Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) President Reagan and Walter Mondale reported preparing for tomorrow's debate.
REPORTER: Connie Chung

(DC) Mondale's anticipated attack on Reagan's handling of foreign policy issues discussed. [Geraldine FERRARO - attacks CIA manual issued Nicaraguan guerrillas as written in spirit of Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung; elaborates.] [Consultant Robert SQUIER - notes Mondale's effort to distance self from Jimmy Carter.] Mondale's stance on Carter's grain embargo against USSR and sale of fighter planes to Saudi Arabia mentioned; possible damage in debate of Iranian hostage crisis and Mondale's past praise of Carter's handling of it considered. [January 12, 1980, MONDALE - considers Carter's approach to hostage issue "masterful."] [October 27, 1982, MONDALE - fears United States invasion of Grenada undermines ability to effectively criticize USSR in Afghanistan, Poland.] [September 18, 1984, MONDALE - would have ordered invasion under similar circumstances.]
REPORTER: Lisa Myers

(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Connie Chung

(DC) Reagan's preparations for debate examined. [In paid political address, voice of REAGAN - attacks Mondale's foreign policy.] Admin.'s history of escalating intl. tensions, include USSR withdrawal from arms control talks, reviewed. [March 8, 1983, REAGAN - considers Sovs. focus of evil in modern world.] [January 16, 1984, REAGAN - cites common ints. of United States and USSR .] His recent meeting with foreign minister Andrei Gromyko recalled. [Former negotiator Paul WARNKE - thinks Reagan administration hasn't recognized that United States can't scare USSR into submission.] [REAGAN - denies changing his stance on USSR .]
REPORTER: Emery King

(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Connie Chung

(DC) Role of media, especially TV, in public's perception of political debates examined; cands.' interest in "spin control" explained. Reagan campaign's response to President's performance in first debate and Ferraro's staff's reaction to Vice President debate cited as exs. [Senator Paul LAXALT, Ed ROLLINS, James BAKER - acknowledge Mondale's debating skills.] [Anne WEXLER, Robert Barnett, Francis O'BRIEN, John SASSO - praise Ferraro's subdued performance.] [Roger STONE - praises Bush's performance.]
REPORTER: Roger Mudd