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1980s All-American Politics Trivia Quiz

How much do you remember from the post-Watergate decade?

A multiple-choice quiz by brewster76. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
brewster76

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
299,687

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2427

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (6/10), Harmattan (4/10), NalaMarie (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1981 Moral Majority founder Jerry Falwell stated in his opposition to Sandra Day O'Connor's Supreme Court nomination that: "Every good Christian should be concerned." A disgusted Senator Barry Goldwater, who felt the Republican party was being hijacked by the religious right, replied: "Every good Christian should" do what? Hint

"Know that Jerry Falwell has been divorced three times"

"Thank God that Jerry Falwell can't vote on her confirmation"

"Kick Jerry Falwell in the a _ _ "

"Pray for that idiot Jerry Falwell"

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Democratic Presidential hopeful Gary Hart torpedoed his campaign in 1988 by challenging reporters who questioned his marital fidelity to follow him. They did and he was photographed with Donna Rice sitting on his lap after an overnight boat cruise to the island of Bimini. What was the name of the boat? Hint

Monkey Business

Unfaithful

Picture This

Yo No Soy Presidente

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Question 3 of 10

3. 1984 Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson sank his campaign when he was accused of referring to New York City as what? Hint

The Big Crapple

The Cesspool on the Hudson

New Dork City

Hymietown

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which cast member of "Saturday Night Live" was famous for his portrayal of 1988 Democratic Presidential nominee Michael Dukakis? Hint

Jon Lovitz

Dennis Miller

Kevin Nealon

Adam Sandler

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was NOT vice-president of the US in the 1980s? Hint

Al Gore

George H.W. Bush

Walter Mondale

Dan Quayle

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Question 6 of 10

6. During the Iran-Contra investigation who became famous as the faithful assistant who helped her boss Oliver North shred documents? Hint

Jessica Hawn

Fawn Hall

Gennifer Flowers

Paula Jones

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Question 7 of 10

7. Why did President Jimmy Carter order the United States Olympic team to boycott the 1980 Games in Moscow? Hint

To protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

To protest the inclusion of a white only South African team

The USSR had boycotted the 1976 Games in Los Angeles

There wasn't sufficient security for the athletes at the Olympic Village

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. On March 30, 1981 James Brady was shot in the assassination attempt on the life of President Reagan. What was Mr. Brady's position in the Reagan Administration? Hint

Secretary of State

Chief of Staff

Attorney General

Press Secretary

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Question 9 of 10

9. This Democrat from Spokane, Washington succeeded Jim Wright as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives in June, 1989 after 24 years in Congress. He later lost his bid for re-election in 1994, making him the first sitting Speaker to not win re-election since 1860. Who was this? Hint

Newt Gingrich

Tom Foley

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Orrin Hatch

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Question 10 of 10

10. Barbara Pierce Bush, America's First Lady from 1989-1993, can claim all of the family ties EXCEPT which? Hint

The mother of a president

A distant relative of a former president

The mother of two governors

The daughter of a US Senator

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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: "Kick Jerry Falwell in the a _ _ "

Though Goldwater is credited with sparking the conservative movement in American Republicanism, he was a libertarian on social issues such as gay rights, abortion and religion in the public sector. He retired to Arizona in 1987 and died there at the age of 89. Falwell died in 2007. Sandra Day O'Connor retired in 2005 after spending most of her Supreme Court career as the "swing vote" on several crucial issues before the Court.

Answer: Monkey Business

The incident cost Hart his front-runner status in the presidential race and he was forced to drop out. Rice later became a crusader against on-line pornograpy and for internet safety.

3. 1984 Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson sank his campaign when he was accused of referring to New York City as what?

Answer: Hymietown

Jackson at first denied the statement, then blamed a Jewish conspiracy as being out to stymie his run at the presidency. Eddie Murphy did a parody of the incident on Saturday Night Live, appearing as a singing Jesse Jackson.

4. Which cast member of "Saturday Night Live" was famous for his portrayal of 1988 Democratic Presidential nominee Michael Dukakis?

Answer: Jon Lovitz

In a memorable skit written by Conan O'Brien the vertically challenged Dukakis uses a hydraulic floor lift to gain some height in his debate with George H.W.Bush (Dana Carvey).

5. Who was NOT vice-president of the US in the 1980s?

Answer: Al Gore

Mondale was Veep from 1977-1981; Bush from 1981-89; Quayle from 1989-93; and Gore from 1993-2001.

6. During the Iran-Contra investigation who became famous as the faithful assistant who helped her boss Oliver North shred documents?

Answer: Fawn Hall

Fawn Hall's mother was the secretary of President Reagan's national security advisor Robert McFarlane.

7. Why did President Jimmy Carter order the United States Olympic team to boycott the 1980 Games in Moscow?

Answer: To protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

More than 60 countries joined the US in boycotting the 1980 Games. The Soviet Union retaliated by not attending the 1984 Los Angeles Games, citing security concerns. Their boycott failed, however, as 140 nations attended, more than at any previous Olympics.

8. On March 30, 1981 James Brady was shot in the assassination attempt on the life of President Reagan. What was Mr. Brady's position in the Reagan Administration?

Answer: Press Secretary

After the shooting, Brady and his wife Sarah became proponents of gun control. The Brady Bill, officially known as the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, is named in his honor.

Answer: Tom Foley

Tom Foley later served as the Ambassador to Japan in the Clinton Administration. Democrat Moynihan is famously from New York and was a US Senator from 1977-2001. Gingrich, a Republcian from Georgia, followed Foley as Speaker in 1995 and launched the short-lived "Contract With America" which has since been ridiculed as the "Contract ON America. Orrin Hatch was elected to the Senate in 1977 as a Republican from Utah.

10. Barbara Pierce Bush, America's First Lady from 1989-1993, can claim all of the family ties EXCEPT which?

Answer: The daughter of a US Senator

It is Mrs. Bush's husband, the 41st president, whose father (Prescott Bush of Connecticut) was a US Senator. Her sons George W. and Jeb were the governors of Texas and Florida, respectively. She is also the fourth cousin, four times removed, and the second cousin, five times removed, of President Franklin Pierce!

Source: Author brewster76

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