Presidential debate 1980, Reagan, Carter

1980: Jimmy Carter got the best of Ford in 1976, but things were different in 1980, when the incumbent went up against former California governor – and former movie actor – Ronald Reagan. What you might remember: Reagan summing up the debate this way: “Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls, will stand there in the polling place and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago?” What you might have forgotten: A month before Carter and Reagan met, Reagan debated independent candidate John Anderson, a former congressman from Illinois.