and quite frankly I'm not going to let you lay on me the intrusion of state politics into religion or religion into politics by my comments with reference to the president's policies, because it started in 1980 when this administration was running for office and the Reverend Jerry Falwell became very, very involved in the campaign. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
What has happened over the past four years has been I think a real fudging of that line with the separation of church and state. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The actions of the archbishops let me say to you I feel that they have not only a right but a responsibility to speak up, and even though I've been the person that they're speaking up about, l feel they do have the responsibility to do so, and I have no problem with it, no more than I did a priest who marched at the time of Vietnam and no more than I did at the time when Martin Luther King marched at the time of the civil rights marches. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I have absolutely no problem with them speaking up, I think they have an obligation as well as a right. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But what I do have a problem with is when the president of the United States gets up in Dallas and addresses a group of individuals and said to them that anybody who doesn't support his constitutional amendment for prayer in the schools is intolerant of religion. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now there are numerous groups who don't support that prayer in the school, numerous religious groups. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Are they intolerant of religion? Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Is that what the president is saying? Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I also object, when I am told, that the Reverend Falwell has been told that he would pick two of our Supreme Court justices. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's going a little bit far. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
In that instance, let me say to you it is more than a fudging at the line, it is a total intrusion, and I think that it's in violation of our Constitution. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, as a devout Catholic, does it trouble you that so many of the leaders of your church disagree with you, and do you think that you're being treated unfairly in any way by the Catholic church? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me tell you that I did not come to my position on abortion very lightly. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I am a devout Catholic. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
When I was running for Congress 1978 I sat and met with a person I felt very close to, a monsignor currently a bishop. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I spoke to him about my personal feelings that I would never have an abortion, but I was not quite sure if I were ever to become pregnant as result of a rape if I would be that self-righteous. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I then spoke to him; he said, Gerry, that's not good enough. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
There you can't support that position. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I said okay. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's my religious view; I will accept the teaching of the church, but I cannot impose my religious views on someone else. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I truly take an oath as a public official to represent all the people in my district, not only the Catholics. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
If there comes a time where I cannot practice my religion and do my job properly, I will resign my job. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, your rebuttal. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well I respect that statement, I really and truly do. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We have difference on a moral question here on abortion. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I notice that Mr. Mondale keeps talking in the debate and now it's come here about Mr. Falwell. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I don't know where this canard could have come from about Mr. Falwell picking the Supreme Court justices. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Ronald Reagan has made one super outstanding, the only one he's made, appointment to the Supreme Court and that was Sandra Day O'Connor, and Mr. Falwell opposed her nomination. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We still have respect for him, but he opposed it, and so I hope this lays to rest this slander against the president. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We want justices who will interpret the Constitution, not legislate it. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, your rebuttal? Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, I still find it very difficult to believe because in the platform, which this Republican party passed in Dallas - one of the things they was they said that this position on abortion would be a litmus test, not only for Supreme Court justices but for other federal justices. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That, again, seems to me a blurring of the line of the separation between church and state. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The next questioning from Mr. Boyd. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Like many Americans, each of you has recently had an unhappy experience with the Internal Revenue Service. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm going to prolong your ordeal. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, you disagree with the rule that says that a candidate must report the income or assets of his or her spouse if you get any benefit from them. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Your husband's tax return showed that yon did benefit because he paid the mortgage and the property taxes on your home. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now the ethics committee is examining this question, but it won't report it's findings until after the election. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Would you be willing to ask that committee, which is controlled by Democrats, to hurry up its work and report before the election. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me say to you that I already did that. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I wanted them to move ahead. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
If you recall, I spent about an hour and 45 minutes speaking to 200 reporters on August 21, which is the day after I was required to file my financial statement, and I sat for as long as they had questions on the issue, and I believe that they were satisfied. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I filed more information than any other candidate for a national office in the history of this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Not only did I agree to file my tax returns, after a little bit of prodding my husband also agreed to file his with the - not only the ethics committee but the FEC. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Bur the action that you're speaking about with the ethics committee was started by a right-wing legal organization - foundation - knowing that I would have to - that there would be an automatic inquiry. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We have filed the necessary papers, I have asked them to move along. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Unfortunately, the House, I believe, went out of session today, so I don't know if they will move. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But quite frankly, I would like that to be taken care of anyway, because I just want it cleared up. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Since that famous August 21 press conference on your family finances, you filed a new report with the ethics committee, and this showed that your previous reports were full of mistakes and omissions. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
For example, you failed to report about twelve trips that were paid for by special interest groups. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
In at least eighteen cases your holdings were misstated. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Do you think it showed good leadership or attention to duty to blame all this on sloppy work by your accountant? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, what it showed was that - and it was truly that I hired an accountant who had been with our family for well over forty years. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
He was filling our those ethics forms. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I did not spend the time with him - I just gave him my tax information and he did it. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I have to tell you what we have done since I have hired a marvelous accountant. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I've spent a lot of money having him go through all those ethics forms and he will be doing my taxes over the next eight years while we're in the White House so that the American public can be sure it's all been taken care of. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, last year you paid less than 13 percent of your income in federal taxes. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
According to the IRS, someone in your bracket normally pays about 28 percent of his income. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now what you did was perfectly legal, but do you think it was fair, and is there something wrong with our tax laws that allows such large deductions for wealthy taxpayers? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
What that figure - and I kind of like the way Mrs. Ferraro and Mr. Zaccaro reported - because they reported federal taxes, state and local taxes - gives people a clearer picture. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That year I happened to pay a lot of state and local taxes, which as you know are deducted from the other, and so I looked it up the other day, and we had paid - I think it's 42 percent - of our gross income in taxes. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now Mr. Mondale the other night took what I - I'll be honest - I think it was a cheap shot - at me, and we did a little looking around to see about his. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We can't find his 198I tax return - it may have been released. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Maybe my opponent knows whether Mr. Mondale released it. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But we did find estimates that his income for those three years is a million, four hundred thousand dollars, and I think he paid about the same percentage as I did in total taxes. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
He also made a reference that troubled me very much, Mr. Boyd. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
He started talking about my chauffeur, and you know, I'm driven to work by the Secret Service - so is Mrs. Ferraro - so is Mr. Mondale - they protected his life for four years and now they've done a beautiful job for Barbara and mine. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They saved the life of the president of the United States. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think that was a cheap shot - telling the American people to try to divide class - rich and poor. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But the big question isn't whether Mrs. Ferraro is doing well. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think they're doing pretty well, and I know Barbara and I are doing well. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And it's darn sure that Mr. Mondale is doing well, with a million four in income, but the question really is - after we get through this disclosure - is the tax cut fair? George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Are people getting a fair break, and the answer is the rich are paying 6 percent more on taxes and the poor are getting a better break. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Those lower and middle-income people that have borne the burden for a long time. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
So yes, I favor disclosure. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I've always disclosed. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
This year I had my taxes and everything I own in a blind trust - so blind - blinder than the president's, so I didn't even sign my tax return. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But there seemed to be an interest in it so we went to the government ethics committee - they agreed to change the trust. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The trust has been revealed, and I was sure glad to see that I had paid 42 percent of my gross income in taxes. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President, how can you claim that your home is in Maine for tax purposes and at the same time claim that your home is in Texas for voting purposes? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Are you really a Texan or a New Englander. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm really a Texan. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But I got one house. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And under the law, every taxpayer is allowed, when he sells a house, and buys another house, to get the rollover. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Everybody, if it turns out, and I may hire, I notice she said she has a new good accountant. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'd like to get his name and phone number because I think I've paid too much in the way of taxes. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And residence, Mr. Boyd, legal residence, for voting, is very different. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And the domicile, they call that, very different, than the house. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That they say you're living in the vice-president's house. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Therefore you don't get what every - I've got problems - what every other taxpayer gets. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I got problems with the IRS, but so do a lot of people out there. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think I've paid too much. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Nothing ethical. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'd like to get some money back. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, your rebuttal please. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me just say that I'd be happy to give the vice-president the name of my accountant, but I warn you, he's expensive. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think the question is whether or not the tax cuts and the tax system that's currently in our government, that our government uses, is fair; I think the tax system is unfair. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But it's not something that we can address in the short term. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The tax cuts that Vice-President Bush and I got last, three years ago, that this president gave out, no, that's not fair. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
If you earn $200,000 a year, you got a $25,000 tax cut. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
If you earned between $20,000 and $40,000, you may have gotten about $1,000 between ten and twenty, close to a hundred dollars and if you made less than $10,000 with all the budget cuts that came down the line, you suffered a loss of $400. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's not fair. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's basically unfair and not only is it unfair, but economically it has darn near destroyed this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's a $750 billion tax cut over a five-year period of time. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's one of the reasons we're facing these enormous deficits that we have today. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, I think I've said all I want to say. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I do, I didn't fully address myself to Mr. Boyd's question no disclosure, I led the fight, I think, in 1968, in the House - I was in the House of Representatives for a couple of terms - and I led the fight for disclosure. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I believe in it. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Before I went into this job, I disclosed everything we had. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We didn't have any private corporations, but I disclosed absolutely everything. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Arthur Andersen made out an assets and liabilities statement that I believe went further than any other one. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And then, to protect the public interest, we went into this blind trust. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I believe in the blind trust because I believe a public official in this kind of job ought not to know whether he's gonna benefit, directly or indirectly, by some holding he might have or something of that nature. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And, no, I support full disclosure. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Thank you. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
That ends the part of this debate devoted to domestic affairs. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We will now turn to foreign affairs and will begin the questioning with Mr. Mashek. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, since your administration came to power the President has threatened a stern response against terrorism, yet murderous attacks have continued in Lebanon and the Middle East. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Who's to blame, and you've been director of the Central Intelligence Agency. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
What can be clone to stop it? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Terrorism is very, very difficult to slop. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I think everybody knows that. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We had ambassadors killed in Sudan and the Lebanon some time ago, a long time ago. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
When you see the Israeli building in Lebanon after the death of our marines you see that, hit by terrorism, the Israelis, with all their experience fighting terrorism, you know it's difficult. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
When you see Khomeini wraith his radical Islam resorting to government-sponsored terrorism, it's very difficult. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The intelligence business can do a good job, and I'm always one that defends the Central Intelligence Agency. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I believe we ought to strengthen it and I believe we still have the best foreign intelligence business in the world. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But it is very difficult to get the source information that you need to go after something as shadowy as international terror. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
There was a difference between Iran and what happened in Lebanon. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
In Iran you had a government holding a U.S. embassy; the government sanctioning the takeover of that embassy by those students; the government negotiating with the United States government for their release. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
In Lebanon, in the terror that happened at the embassy, you have the government there, Mr. Gemayel, that wants to help fight against terrorism. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But because of the melee in the Middle East, it's there today and has been there yesterday and the day before, and everyone that's had experience in that area knows, it is a very different thing. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So what we've got to do is use absolutely the best security possible. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I don't think you can go assigning blame. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The president, of course, is the best I've ever seen at accepting that. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
He's been wonderful about it in absolutely everything that happens. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But I think fair-minded people that really understand international terror know that it's very hard to guard against. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And the answer then really lies in the Middle East and terrorism happening all over the world, is a solution to the Palestine question, the follow on to Camp David under the umbrella of the Reagan September of 1982 initiative. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That will reduce terror, it won't eliminate it. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You mention Khomeini. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Some Republicans charge the previous administration with being almost helpless against Khomeini and Libya's Quaddafi. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Why hasn't your administration done something to take action against Arab states that foment this kind of terrorism? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
What we've done is to support Arab stores that want to stand up against international terror, quite different. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We believe in supporting, without jeopardizing the security of Israel in any way, because they are our one strategic ally in the area, they are the one democracy in the area and our relations with them has never been better. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But we do believe in reaching out to the, what they call the GCC, those Gulf Cooperative Council State, those moderate Arab states in that world, and helping them with defensive weapons to guard against international terror or radical Islam perpetuated by Khomeini. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And because we've done that and because the Saudis chopped down a couple of those intruding airplanes a while back, I think we have helped keep the peace in the Persian Gulf. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, you and former Vice-President Mondale have criticized the president over the bombings in Lebanon, but what would you do to prevent such attacks? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me first say that terrorism is a global problem, and let me say secondly that the - Mr. Bush has referred to the embassy that was held in Iran, Well, I was at the White House in January, I guess it was, in '81, when those hostages, all fifty-two of them, came home alive. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It was at that time that President Reagan gave a speech welcoming them home - as America did, we were so excited to see them back. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But what he said was: The United States has been embarrassed for the last time. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We're going to stand tall and if this ever happens again, there's going to be swift and immediate steps taken to address the wrong that our country has founded - has suffered. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
In April of J983 I was in Beirut and visited the ambassador at the embassy. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Two weeks later, that embassy was bombed. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
At that time - take a look at the crazy activities of terrorists, you can't blame that on anybody. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're going to do crazy things and you just don't know what's going to happen. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The following October, there was another bombing and that bombing took place at the marine barracks, where there were 242 young men who were killed. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Right after that bombing occurred, there was a commission set up called the Long Commission. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That commission did a study of the security arrangements around where the marines were sleeping and found that there was negligence, that they did not have proper gates up, proper precautions to stop those trucks from coming in. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And so the Long Commission issued a report, and President Reagan got up and he said: I'm commander in chief. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I take responsibility. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And we all waited for something to be done when he look responsibility. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, last month we had our third bombing, The first time, the first embassy, there was no gate up, The second time, with our Marines, the gate was open. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The third time, the gate was there but it had not been installed. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And what was the president's reaction? Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, the security arrangements were not in, our people were placed in that embassy in an unsecured time, and the marines who were guarding it were left to go away and there were other people guarding the embassy. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Again the president said: I assume responsibility. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'd like to know what that means. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Are we going to take proper precautions before we put Americans in situations where they're in danger, or are we just going to walk away, throwing our arms in the air now - quite a reversal from the first time, from the first time when he said he was going to do something? Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Or is this President going to take some action? Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Some Democrats cringe at the words spying and covert activity. MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Do you believe both of them have a legitimate role in countering terrorist activity around the world? MASHEK O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think they have a legitimate role in gathering information. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And what has happened was the CIA, in the last bombing, had given information to our administration with reference to the actual threats that that embassy was going to be bombed. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So it wasn't the CIA that was at fault. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's legitimate reason for the CIA to be in existence, and that's to gather intelligence information for our security. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But when I see the CIA doing things like they're doing down in Central America - supporting a covert war - no, I don't support that kind of activity. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The CIA is there, it's meant to protect our government; not there to subvert other governments. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, I'm surprised. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think I just heard Mrs. Ferraro say that she would do away with all covert actions, and if so, that has very serious ramifications, as the intelligence community knows. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
This is serious business. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And sometimes it's quiet support for a friend, and so I'll leave that one there. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But let me help you with the difference, Mrs. Ferraro, between Iran and the embassy in Lebanon. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Iran - we were held by a foreign government. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
In Lebanon you had a wanton, terrorist action where the government opposed it. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
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. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
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. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They gave peace a chance. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And our allies were with us - the British, the French, and the Italians. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me just say, first of all, that I almost resent, Vice President Bush, your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I've been a member of Congress for six years; I was there when the embassy was held hostage in Iran, and I have been there and I've seen what has happened in the past several months; seventeen months of your administration. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Secondly, please don't categorize my answers, either. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Leave the interpretation of my answers to the American people who are watching this debate. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And let me say further 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. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
No one who has a child who is nineteen or twenty years old, a son, would ever say that at the loss of anybody else's child. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. White. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, you've repeatedly said that you would not want your son to die in an undeclared war for an uncertain cause. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But recently your running mate, Mr. Mondale, has suggested that it may become necessary to erect a military quarantine or blockade of Nicaragua. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Under what circumstances would you advocate the use of military force, American combat forces, in Central America? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I would advocate the use of force when it was necessary to protect the security of our country, protect our security interest or protect our people or protect the interests of our friends and neighbors. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
When president - I'm jumping the gun a bit, aren't I? Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
- when Mr. Mondale, Mr. Mondale referred to the quarantine of Central America, a country in Central America, what he is referring to is a last resort after all other means of attempting to settle the situation down in that region of the world had been exhausted. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Quite frankly now what is being done by this administration is an Americanizing of a regional conflict. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're moving in militarily instead of promoting the Contadora process, which, as you know, is the process that is in place with the support of Mexico and Colombia and Panama and Venezuela. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Instead of supporting the 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 move 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 guerrillas in order to negotiate a peace. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
What Fritz Mondale and I feel about the situation down there is that what you do is you deal first through negotiation. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That force is not a first resort but certainly a last resort in any instance. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
A follow-up, please. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Many times in its history the United States has gone to war in order to defend freedom in other lands. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Does your answer mean that you would be willing to forgo the use of military force even if it meant the establishment of a Soviet-back dictatorship so close to our own borders? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, 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 achieve a pluralistic society. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I mean they do have elections that are coming up on November 4. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think we have to work with them to achieve a peaceful solution to bring about a pluralistic country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, I'm not willing to live with a force that could be a danger to our country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
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 promote the kind of society that we can all live with and security in this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, both Cuba and Nicaragua are reported to be making extensive preparations to defend themselves against an American invasion, which they claim could come this fall. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
And even some of your Democratic opponents in Congress have suggested that the administration may be planning a December surprise invasion. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Can you tell us under what circumstances a reelected Reagan administration would consider the use of force in Central American or the Caribbean? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We don't think we're to be required to use force. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me point out that there are 2,000 Cuban military and 7,500 so-called Cuban advisers in Nicaragua. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
There are 55 American military in El Salvador. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I went down, on the instructions of the president, to speak to the commandants in El Salvador and told them that they had to move with Mr. Magana, then the president of El Salvador, to respect human rights. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They have done that. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're moving well. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm not saying it's perfect, but the difference between El Salvador and Nicaragua is like the difference between night and day. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
El Salvador went to the polls, Mr. Duarte was elected by 70 percent of the people in 70 percent voting in a certifiably free election. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
In Nicaragua, you have something very different. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You have a Marxist-Leninist group, the Sandinistas, that came into power talking democracy. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They have aborted their democracy. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They have humiliated the Holy Father. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They have cracked down on the only press organ there, La Prensa, censoring the press something that should concern every American. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They have not had any human rights at all. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They will not permit free elections. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
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. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
One country is devoid of human rights. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The other is struggling to perfect their democracy. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We don't like it, frankly, when Nicaragua exports its revolution or serves as a conduit for supplies coming over from such "democracies" as North Korea, Bulgaria, the Soviet Union and Cube, to try to destabilize El Salvador. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, we're concerned about that. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Because we want to see this trend toward democracy continue. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
There have been something like thirteen countries since we've come in move toward the democratic route, and let me say that Grenada is not unrelated. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I have a big difference with Mrs. Ferraro on that one. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We gave those four tiny Caribbean countries a chance. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We saved the lives, and most of those thousand students said they were in jeopardy. WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Grenada was a proud moment because we did stand up for democracy. WHITE Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But in terms of threat of these countries, nuclear, I mean, weapons, no. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's not that kind of a threat. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's Mr. Mondale that proposed the quarantine, not Ronald Reagan. WHITE Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Considering this country's long respect for the rule of international law, was it right for the United States to be involved in mining the harbors of Nicaragua, a country we're not at war with, and to subsequently refuse to allow the World Court to adjudicate that dispute and the complaint from Nicaragua? WHITE O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I support what we're doing. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It was supported to the Congress and under the law. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I support it. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
My only regret is that the aid for the contras, those people that are fighting, we call them freedom fighters. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They want to see the democracy perfected in Nicaragua. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Am I to understand from this assault on covert action that nowhere in the world would we do something that was considered just off base when Mrs. Ferraro said she's never support it? George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Would she never support it if the violation of human rights was so great and quiet support was necessary for freedom fighters? George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, we're for the contras. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And let me tell you another fact about the controls. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Everyone that's not for this, everyone who wants to let that Sandinista government prevail, just like that Castro did, all of that, the contras are not Somozistas. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Less than 5 percent of the contras supported Somoza. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
These were people that wanted a revolution. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
These people that felt the revolution was betrayed. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
These are people that support human rights. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, we should support them. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I spent time in Central America in January and had an opportunity to speak to the contras after the incident in Nicaragua and in El Salvador. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me just say that the situation as it exists now, because of this administration's policies, are not getting better. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We're not moving toward a more secure area of the world. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
As a matter of fact the number of troops that the Sandinistas have accumulated since the administration started its covert activities has risen from 12,000 to 50,000, and of course the number of Soviet and Cuban advisors has also increased. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I did not support the mining of the harbors in Nicaragua; it is a violation of international law. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congress did not support it and as a matter of fact, just this week, the Congress voted in cut off covert aid to Nicaragua unless and until a request is made and there is evidence of need for it, and the Congress approves it again in March. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So if Congress doesn't get laid on, the covert activities which I opposed in Nicaragua, those CIA covert activities in that specific country, are not supported by the Congress. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And believe it or not, not supported by the majority of people throughout the country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice President Bush. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, I would simply like to make the distinction again between those countries that are searching for democracy and the handful of countries that have totally violated human rights and are going the Marxist route. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Ortega, the commandante who is head of the Nicaraguan Sandinistas, is an avowed Marxist. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They don't believe in the church. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They don't believe in free elections. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They don't believe in all of the values that we believe in. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So it is our policy to support the democracy there, and when you have freedom fighters that want to protect that revolution, and go the democratic route, we believe in giving them support. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We are for democracy in the hemisphere. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We are for negotiations. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
$3 out of every $4 that we sent down there has been for economic aid to support the people's chance to eat and live and be happy and enjoy life. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And one-fourth only was rnilitary. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You wouldn't get that from listening to Mr. Mondale. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Miss Quarles. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice President Bush, the last three Republican administrations, Eisenhower, Nixon, and Ford, none of them soft on communism, met with the Soviets and got agreements on arms control. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviets haven't changed that much. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Can you tell us why President Reagan has not met with the Soviet ministers at all and only met with Prime Minister Gromyko less than a month ago? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, I can. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The, you mentioned the Gromyko meeting, those were broken off under the Carter-Mondale days. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
There had been three separate Soviet leaders. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. Brezhnev, Mr. Andropov, and now Chernenko. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
During their, that, in three and a half years, three separate leaders. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviets have not been willing to talk. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We are the ones that went to the table in INF. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We had a good proposal, a moral proposal. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Ban an entire generation of intermediate nuclear force weapons and if you won't do that, don't leave your allies in Europe in a monopoly position. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviets with 1,200 of these things, and the alliance with none. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We didn't think that's the way to deter aggression and keep the peace. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The president went, the first thing he did when he came into office was make a proposal on the most destabilizing weapons of all, START. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And when the the strategic weapon and when the Soviets said, well, we don't like that proposal, we said all right, we'll be more flexible. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I at the urging of the president went to Geneva and laid on the table a treaty to ban all chemical weapons. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We don't want them to have a monopoly. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We said look, let's come together. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
You come over here and see what we're doing; we'll go over there and see what you're doing. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But let's save the kids of this world from chemical weapons. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
A brilliant proposal to get rid of all of them. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And the Soviets nyet, nyet nyet. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
In the mutual balance force reduction to reduce conventional forces, they're not even willing to tell us the base. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mrs. Ferraro knows that, and how many troops they have. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's four sessions. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We have had an agreement with them on the hot line. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But Carter-Monad made an agreement, the Salt II agreement, but the Democratic Senate, they were a Democratic administration, the Democratic Senate wouldn't even ratify that agreement. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It was flawed, it was unverifiable and it was not good. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Our president wants to reduce, not just to stop, he wants to reduce dramatically nuclear weapons. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And when the Soviets know they're going to have this strong president to deal with, and when this new administration, Mr. Chernenko, given more than a few months in office can solidify its position, then they'll talk. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But if they think the opposition, before they sit down, are going to give up the MX, give up the B-l, go for a freeze that locks in inferiority in Europe, all of these things, unilaterally, before they're willing to talk, they may just sweat it out for four more weeks. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Who knows. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
You were once quoted as saying that a nuclear war is winnable. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Is that still your belief, and if not, under what circumstances would you use nuclear weapons if you were president? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, I don't think it's winnable. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I was quoted wrong, obviously, 'cause I never thought that. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviet planning, I did learn that when I was director of Central Intelligence, and I don't think there'd be any disagreement, is based on that ugly concept. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But I agree with the president: It should never be fought. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Nuclear weapons should never be fought with, and that's our approach. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
So, therefore, let's encourage the Soviets to come to the table as we did at the Gromyko meeting. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I wish everybody could have seen that one - the President, giving the facts to Gromyko in all of these nuclear meetings - excellent, right on top of that subject matter. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'll bet you that Gromyko went back to the Soviet Union saying, "Hey, listen, this president is calling the shots; we'd better move." George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But do you know why I think we'll get an agreement? George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Because I think it is in the interest of the Soviet Union to make it, just as it is in the United States. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're not deterred by rhetoric. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I listened to the rhetoric for two years at the United Nations. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I've lived in a Communist country. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's not rhetoric that decides agreements, it's self-interest of those countries. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, you and Mr. Mondale are for a verifiable nuclear freeze. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Some Democrats have said that verification may not be possible. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
How would you verify such an agreement and make sure that the Soviets are not cheating? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me say first of all that I don't think there is any issue that is more important in this campaign, in this election, than the issue of war and peace. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And since today is Eleanor Roosevelt's 100th birthday, let me quote her. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
She said, "It is not enough to want peace, you must believe in it. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And it is not enough to believe in it, you must work for it." Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
This administration's policies have indicated quite the opposite. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The last time I heard Vice President Bush blame the fact that they didn't meet with the Soviet leader, and this is the first president in forty years not to meet with a Soviet counterpart. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
He said the reason was because there are three Soviet leaders in the past three and a half years. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I went and got a computer printout. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's five pages of the leaders, world leaders, that the Soviet leaders have met with, and they're not little people. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They're people like Mitterrand of France and Kohl of Germany and President Kiprianou of Cyprus - you go down the list, five pages of people that the Soviet leaders have managed to meet with and somehow they couldn't meet with the president of the United States. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
In addition to not meeting with his Soviet counterpart, this is the first president - and you're right - since the start of negotiating arms control agreements who have not negotiated an arms control agreement, But not only has he not negotiated one, he's been opposed to every single one that every other president has negotiated, including Eisenhower, including Ford, and including Nixon. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now, let me just say that with reference to the vice-president's comments about the intent and the desire of the United Sites and this administration, the Soviet Union did walk out of the talks. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I agree. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But it seems to me in 1982, when the administration presented its Start proposal, that it wasn't a realistic proposal. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And that is the comment that was made by Secretary Haig after he left office, because what it dealt with was that it dealt just with land-based nuclear missiles, which is where the Soviets had the bulk of their missiles. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But that aside, in 1982, I believe it was, their own negotiator, Nitze, came out with a proposal called the "walk-in-the-woods proposal" which would have limited the number of nuclear arms in Europe. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That proposal was turned down by the administration - a proposal presented by its own administrator. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now I'm delighted that they met with Mr. Gromyko, but they could have had that opportunity to meet with him in 1981 when he came to the UN, which he had done with every other president before, and in 1982 as well. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I guess my - Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman, I'm sorry. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Speaking of limits, I have to impose a limit on you, Vice President Bush? Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, I think there's quite a difference between Mr. Kyprianou in Cyprus and the leader of the free world, Ronald Reagan, in terms of meeting. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And the Soviet Union - the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union will meet with a lot of different people. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've been in very close touch with Mr. Mitterrand, Mr. Kohl, and others that have met with the leaders of the Soviet Union. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But that's quite different than meeting with the president of the United States. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviets say we'll have a meeting when we think there can be progress and yet they left those talks. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'd like to correct my opponent on the walk in the woods. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
It was the Soviet Union that was unwilling to discuss the walk in the woods. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
They were the ones that gunned it down first and the record is very, very clear on that. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Miss Ferraro mentioned the inflexibility of our position on strategic arms. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, we offered first to get rid of all those - we tried to reduce the SS-18's and those weapons. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But then we said if that's not good enough, there is flexibility, let's talk about the bombers and planes. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So that's a very important point in terms of negotiation. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman, he that taketh away has to give back. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I robbed you of your rebuttal. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Therefore, you will have two minutes to rebut. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Forgive me. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I - You robbed me of my follow-up, that's what you robbed me, so why don't I let her give me the follow-up. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
All right, and then give your rebuttal. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, most polls show that the American - Americans feel that the Republicans, more than the Democrats are better able to keep the United States out of war. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've had four years of relative peace under President Reagan. QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
How can you convince the American public that the world would be a safer place under Carter-Mondale? QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
[sic] QUARLES O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think first of all, you have to take a look at the current situation. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We now have 50,000 nuclear warheads; we are building at the rate of five or six a day between us and we have been doing that since this administration came into office. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think what you can do is look at what they've done and recognize that they're not going to do very much in the future. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And so, since they've done nothing, do we continue to build because an arms race doesn't lead to anything, it leads to another arms race and that's that. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice President Monad has indicated that what he would do, first of all, as soon as he. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
gets into office, is contact his Soviet counterpart and set up an annual summit meeting. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's number one. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I don't think you can start negotiating until you start talking. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Secondly, he would issue a challenge, and the challenge would be in the nature of temporary, mutual, verifiable, moratoria to halt testing in the air, in the atmosphere, that would respond with a challenge from the Soviet Union, we hope, to sit down and negotiate a treaty. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That was done in 1960. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I don't know what your lights are doing, Sander. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
You have another minute. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Okay. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm watching them blinking. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
So I have another minute. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
What that would do is it would give us the opportunity to sit down and negotiate a treaty. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
That was done in 1960 by President Kennedy - in 1963. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
What he did was he issued a challenge to the Soviet Union. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
He said we will not test in space - in the atmosphere, if you will not. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
They did not. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
In two months they sat down and they negotiated a treaty. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We do not now have to worry about that type of testing. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
it will be done, if only you have the will to do it. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Again, remember it is mutual; it is verifiable and it is a challenge that once that challenge is not met, if testing were to resume, then we would continue testing as well. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Our last series of questions on foreign affairs from Mr. Boyd. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro, you have had little or no experience with military matters and yet you might someday find yourself commander-in-chief of the armed forces. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
How can you convince the American people and the potential enemy that you would know what to do to protect this nation's security, and do you think in any way that the Soviets might be tempted to try to take advantage of you simply because you are a woman? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Are you saying that I would have to have fought in the war in order to love peace? Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'm not saying that, I'm asking you - you know what I asked. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
All right. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think what happens is when you try to equate whether or not I have had military experience, that's the natural conclusion. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's about as valid as saying that you would have to be black in order to despise racism, that you'd have to be female in order to be terribly offended by sexism. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And that's just not so. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think if you take a look at where I've been, both in the Congress and where I intend to go, the type of person I am - I think that the people of this country can rely upon the fact that I will be a lender. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I don't think the Soviet Union for one minute can sit down and make determination on what I will do if I'm ever in a position to have to do something with reference to the Soviet Union. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Quite frankly I'm prepared to do whatever is necessary in order to secure this country and make sure that security is maintained. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Secondly, if the Soviet Union were to ever believe that they could challenge the United States with any sort of nuclear forces or otherwise, if I were in a position of leadership in this country, they would be assured that they would be met with swift, concise and certain retaliation. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me just say one other thing now. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The most important thing, though I think as a leader that what one has to do is get to the point where you're not put into that position. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And the way you to that position of rnoving away from having to make a decision - armed force or anything else - is by moving toward arms control. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And that's not what's been done over the past four years. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think that if you were to take a look at the failures of this administration that would have to be number one. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I will not put myself in that position as a leader in this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I will move immediately toward arms control negotiations. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
For my follow, I'm going to borrow a leaf from the Sunday night debate between your principals and ask you what is the single question you would most like to ask your opponent here on foreign policy? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Oh, I don't have a single-most question. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I guess the concern that I have is a concern not only as a vice-presidential candidate but as a citizen in this country. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
My concern is that we are not doing anything to stop the arms race, and if seems to me that if we keep talking about military inferiority - which we do not have, we are at a comparable level with the Soviet Union; our Joint Chiefs of Staff have said they'd never exchange our military power for theirs. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I guess the thing that I'd want is a commitment that pretty soon they're going to do something about making this a safer world for all of us. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, four years ago President Reagan insisted that a military buildup would bring the Soviets to negotiate seriously. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Since then, we have spent almost a trillion dollars on defense but the Soviets are still building their military forces as rapidly as we are, and there are no negotiations. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Was the president's original premise, his whole strategy, wrong? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No, I think his strategy not only was correct but is correct. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You've got to go back where we were. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Clearly, when we came into office, the American people recognized that we had slipped into positions of inferiority on various things. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Some of our planes, as the president points out, were older than the pilots; ships that couldn't go out to sea. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And you had a major problem with the military. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Actually, the morale wasn't very good either. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
So we have had to strengthen the military and we're well on the way to getting that job done. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
America is back in terms of military strength, in terms of our ability to deter aggression and keep the peace. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
At the same time, however, we have made proposals and proposals and proposals - sound proposals - on reducing nuclear weapons. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Strategic Arms Reduction Talks were good proposals, and it's the Soviets who left the table. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Intermediate Nuclear Force Talks were sound talks, and I wish the Soviet Union had continued them. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The chemical weapon treaty to ban all chemical weapons, it was our initiative, not the Soviets. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And we wish they would think anew and move forward to verification so everybody would know whether the other side was keeping its word. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But, much more important, you'd reduce the level of terror. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Similarly, we're reducing - trying to talk to them, and are talking to them, in Vienna, about conventional force reduction. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've talked to them about human rights. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I've met with Mr. Andropov and Mr. Chernenko, and we mention and we try to do something about the human rights question. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The suppression of Soviet Jews is absolutely intolerable and so we have to keep pushing forward on the moral grounds as well as on the arms reduction ground. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
But it is my view that because this president has been strong, and because we've addressed the imbalances - and I think we're very close to getting that job done - the Soviets are more likely to make a deal. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviets made an ABM treaty when they felt we were going to deploy an ABM system. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
So I am optimistic for the future, once they realize that they will have this strong, principled president to negotiate with, strong leadership, and yet with demonstrable flexibility on arms control. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And now, I'll give you a chance, Mr. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President, to ask the question you'd most like to ask your opponent. BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I have none I'd like to ask of her, but I'd sure like to use the time to talk about the World Series or something of that nature. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Let me put it this way - I don't have any questions, but we are so different from - the Reagan-Bush administration is so different from the Carter-Mondale [sic] administration that the American people are going to have the clearest choice. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's a question of going back to the failed ideas of the past, where we came in - 21% percent on those interest rates, inflation, despair, malaise, no leadership, blaming the American people for failed leadership. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Or another option - keep this recovery going until it benefits absolutely everybody. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Peace at home - peace abroad - prosperity - opportunity. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'd like to hear her talk on those things, but I think the yellow light is flashing and so we'll leave it there. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Nothing on the World Series? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Congresswoman Ferraro? BOYD O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I think the vice-president's comment about the Carter-Mondale administration really typifies this administration. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's an administration that looks backwards, not forwards and into the future. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I must say that I'm also tickled by their comments on human rights. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The Soviet Union in 1979 allowed 51,000 people to emigrate, because, in large measure, this administration's policies over the past four years, 1,313 people got out of the Soviet Union in 1983 and 1984. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
That's not a great record on human rights and certainly not a record on human rights achievements. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
This administration spent a trillion dollars on defense, but it hasn't gotten a trillion dollars on national security. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Vice-President Bush, your rebuttal? Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
No rebuttal. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, we then can go to the closing statements. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Each statement will be four minutes in length and we'll begin with the vice-president. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Well, in a couple of weeks, you, the American people, will be faced, three weeks, with a choice. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's the clearest choice in some fifty years. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And the choice is, do we move forward with strength and with prosperity or do we go back to weakness, despair, disrespect. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Ronald Reagan and I have put our trust in the American people. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've moved some of the power away from Washington, D.C., and put it back with the people. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We're pulling together. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The neighborhoods are safer 'cause crime is going down. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Your sons and daughters are doing better in school. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Test scores are going up. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
There's a new opportunity lying out there in the future. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Science, technology and space offering opportunity that, to everybody, all the young ones coming up. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And abroad there's new leadership and respect. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And Ronald Reagan is clearly the strong leader of the free world. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And I'll be honest with you. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
It's a joy to serve with a president who does not apologize for the United States of America. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Mr. Mondale, on the other hand, has one idea. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Go out and tax the American people. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And then he wants to repeal indexing, to wipe out the one protection that those at the lowest end of the economic scale have protecting them against being rammed into higher and higher tax brackets. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
We just owe our country too much to go back to that kind of an approach. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I'd like to say something to the young people. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I started a business. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I know what it is to have a dream and have a job and work hard to employ others and really to participate in the American dream. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Some of you out there are finishing high school or college and some of you are starting out in the working place. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And we want for you America's greatest gift. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And that is opportunity. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
And then, peace. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Yes, I did serve in combat. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
I was shot down when I was a young kid, scared to death. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And all that did, saw friends die, but that heightened my convictions about peace. George H. W. Bush Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
It is absolutely essential that we guarantee the young people that they will not know the agony of war. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
America's gift, opportunity and peace. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now we do have some unfinished business. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We must continue to go ahead. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The world is too complex to go back to vacillation and weakness. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
We've too much going on to go back to the failed policies of the past. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
The future is too bright not to give it our best shot. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Together we can go forward and lift America up to meet her greatest dreams. George H. W. Bush Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Thank you very much. George H. W. Bush O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Thank you very much. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I must say now in matters of equity you will be allowed applause at the end of your closing statement, so if you begin now, please. Sander Vanocur O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I hope somebody wants to applaud. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Being the candidate for vice-president of my party is the greatest honor I have ever had. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
But it's not only a personal achievement for Geraldine Ferraro - and certainly not only the bond that I feel as I go across this country with women throughout the country. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I wouldn't be standing here if Fritz Mondale didn't have the courage and my party didn't stand for the values that it does - the values of fairness and equal opportunity. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Those values make our country strong and the future of this country and how strong it will be is what this election is all about. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Over the last two months I've been traveling all over the country talking to the people about the future. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
I was in Kentucky and I spoke to the Dyhouse family. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
He works for a car dealer and he's worried about the deficits and how high interest rates are going to affect his job. Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Every place I go I see young parents with their children and they say to me what are we going to do to stop this nuclear arms race. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
I was in Dayton, Ohio, a week and a half ago and I sat with the Allen family who live next door to a toxic dump and they're very, very concerned about the fact that those toxics are seeping into the water that they and their neighbors drink. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now those people love this country and they're patriotic. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
But it's not the patriotism that you're seeing in the commercials as you watch television these days. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Their patriotism is not only a pride in the country as it is, but a pride in this country that is strong enough to meet the challenges of the future. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Do you know when we find jobs for the eight and a half million people who are unemployed in this country, you know we'll make our economy stronger and that will be a patriotic act. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
When we reduce the deficits and we cut interest rates, and I know the president doesn't believe that, but it's so - we cut those interest rates young people can buy houses, that's pro-family and that will be a patriotic act. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
When we educate our children - good Lord, they're going to be able to compete in a world economy and that makes us stronger and that's a patriotic act. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
When we stop the arms race, we make this a safer, saner world, and that's a patriotic act, and when we keep the peace young men don't die, and that's a patriotic act. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Those are the keys to the future and who can be the leader for the future? Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
When Walter Mondale was attorney general of Minnesota, he led the fight for a man who could not afford to get justice because he couldn't afford a lawyer; when he was in the Senate he fought for child nutrition programs, he wrote the Fair Housing Act, he even investigated the concerns and the abuses of migrant workers. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
And why did he do that? Geraldine A. Ferraro O 1984 11 Oct 1984
Those weren't popular causes. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
You know, no one had ever heard of Clarence Gideon, the man without a lawyer. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Children don't vote and migrant workers exactly a powerful lobby in this country, but he did it because it was right. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
Fritz Mondale has said that he would rather lose a battle for decency than win one over self-interest. Geraldine A. Ferraro Premise 1984 11 Oct 1984
Now I agree with him. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
This campaign is not over. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984
For our country, for our future, for the principles we believe in Walter Mondale and I have just begun to fight. Geraldine A. Ferraro Claim 1984 11 Oct 1984