From the Archives, 1980: Reagan in landslide US election victory

First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on November 6, 1980

Voters give Reagan his mandate
US swings to Right

American voters, with their stunning endorsement of Mr Ronald Reagan in the presidential election, have given strong backing for his promise to shift US policies sharply to the Right at home and abroad.

'Only in America would they elect a film star.' Ronald and Nancy Reagan campaign in New Hampshire on July 23, 1980.

Voters put aside the fears that Mr Reagan might involve the United States in a war.

This was a concern that the polls show President Carter generated during the campaign, by quoting Mr Reagan's past statements favouring the use of military forces abroad.

The results of the US presidential election with 95 per cent of votes counted were:

CARTER 33,165,254 — 41 per cent.
He has won 7 States with 49 electoral votes, and leads in State-with 14 electoral vote.

REAGAN 41,047,235 — 51 per cent.
He has won 42 States with 469 electoral votes and leads in one State with 6 electoral votes.

ANDERSON 5,293,558 — 7 per cent.
The turnout of voters was about 52 per cent, two per cent lower than in 1976, and the lowest since 1948.

An urgent priority for Mr Reagan will be increased defence spending and vigorous diplomatic activity to stiffen the West's resistance to the Soviet Union.

His chances of getting his Congress policies through congress received an enormous boost when the Republicans, with late counting, won the 10 seats they needed to get control of the Senate for the first time in 26 years.

They are certain of a 51.49 majority.

The Senate has the power to reject foreign treaties and to reject presidential appointments within the Administration and the judiciary.

However, while some Republicans rode his coat-tails into the House of Representatives, the gains were not enough to wrest control of the House from the Democrats.

In the Senate, the national swing to the Right proved fatal to three senior Democratic liberals — George McGovern, of South Dakota, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1972, Senator Birch Bayh, of Indiana, and Senator John Culver, of Iowa.

The major polls had predicted a close election but they were taken too early to pick up an apparently strong swing to Mr Reagan last Sunday and Monday.

This coincided with the news that Iran's Parliament had set the terms for the release of the 52 US hostages.

Instead of boosting Mr Carter's stocks, as most political analysts had assumed, the development seemed to lower them.

Mr Carter's defeat was made all the more ignominious by one of the worst drubbings in history in the electoral college.

Mr Reagan needed 270 electoral votes — which are distributed to the States on the basis of population—to win the election.

But with 95 per cent of the vote counted he had won 42 states with 469 electoral votes, while Mr Carter had won six States and the District of Columbia with 49 votes.

Mr Reagan swept through every major region of the country, including Mr Carter's native South.

What people in Sydney think of Reagan

Will Ronald Reagan lead America back to war? What will he do for civil rights? Is he just an "old stage actor?"

These were some of the questions raised by people interviewed during a random poll conducted in Sydney by the Herald yesterday.

Two thought there could be nuclear war during his presidency. Another was worried that Mr Reagan will be "trigger happy." But a banker interviewed thought he would bring dignity back to America.

Oona Nielsson, 19, sandwich maker: "I was disappointed, not so much that Reagan was elected, but that Carter wasn't. I think he has done really well in his negotiations for the hostages and I reckon Reagan would have tried another escape attempt or dropped a bomb on them.

"He is too aggressive. Carter has done a lot for world peace, but if we are to see a nuclear war it will be in Reagan's reign."

Elaine McLister, 55, housewife, from Melbourne: "To me he is just an old stage actor."

Lonnie Wolff, 23, electrician, from San Francisco: "I don't like the idea of him being
there. I dislike the man and I don't trust him.

"My opinion is that the country will be involved in some sort of nuclear war within the next four years and American troops will be occupying some place where they shouldn't be."

Jim Gerathy, 50, banker: "I agree with the election results. I think it will bring some dignity back to America."

Denise Torv, 30, New York public servant working in Sydney: "As a woman I am greatly concerned primarily because of the equal rights amendment to which Ronald Reagan is opposed. He is also opposed to Government assistance for abortion."

Roger Donlon, 19, ticket seller: "I think it is really bad. The whole world is going conservative. The whole world is going straight. Malcolm Fraser is elected here and Ronald Reagan in the States."