The Ronald Reagan Mic Drop Moment At The 1984 Debate | NBC News

In 1984, October 1984, Ronald Reagan is running for re-election. He's the oldest candidate ever to be running for president. He's 73 years old. There are some concerns about his ability, especially mentally, to keep doing the job. Nobody knew anything about Alzheimer's at this point, but there were some concerns that were out there. In the first debate, Reagan against Mondale, there are moments when Reagan seems he's lost for words. He seems to go blank. The system is still where it was with regard to the progressivity, as I've said. Walter Mondale says, looking back, he said that was the one moment he believed he really could win that election. Today we have a brand new race. They've got two weeks to get ready for the next debate. There is one more debate, and Reagan has one challenge. He has got to reassure the country that what they saw in that first debate was an aberration, that he'll be fine getting a second term as president. So he shows up for the second debate. He knows the question's coming. People around him were trying to coach him. He told them before, no, no, no, I got it. They didn't know what he had in store. So the question comes up. The moderator says to him, you already are the oldest president in history, and some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale. I recall yet that President Kennedy had to go for days on end with very little sleep during the Cuba Missile Crisis. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances? Not at all, Mr. Truitt, and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience. It's a great moment because obviously it's a great line and the crowd loves it, but you catch Mondale, Reagan's opponent, in the shot. There's this great shot. You get both of them on at the same time, and Mondale gets it right away, too. He can't help but laugh, and he has said since then at that moment he knew the election was over, and that was it, and a couple weeks later Reagan won a 49th state landslide. And click on any of the videos over here to watch the latest interviews, show highlights, and digital exclusives. Thanks for watching.