Reagan-Mondale Debate

          During the presidential elections of 1984, Walter Mondale and some of his supporters made issue of Ronald Reagan’s age.  What was suggested was that he may not have the stamina to successfully carry out the rigorous duties of the office.  Picking up this topic, the moderator of one debate explained that, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy had to stay up for days.  Here is the exchange:

          One of the primary lenses through which Baltes discussed aging was that of “gains and losses”.  The moderator’s question as to whether Reagan could “function” is an obvious acknowledgement of certain losses.  What is suggested is that Reagan would not have adequate stamina.  The “function” in question, however, was left open to interpretation and, so, open to including in the minds of viewers and voters, a plethora of popular ageist assumptions.  One of the “gains” in old age that Baltes and others speak of is experience and wisdom.  Reagan succinctly makes the case for his advantage in his response.  What he also does is call out his opponent and the media for exploiting age for political purposes.