Walter Mondale 1984 presidential campaign

Walter Mondale for President 1984
Campaign1984 Democratic primaries
1984 U.S. presidential election
CandidateWalter Mondale
42nd Vice President of the United States
(1977–1981)
Geraldine Ferraro
U.S. Representative for New York's 9th district
(1979–1985)
AffiliationDemocratic Party
StatusAnnounced: February 21, 1983
Presumptive nominee: June 6, 1984
Official nominee: July 19, 1984
Lost election: November 6, 1984
Key peopleJames A. Johnson (campaign chairman)[1]
Bob Beckel (campaign manager)
Paul Tully (deputy campaign manager)
Bert Lance (general chairman; resigned on August 3, 1984)[2]
Maxine Isaacs (press secretary)
Tom Donilon (convention director)
Peter D. Hart (pollster)
John R. Reilly (senior advisor & VP Vetter)
Michael S. Berman (senior advisor & liaison with the Democratic National Committee)
Richard Moe (senior advisor)
Marty Kaplan (speechwriter)
Roy Spence (television adviser)
Pat Caddell (debate prep)[3]
SloganAmerica Needs a Change
For New Leadership
America Needs New Leadership
Where's the beef?

The Walter Mondale 1984 presidential campaign began on February 21, 1983, when Walter Mondale, a former Minnesota senator and vice president of the United States, announced that he was running for president in a speech at the Minnesota State Capitol.[4] Mondale won the Democratic Party's presidential nomination after convincing Frank Lautenberg, a previously unpledged party delegate, to support him. Lautenberg's vote gave Mondale the 1,967 delegate votes needed to become the Democratic Party's nominee.[5] Mondale picked Geraldine Ferraro, a U.S. representative from New York, as his running mate.

Mondale lost the general election, held on November 6, 1984, to incumbent Republican President Ronald Reagan in a landslide.[6] Had Mondale been elected, he would have been the first U.S. president from Minnesota and the first non-incumbent vice president since Richard Nixon to take office as president. Ferraro would also have been the country's first female vice president, and the first person from New York since Nelson Rockefeller to become vice president, whereas her husband, John Zaccaro, would also have been the country's first second gentleman.

  1. ^ "EXPANDING MONDALE'S TIGHT CIRCLE OF ADVISERS". New York Times. July 22, 1984. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "LANCE QUITS POST IN MONDALE DRIVE OVER 'OLD CHARGES". New York Times. August 3, 1984. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "REAGAN AND MONDALE POLISH DEBATE STRATEGY". New York Times. October 4, 1984. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Walter Mondale announces candidacy for president". Minnesota Public Radio. 1983-02-21. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  5. ^ Rosenbaum, David E. (1984-06-07). "Democratic Leaders Put Mondale on Top in a Day of Decision". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  6. ^ Raines, Howell (1984-11-07). "Reagan Wins By a Landslide, Sweeping at Least 48 States; G.O.P. Gains Strength in House". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-14.