Valparaiso University - Beacon / Record Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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Election 80 9G0 right, Americaii - Reagan leads GOP to stunning Victory In the end, it was Ronald Reagan who led the pack. It was a long, grinding marathon that included Republicans George Bush, John Anderson, Bob Dole, John Connally, How- ard Baker, Philip Crane, and Reagan. On the Democratic side there were Jerry Brown, Ted Kennedy and, of course, Jimmy Carter. There were many others, too, who received only token ink in their efforts to win, place or show in America's quadren- nial electoral race. When it was all over, the former California governor and movie actor captured 489 electoral votes and 51 percent of the popular-vote tally. Carter could garner but 49 of the former and 41 percent of the latter. Independent John Anderson re- ceived no electoral votes and seven percent of the popular vote. As Reagan crossed the finish line, a host of other Republicans hung onto his coat tails. Indeed, those coat tails were long enough to play a big role in giving the Grand Old Party its first majority in the Us. Senate since 1954. Gone were famous liberal Democrats George McGovern, Birch Bayh and Frank Church; Replacing them would be names like James Abdnor, Dan Quayle and Steven Symms. The elections for the House of Representatives also favored the GOP, as over 30 seats fell from Democratic control. Four governors' mansions similarly went to the Republicans. Because of this overwhelming Republican victory, many po- litical observers called Election '80 a realignment election, 1 , j which in layman's terms means that the nation has significantly changed its political direction. The last realignment election occurred in 1932, when, in the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal took the country by storm. Adding fuel to the idea of a realignment election was the preponderance of conservative political action groups in the 1980 campaign. The National Conservative Political Action Committee alone poured millions of dollars into defeating lib- eral legislators. Right-wing religious groups, like Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority also jumped into the political arena. Although many experts doubt the importance of these New Right groups, their presence was felt in a symbolic way, if nothing else. It is somewhat early to judge whether this country has truly taken a long-term shift to the Right. Many of the signs were there, but one must remember recent history. After all, it was only in 1974 that the Republican Party was given up for dead after Watergate. The possibility remains that 1980 was simply a spontaneous voter protest against high inflation and rising un- employment, and the Democrats the convenient scapegoat. Of course, time will tell all. In a short time, the contestants will begin linging up for the 1982 mini-marathon. And probably sooner than we think, even more candidates will prepare for the 1984 race. By then we should know for sure if America has paved herself a path to the Right. - David Yamada Presidentaelect Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy wave in triumph after surprisingly strong victory in the 1980 presidential sweepstakes 18 Election '80

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F W? Hostages: a year and counting 4 , W On Nov. 4, fifty American men marked a year as hos- tages of Iranian militants. De- spite an aborted rescue mis- sion and dealings between the U.S. government and the Ayatollah Khomeini, no easy answers were in sight at press time. A quiet period in a busy year During a quiet period at Washington state's Mt. St. Helens volcano, gases are the only indications of the eruptions which covered the Northwest with ash and lava during 1980. Saturn: a new look NASAis Voyager I took this picture on Sept. 17, while 47 million miles away from its Nov. 12 encounter with the planet. m i x m M ' iwndawe A smile from the new guy President-elect Ronald Reagan - actor turned politician e holds aloft a newspaper announcing the Reagan-Bush triumph. News 17

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HGimme Jimmy reads the banner behind President Carter, speaking to an October gathering in Memphis. Unfortunately for Carter, the American electorate said Gimme Ronnie on Nov. 4. ln me spirit of party unity, defeated presidential candidate Ted Kennedy shares a platform with vice-presidential nominee Walter Mondale. Election '80 19