ARE YOU BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2119

RONALD REAGAN DEFEATED JIMMY CARTER 36 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 4, 1980, President Jimmy Carter was defeated for re-election by Republican challenger Governor Ronald Reagan.  The result in the Electoral College was 489-49.

The President carried his home state of Georgia along with West Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Hawaii.  Governor Reagan won 44 of the 50 states.

Mr. Carter's four years in office had been marked by high inflation and high interest rates.  Along with the failing economy, 53 Americans had been taken hostage by Islamic militants in Iran.  The President was unable to orchestrate their release.

In the one debate between the two major candidates, Governor Reagan asked the American people...

"Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

The final popular vote totals in the Election of 1980 were...

RONALD REAGAN (R) 43,903,230 (50.7%)
JIMMY CARTER (D)     35,480,115   (41.0%)

SOURCE

"The Election of 1980," American Experience, www.pbs.org/

Reagans on Campaign

Columbia, SC

October 10, 1980

Reagan Presidential Library Photo