Southeast Missouri State University - Sagamore Yearbook (Cape Girardeau, MO)

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SEEKING A SECOND TERM as Missouri ' s governor, Democrat Joe Teasdale campaigns at a local Pro-Life march shortly before the November election. STRUGGLING TO REGAIN POPULARITY with area votes, 10th District Congressman Bill Burlison participates in the march ' s opening ceremony. America votes GOP -for a change When they cast their ballots on November 4, most American voters made it clear they were ready for some new faces in government. While unstable economic and political conditions prevailed at home and abroad, voters expressed their dissatisfaction with a Democratic Congress and President. Ronald Reagan, at age 69, became the oldest man ever elected to the presidency when he swept the nation with a landslide victory over incumbent Pre- sident Jimmy Carter. (continued) T A FUND RAISER FOR his Congressional impaign, candidate Bill Emerson listens to former President Gerald Ford address a breakfast audience of Southeast Missouri Republicans. Ford made the stop in Cape Girardeau ds j part of his nationwide tour to help Republicans. Student 27

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IN 1979. SEVERAL REPUBLICAN candidates visited Cape Girardeau to attend a fund-raising dinner for Attorney General John Ashcroft. Following the dinner, gubernatorial candidate Kit Bond talks with student Pat Florich. BEING IN THE LIMELIGHT is certainly nothing new for Ronald Reagan. More than a year before the ' 80 election, he signs autographs for local Republicans. WITH HIS SIGHTS .SET on a 1980 victory presidential hopeful Ronald Reagan greets an enthusiastic crowd of admirers in Cape. 2G

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America votes GOP for a change Carter became the first incumbent elected President since Grover Cleveland in 1888 to lose re-election. Along with Reagan ' s triumph, the Republicans gained majority control in the Senate and gained several new seats in the House as well. On the state and local election scene, other GOP challengers also upset their Democratic opponents. Chris- topher Kit Bond easily beat incum- bent Joseph Teasdale in the governor ' s race. Bond ironically reversed the situation which occurred four years earlier when Walkin ' Joe was elected governor over Bond, who was then seeking re-election. In the 10th District Congressional contest, Republican challenger Bill Emerson upset veteran Congressman Bill Burlison by a narrow margin. For several months before the election, public support for Burlison had been dwindling. Amid stiff competition, some pre- sidential hopefuls began campaigning as early as two years before the election. In the summer of 1979, Reagan visited Cape Girardeau to speak at a fund- raiser for Attorney General John Ashcroft. On the weekend before the November election, his wife Nancy also stopped in Cape to do some last-minute campaigning. The following day, Vice President Walter Mondale traveled through the area, endorsing his running mate Jimmy Carter. As the election approached, some SEMO students caught the campaign fever as evidenced by political posters plastered across campus and sidewalks chalked with campaign slogans. Dave Cunningham, president of SEMO ' s Young Republicans, comment- ed, As a Republican, I was really excited about Reagan ' s stunning victory over Carter. He added that his club predicted Reagan as the winner, but not by such a wide margin. Expressing the opposing viewpoint, Steve Sharp, history department graduate assistant, said, The Senate going Republican upset me more than Carter losing the presidency. Sharp, a former Young Democrat member, said he was also surprised Carter lost by such a wide margin. ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE her husband ' s landslide victory, Nancy Reagan passed through Cape for some last-minute campaigning. During an afternoon press conference, Mrs. Reagan responds to questions from area news reporters. Photos by Lee A. Meyer. Election