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Quiz about The Road To The White House 1980

The Road To The White House - 1980 Quiz

This quiz asks about the people and events that shaped the 1980 Presidential election.

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

Author
PTaylor

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
86,861

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
920

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was NOT a presidential candidate in 1980? Hint

George Bush

Hubert Humphrey

Eugene McCarthy

Ted Kennedy

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which U.S. Representative from Illinois and Republican candidate for President, who dropped out early in the race and eventually endorsed Ronald Reagan, was considered a "young Reagan?" Hint

Phil Crane

George Bush

John Anderson

Jack Kemp

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Question 3 of 10

3. To whom was President Carter referring when he said "I'll whip his #!$?" Hint

Gerald Ford

George Wallace

Ronald Reagan

Ted Kennedy

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which Republican candidate had been a Governor as a member of the Democratic Party? Hint

Robert Dole

Ronald Reagan

John Connolly

Howard Baker

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which candidate had been a Union President? Hint

Walter Mondale

Ronald Reagan

Larry Pressler

John Anderson

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was the Governor that challenged Carter for the Democratic nomination during the Primary process and the convention? Hint

George Wallace

Ronald Reagan

Jerry Brown

Bill Clinton

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Question 7 of 10

7. Where was the 1980 Democratic National Convention? Hint

Atlanta

Philadelphia

New York City

Miami

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Question 8 of 10

8. Where was the 1980 Republican National Convention? Hint

New York

Kansas City

Detroit

Miami

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was briefly considered a frontrunner for the Republican Vice Presidential nomination following Ronald Reagan's Presidential nomination? Hint

Barry Goldwater

John Anderson

Gerald Ford

Richard Nixon

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Question 10 of 10

10. Why did President Carter refuse to leave the White House in the early stages of the campaign? Hint

To show support for American hostages in Iran

He was suffering from an undisclosed illness

The Secret Service could not guarantee his safety

He could not fly because of a strike by Air Traffic Controllers

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was NOT a presidential candidate in 1980?

Answer: Hubert Humphrey

Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey passed away in 1978. The final campaign for the "Happy Warrior" was in 1976, finishing behind Jimmy Carter for the Democratic Presidential nomination. McCarthy ran an almost token campaign, appearing on several state ballots as a 3rd Party candidate. Bush and Kennedy both ran full-fledged national campaigns.

2. Which U.S. Representative from Illinois and Republican candidate for President, who dropped out early in the race and eventually endorsed Ronald Reagan, was considered a "young Reagan?"

Answer: Phil Crane

Crane was a young conservative upstart making a name for himself on the national political scene. Many of Reagan's supporters considered Crane to be the logical successor to Reagan as the nation's top conservative. Although still representing his Illinois constituents in 2002, Crane has all but dissappeared from the national scene over the years. Anderson, also an Illinois Congressman, began his campaign as a Republican, but ultimately ran as an Independent, Third Party candidate. Kemp was not a candidate in 1980. Bush finished 2nd in the Republican race and was selected by Reagan to be his running mate.

3. To whom was President Carter referring when he said "I'll whip his #!$?"

Answer: Ted Kennedy

And he did! Reportedly, the comment was a deliberate leak to the press to send a message to Kennedy, who had resisted pressure to run for President since the assassination of his brother Robert in 1968. Initially, the remark was ignored by the reporter who overheard it, but was finally reported at the urging of Carter's handlers, so the story goes.

4. Which Republican candidate had been a Governor as a member of the Democratic Party?

Answer: John Connolly

John Connolly served as Governor of Texas as a member of the Democratic Party. Connolly is best known for being shot during the assassination of Pres. John Kennedy. Reagan served as Governor of California as a Republican. Both Baker and Dole were U.S. Senators.

5. Which candidate had been a Union President?

Answer: Ronald Reagan

During his Hollywood days, Reagan served as President of the Screen Actors' Guild.

6. Who was the Governor that challenged Carter for the Democratic nomination during the Primary process and the convention?

Answer: Jerry Brown

Gov. Jerry Brown of California got a late start in his challenge, hoping to use the California primary to sweep him to the nomination, or at least make himself a power broker at a deadlocked convention, neither of which happened.

7. Where was the 1980 Democratic National Convention?

Answer: New York City

8. Where was the 1980 Republican National Convention?

Answer: Detroit

9. Who was briefly considered a frontrunner for the Republican Vice Presidential nomination following Ronald Reagan's Presidential nomination?

Answer: Gerald Ford

Following Reagan's nomination, the traditional running mate speculation took on a life of its own. The story purported a Reagan-Ford ticket that would result in a "co-Presidency." It's doubtful that this scenario was a serious possibility, but it was the big story from the convention for a few hours at least. Reagan and his staff actually announced the selection of George Bush earlier than planned in order to quelch the speculation.

10. Why did President Carter refuse to leave the White House in the early stages of the campaign?

Answer: To show support for American hostages in Iran

Carter vowed not to leave the White House until the hostages (being held by militant Iranians in Tehran) were released. He changed his mind when it became clear that the "Rose Garden" strategy was not working and he was falling in the polls.

Source: Author PTaylor

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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