I may butcher the context here, but I think I've got it right. During the 1988 presidential campaign people were constantly making an issue of Dan Quayle's age. Many thought he was too young and inexperienced to assume the Presidency if it came to it. During his debate with Lloyd Bentsen Quayle pointed out that people had said much the same thing about John F Kennedy.
To that Bentsen replied, "I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy."
Four years later Bill Clinton had taken to comparing himself to Thomas Jefferson. So when Reagan spoke at the Republican National Convention he just had to take a shot at Clinton's pomposity. (I believe this was his last public speech.) I will never forget when Reagan mentioned Clinton's Jefferson references and then went on to say, "Mr. Clinton, I knew Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was a friend of mine. You sir are no Thomas Jefferson."
My goodness I laughed so hard. That was Reagan to be sure. He always had a joke ready to make a valid point.
He will be missed.
I remember a 1984 debate with Walter Mondale when the questions were about his age. He answered a question from the moderator with something along the lines of "I've heard the concerns about age in this election and I commit that I will not, for political gains, discuss the youth and inexperience of my opponent".
I remember thinking that he probably won the election right there by completely diffusing what had been the biggest issue of the campaign.
He was a great communicator, to be sure.
Posted by: Gary Petersen | Sunday, June 06, 2004 at 03:50 PM