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Ronald Reagan's memorable age joke
Brut America
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3/25/2025
Whatever the outcome, the next president will be the oldest in U.S. history. Back in 1984, Ronald Reagan shot down age critics with one memorable joke…
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00:00
This is the story of how a joke cost this man an election and guaranteed a second term
00:09
for a president who many thought was too old to lead.
00:13
You may have heard of him.
00:14
His motto was let's make America great again.
00:18
Many have dubbed him the greatest Republican president in history.
00:22
You know who I'm talking about.
00:24
This is Ronald Reagan, president of the United States.
00:26
Well, let's take them on a little stroll down memory lane.
00:30
So here's the thing.
00:31
It was October 1984 and Reagan was in trouble.
00:35
His performance in the first debate against his Democratic challenger, Walter Mondale,
00:40
was, let's just say, underwhelming.
00:44
He went in riding high with a 23-point lead in the polls and had little to gain and everything
00:50
to lose in their faceoff.
00:52
The great communicator, that's how he was known, struggled to, well, communicate.
00:57
At 73, it seemed the Hollywood star had lost a bit of his shine.
01:02
It's time that some people were reminded that actors are people.
01:06
He seemed confused throughout the debate and stumbled over his words.
01:10
What exactly were his gaffes, you're wondering?
01:12
Well, for starters, he took credit for passing laws as governor of California that were actually
01:18
passed by his Democratic predecessor, Pat Brown.
01:22
He also said that a large portion of the military budget was for food and wardrobe.
01:28
He didn't even remember what city he was in.
01:31
It was Louisville.
01:32
After an hour and a half, the president seemed flustered.
01:35
No, I might as well just go with.
01:38
You want to go with you?
01:39
Okay.
01:40
You want to wait?
01:41
I'm all confused now.
01:42
The next day, it seems the American people were confused too.
01:45
Newspaper headlines across the country asked the question that was on everyone's lips.
01:51
Was the president too old to lead?
01:53
Well, two weeks later, they'd meet for the second debate.
01:58
56 year old Mondale was riding high on the age question while the 73 year old president
02:03
wanted to put it to bed once and for all.
02:07
The president seemed ready this time, drawing on the skills that made him famous in the
02:11
first place, his comedic chops.
02:14
You already are the oldest president in history and some of your staff say you were tired
02:18
after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale.
02:21
I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep
02:25
during the Cuba Missile Crisis.
02:27
Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances?
02:32
Not at all, Mr. Truitt, and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue
02:38
of this campaign.
02:39
I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.
02:49
The moment would go down in debate history, but Reagan wasn't content to just ride that
02:54
wave to election day.
02:56
I'm terrified by the polls.
02:59
Please don't read them anymore.
03:02
Don't get complacent.
03:04
Don't think your vote isn't needed.
03:05
Go and vote and take others with you to do that.
03:10
So, what happened next?
03:12
More voters!
03:14
More voters!
03:16
I think that's just been arranged.
03:20
Reagan's win was historic.
03:23
He got the largest electoral college victory ever with 525 of 538 votes.
03:30
To put that into perspective, he carried 49 of the 50 states.
03:35
Mondale got just one, his home state of Minnesota, oh yeah, and the District of Columbia.
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