1980 United States Presidential Election (Nixon Retires)

The **1980 United States presidential election** was the 49th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 4, 1980. The Democratic ticket of Incumbent President Ted Kennedy and Vice President Jimmy Carter defeated the Republican ticket of California Representative Jack Kemp and Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt.

The start of Kennedy's term as President was a roaring start, as the economy improved dramatically. He also stopped any social security ban efforts from the GOP. His progressive style was a breath of fresh air from the disastrous term of Ronald Reagan. However, by 1979, the economy started to stall. And eventually many members of the GOP threw their hats in the ring for the nomination in 1980.

On the Democratic side, Kennedy faced no problems obtaining his renomination. On the GOP side, Reagan refused to run due to his bad term. And it seemed like anyone could win. The nominee eventually became California Representative Jack Kemp, who named Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt as his running mate.

Kemp classified Kennedy as an extremist, saying his numerous efforts to stop social security bans were outrageous. In the first debate, Kennedy struck back with his Gambling and Sickness speech, with Kemp being unprepared for his aggressive attacks in the debates. Kennedy would soon gain a massive lead, and eventually beat Kemp in a landslide.

The main issues of this election were Social Security, medical care, and the economy post-Ronald Reagan.

## Primaries:

### Democratic Primaries:

Because of their popularity in their party, despite their public approval dropping, Kennedy and Carter would be renominated for the 1980 Election. Despite concerns from the center wing of the party, Kennedy promised he could keep the White House.

 Ted Kennedy

### Republican Primaries:

In a sea of multiple candidates, the main frontrunner at the start was considered to be former Vice President Bob Dole. But after a disappointing showing in the Iowa primaries, he dropped out. Eventually the two main candidates were Texas Governor George H. W. Bush and California Representative Jack Kemp. Eventually Kemp won the nomination and named Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt as his running mate.

 Jack Kemp
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York (1971-1981)
from Nevada (1974-1987)

## Campaign/Issues Unique to the Election:

### Democratic Campaign:

Kennedy and Carter promoted the start of their first term and rebuilding after Ronald Reagan's disastrous term, calling Kemp a fascist who believed the economy should run on gambling and sickness, as Kennedy quoted in the first debate, Kennedy would stay aggressive through the debates, which Kemp wasn't prepared for.

### Republican Campaign:

Kemp pointed to Kennedy and Carter as socialists painting out their extreme measures to keep social security and expand Affordable Medicare. Kemp also promoted Reaganomics, which turned many away after Reagan's term.

### Social Security:

Kemp's main criticisms of Kennedy's Presidency was the measures he went to to protect social security. Kemp called the program a waste of time and money, and planned to make bans on it during his Presidency.

### Medical Care:

Kennedy had plans to expand Medicare during the second term of his Presidency. Kemp claimed Kennedy would be throwing away more money when the USSR could attack at any moment. Kennedy declared Kemp a man who would rather see Americans suffer with no health care.

### The Post-Reagan Economy:

Ronald Reagan had introduced new economic policies during his term, which he dubbed "Reaganomics." Kennedy felt Reaganomics were the main reason his term was a disaster and made sure to not resort to them during his term. Kemp believed the reason Reaganomics failed was because it wasn't given enough time to develop and would reintroduce it to the American people, hurting Kemp's efforts.

## Results and Aftermath:

Gaining support from the debates, Kennedy would defeat Kemp in a landslide. Kemp at first refused to secede claiming the vote was rigged from voting fraud. But after recounts showed Kennedy gained more votes, Kemp seceded. Kemp would die in 2009, after becoming a supporter of George H. W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice's Presidencies.