Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Tonight's debate between Walter Mondale and Ronald Reagan noted.
REPORTER: Morton Dean

(Kansas City, Missouri) Importance of tonight's confrontation for each cand. discussed; films shown. [COMIC - considers match voodoo econs. versus Norwegian charisma.] [Media specialist Tony SCHWARTZ - thinks public expects more from Mondale than during first debate, giving him more to lose than Reagan has to win.] White House mentioned dropping most of its demands for lighting and podium position on stage. [REAGAN - praises crowd's reception for him.] Ea. cand.'s anticipated approach to debate, especially Lebanon and Central America, considered. [MONDALE - notes importance of foreign policy debate.] Merle Haggard mentioned performing in separate part of auditorium during debate.
REPORTER: Susan Spencer

(Studio) Issue of Pres's stamina, each campaign's attitude toward debate discussed. Coverage announced.
REPORTER: Morton Dean; Susan Spencer

(Jerusalem, Israel) Mideast as issue in current presidential campaign examined. [October 1, 1984, MONDALE - claims there's no policy in Mideast.] Question of Mondale not capitalizing on fact that last significant gains in Mideast were made under Carter administration while Reagan's only initiative has been spurned by Israel and Arab states considered. [MONDALE - will end fiction that Jerusalem is not capital of Israel.] Israel's reaction to Mondale's promise to move United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem described. [Jerusalem Mayor Teddy KOLLEK - considers issue historically irrelevant to Jews, but of deep moral relevance.] Costa Rica and El Salvador mentioned only ntns. having embassies here; support of Reagan's approach by some Israelis cited. [September 17, 1984, MONDALE - attacks Reagan's promise to Israel that Syria would withdraw from Lebanon once Israel did; accuses him of treating Israel as adversary.] Reagan's White House meeting with Prime Min. Shimon Peres less than month before United States election reviewed; extent of United States aid to Israel outlined.
REPORTER: Don McNeill