Jim Newton

Itasca

Ronald Reagan vs. Walter Mondale was an election for the ages. In my nostalgic mind, I found both men capable, even likable during the 1984 presidential campaign. They didn’t instinctively hate each other over policy differences.

Despite its book-title implications, 1984 wasn’t that bad. America’s economy was recovering from the 1981-82 recession and optimism was growing. I think we can forgive “1984” author George Orwell for being 40 years early on his otherwise prescient vision.

For me, that vision began during the 1988 George H.W. Bush vs. Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis presidential race. Bush, lagging in the polls, hired negative flamethrower Lee Atwater to even things up with a brutal campaign strategy against Dukakis. Then, a campaign between two basically decent men turned unnecessarily bitter. Atwater’s influence prevailed after his 1991 death, and elections have trended less friendly ever since.

I’ve never voted for a perfect presidential candidate, but I could have endured George McGovern in 1972, Dukakis in 1988, Al Gore, Robert Dole, George H.W. Bush, John McCain or Mitt Romney in succeeding elections. None of them, or their opponents, would have started World War III just because they identified as a Liberal or a Conservative. I slept well whoever won.

Reagan and Mondale were model rivals. Reagan was a masterful joke teller, and Mondale could take a joke. At the end of election night 1984, we saw the best in good sportsmanship from Mondale and magnanimity from Reagan. But since 2016, I miss sleeping well on election nights.