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

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CONGRESSMAN BILL BURLISON WEL- COMES Vice President Walter Mondale to Cape Girardeau on the weekend before the election. I think Kennedy would have run a better campaign against Reagan than Carter did, he remarked. Like many Americans, Cunning- ham said he felt Reagan would help America improve her economic situa- tion. I think the new leaders are going to change the direction of the country for the better, he stressed. Sharp, on the other hand, said he thought some important social pro- grams, such as school lunches and job assistance, might be cut under Reagan ' s administration. Reagan will also probably strengthen the U. S. abroad, but he might overreact, he added. While disagreement existed among the political parties, one thing was certain. With a new Chief Executive and a Republican Senate, America was headed for significant changes. REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE GENE McNARY, accompanied by Senator Jesse Helms, answers questions at a local news conference. McNary lost the senatorial race to incumbent Thomas Eagleton. Student L.te 29

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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

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DURING AN INTENSE MOMENT in Death of a Salesman, Biff (Ken Stilson) and his mother (Jenni Brent) argue heatedly about family conflicts. 1 s f x 1 1 n m H L ' ' ■ lif ma ■ M fi m ' i J g I HI W ' LLffi LOHMAN. PORTRAYED BY Ed Phillips, recalls a brief affair with another woman, played by Pam Whit grove, during a flashback scene in Death of a Salesman. LAMENTING HIS HOPELESS CIRCUM- STANCES. Willie Lohman. the main character in Death of a Salesman, contemplates suicide. 30 University Theatre