My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes. The gaff cut into Reagan's margin over Mondale by 7 points, signaling that Americans are still uncomfortable with Ronald Reagan's Soviet hardline. Campaign is seen as lacking focus in terms of a plan for a 2nd term. Reagan meets with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko at White House.
Talk lasts for three and a half hours.
Little progress is made, but Reagan demonstrates that U.S.-Soviet relations had his personal attention and high priority. The Reagan-Mondale debate in Louisville. Reagan's performance is so bad that press questions his ability to continue serving. The second debate between Reagan and Mondale. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.