Video: 'Bush vs. Ferraro: The 1984 vice presidential debate'

(Thursday, October 11, 1984, 9:00-10:30 p.m. EDT; during the 1984 United States presidential debates) — In a historic and spirited debate, Vice President George Bush, a Republican, and his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, engaged in a heated exchange tonight, clashing repeatedly over President Reagan’s policies.

Bush’s defense of Reagan was impassioned as he accused Ferraro and her running mate, Walter Mondale, of spreading “slander” and “canards” against the Republican incumbent. When questioned about his past policy differences with Reagan, Bush firmly pledged to continue the current administration’s policies.

“This President turned it around, and I’ve been with him every step of the way,” he stated. “Of course, I would continue those kinds of programs.”

In contrast, Ferraro methodically criticized Reagan’s record, accusing him of negligence in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon and of eroding the separation between church and state.

The debate, held at the Pennsylvania Hall Civic Center in Philadelphia, took on added significance as the first nationally broadcast encounter involving a woman seeking national office. In a tense exchange, Ferraro warned Bush not to be “patronizing” toward her.

Overall, the debate appeared more evenly matched than the earlier encounter between Mondale and Reagan, with both Bush and Ferraro delivering aggressive, well-crafted presentations.

Bush’s closing remarks focused on his praise for Reagan, urging voters to allow the President to complete his “unfinished business” of advancing a conservative agenda. “Ronald Reagan is clearly the leader of the free world,” Bush declared, adding, “it’s a joy to serve with a President who does not apologize for the United States.”

Ferraro’s summation reflected the momentum Mondale gained in the first Presidential debate. “This campaign is not over,” she declared. “For our country, for the future, for the principles we believe in, Walter Mondale and I have just begun to fight.”

During the debate, Ferraro addressed a question from a panelist regarding her credibility as a commander in chief. “Are you saying I would have to have fought in a war in order to love peace?” she asked, emphasizing that the Soviet Union would face “swift and certain retribution” under her leadership for any attack.

Analysts from CBS News and NBC News gave Bush the edge in the debate, while an ABC News poll of 504 people found that 43 percent thought Bush won, 32 percent favored Ferraro, and 24 percent did not choose a winner.

After the debate, campaign officials from both sides claimed victory. Edward Rollins, Reagan’s campaign manager, praised Bush’s performance, noting that Ferraro had softened her image with a more subdued presentation. Robert Beckel, Mondale’s campaign manager, insisted Ferraro had come across as “Vice Presidential” and “magnificent.”

Ann Lewis, political director of the Democratic National Committee, said Ferraro “held her own on substance,” criticizing Bush as being “giddy” with his attempts at humor.

Bush, who received congratulatory calls from Reagan and White House Chief of Staff James Baker after the debate, tried repeatedly to put Ferraro on the defensive, mixing his critiques with praise for Reagan. When Ferraro accused Reagan of injecting religion into the campaign, Bush retorted, “It wasn’t our side that raised the question about our President, whether he’s a good Christian or not.”

In response, Ferraro forcefully said, “I almost resent your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy,” warning Bush not to “categorize” or interpret her answers for the voters.

The debate also featured light moments, with Bush and Ferraro exchanging jokes about finding a good tax accountant, both having faced financial controversies.

Bush’s performance was characterized by his strong defense of Reagan, especially in countering concerns that the President might be too old or lacking in command of complex issues like arms control. He praised Reagan’s recent meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, describing Reagan as “right on top of the subject matter.”

In his summation, Bush emphasized the choice facing voters, urging them to follow Reagan’s leadership rather than returning to “weakness, despair, and disrespect.”

Ferraro entered the debate with the intention of slowing her speech and softening her accent. Although she appeared calm and thoughtful, she struggled to rebut Bush’s accusation that she endorsed a cessation of all “covert activity” by the CIA. Ferraro had expressed opposition to certain covert actions in Central America but failed to clearly clarify her position.

Both Democratic and Republican strategists believe the reaction to this Vice Presidential debate could significantly influence the pace and tone of the Presidential race. Initially regarded as a campaign sidelight, the debate gained importance after Reagan’s lackluster performance in the previous debate with Mondale.

In the early rounds, Bush sought to take control, putting Ferraro on the defensive over her stance on tuition tax credits and attacking Mondale’s economic pessimism. Ferraro defended her position and criticized Reagan for cutting aid to the poorest Americans, while Bush countered that spending on food stamps and welfare had increased.

The candidates also differed sharply on abortion, with Bush, whose position had evolved to align more closely with Reagan’s, favoring a constitutional ban on abortion. Ferraro, a Roman Catholic who supports a woman’s right to choose, said that if her religion ever interfered with her duties, she would resign.

When questioned about finances, Ferraro said she had asked the House ethics committee to expedite its investigation into her financial disclosures, noting that the inquiry would likely not be completed before the election. She suggested that issues with her forms stemmed from an accountant who had worked with her family for over 40 years.

Bush defended his tax payments, noting that while he paid 13 percent in federal taxes last year, when combined with local and state taxes, 42 percent of his gross income went to taxes. He dismissed Mondale’s criticism of his tax rate as a “cheap shot” aimed at dividing the rich and poor.

On Central America, Ferraro said that any consideration of a “quarantine” to cut off supplies to Nicaragua would be a last resort and emphasized negotiation before the use of force. She accused the Reagan Administration of “Americanizing” the conflict and not pressuring El Salvador enough on human rights, while criticizing support for covert actions against Nicaragua’s government.

Bush countered by defending the administration’s approach, highlighting his personal efforts to improve human rights in El Salvador and the importance of standing up for democracy, as exemplified by the military invasion of Grenada.

When questioned about the lack of arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, Bush blamed the Soviets for their unwillingness to negotiate, while Ferraro pointed out that leaders from other nations had met with Soviet officials during the same period.

The debate ended with a clear contrast in both candidates’ visions for the future, setting the stage for the remaining weeks of the Presidential campaign.