From the Encyclopedia Americana, "1980, Election of"

    Republican- Bush/Crane- 403 Electoral Votes.  48.07% of the Popular Vote
    Democratic- Muskie/Galifianakis- 135 Electoral Votes.  39.82% of the Popular Vote.
    Libertarian- Clark/Koch- 0 Electoral Votes.  11.56% of the Popular Vote.

From "Why Americans Hate Politics" By E. J. Doinne, Jr.

    When asked to explain his political philosophy during the 1980 campaign, Clark would refer to himself as "a low-tax liberal."  The phrase was a summary of the Libertarians' overall strategy across the nation.  On the one hand, the party was riding the wave of the growing tax revolt.  But many Libertarians thought of themselves as liberals on such issues as drug policy, feminism, gay rights, and foreign policy.  Overall the party's appeal was to the middle-class liberal or reform oriented voters and ring-wing individualists.

From the Encyclopedia Americana, "1980, Election of"

    During the campaign the Democratic Party's support for an expended system of nuclear reactors turned into a liability following the incident at Three Mile Island.  Located on the river south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the reactor revealed to many the problems of nuclear energy and aided Bush's program of deregulation of the energy industry and allowing for more drilling on federal lands.  Following the incident Bush began to also reach out to the people in places like Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, where there was strong local opposition to nuclear power plants, hydro-electric dams, and nuclear
waste dumps.  He promises to end the era of the federal government forcing policy on unwilling state governments.

    Commentator- Four years ago we brought together then Senator George Bush and Senator Gary Hart to comment on the election of President Muskie.  Today, Senator George Bush is now President-Elect Bush.  We have brought back Senator Hart to represent the left, and invited Representative Kemp to speak for the right.  Good morning to you both.
    Kemp - Good morning.
    Hart- Morning.
    Commentator- Four years ago we asked what would be the most difficult issue that then President-Elect Muskie would face.  One of stated that it would be energy dependency, the other the drug issue.  Looking at this election, how do each of you view those two statements four years ago.  Representative Kemp?
    Kemp- Obviously the economy was an important factory in President Bush's victory, the American voters realized that we cannot continue to allow the OPEC nations to rob us of millions.  I am pleased by the stance taken now in support of drilling on federal lands, to free us of OPEC dependency, and talks from the auto companies that they are looking into voluntarily researching new ways of powering cars.  The problem is when the government tries to intervene in energy and we get results like Three Mile Island.
    Commentator- So would you say that the drug policy of President Muskie was not a major issue?
    Kemp- If the drug policy was the most important issue in the country, we would be speaking of President-Elect Rhodes, not Bush.  It was a factor in Muskie's defeat, but I feel that Americans wish to keep inflation low, keep unemployment low, and allow businesses to freely operate for the good of the country.
    Commentator- Senator Hart, you stated four years ago that differences over what to do about the drug epidemic could lead to the downfall of the Muskie Administration.  To many you were correct, how do
you feel about your prediction?
    Hart- As I said, Republicans continue to build up the situation by misdirecting attention away from the real problem.  The heroin epidemic in the inner cities is the leading cause of out of wedlock births, violence and crime, and poverty.  While Republicans attack what they see as 'Welfare Queens' they refuse to devote the resources needed to combat the problem.
    Commentator- And how do you view the country's energy crisis and economic problems?
    Hart- That I agree contributed to the defeat of President Muskie, and I do believe that it is time for the Democratic Party to change. For too long we have been running around like a bunch of Hubert
Humphrey Juniors, it is time for the Democratic Party to change along with the voters.  And I think this defeat will force us to do so.
    Commentator- Under Federal Law the Libertarian Party, with over 5% of the popular vote, now qualifies for matched funding.  Does this not mix things up, to have the strongest showing of a third party since George Wallace in 1968?  Senator Hart, you feel that the Democratic Party must change.  If they don't, could they perhaps be replaced by the Libertarians?
    Hart- I believe that Libertarian Party represents a part of America that wants to be free from constant spying from a Big Brother government, that thinks that America needs focus on our own problems
first.  We also need to work to reform government, to bring government closer to the people.  The strong showing of Ed Clark was a sign of the dissatisfaction by a large number of people not just with the Democratic Party, but with the Republican Party.
    Kemp- The strong showing of the Libertarian Party is a one time event, caused by the fact that President Muskie was predicted to be defeated from the start of the campaign.  With the winner so secure in victory, many people were willing to cast their votes for a third party within having to worry if doing so might elect someone they disagree with.  Libertarian voters want the same thing that Republicans do,
freedom.

To Part II.

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