Ronald Reagan presidential campaign, 1980 facts for kids

A logo from the Reagan-Bush campaign.

Ronald Reagan, who had been the 33rd Governor of California, decided to run for President of the United States. He announced his plan in New York City on November 13, 1979. By July 17, 1980, he was officially chosen by the Republican Party to be their candidate for the 1980 presidential election. William J. Casey was in charge of Reagan's campaign.

Reagan's campaign used two main slogans. These were "Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?" and "Make America Great Again".

After becoming the Republican candidate, Reagan chose George H. W. Bush as his running mate. Bush had been one of Reagan's opponents during the primary elections. A running mate is the person who runs for Vice President alongside the presidential candidate.

On November 4, 1980, Ronald Reagan won the election. He won 44 states and received 489 electoral votes. The president at the time, Jimmy Carter, won six states and Washington, D.C., getting 49 electoral votes. Reagan received 50.7 percent of all the votes from the public. Carter got 41 percent, and an independent candidate named John B. Anderson received 6.7 percent.

Reagan's win was made official when the Electoral College met on December 15, 1980. The votes were then counted by a Joint session of Congress on January 6, 1981.

Ronald Reagan officially became president on January 20, 1981, at his inauguration ceremony.

Images for kids

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  Reagan's Republican primaries campaign logo.

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  Republican Debate with Philip Crane, George H. W. Bush, moderator Eric Sevareid, Ronald Reagan, and John B. Anderson in Chicago, Illinois

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  President-elect Reagan and Nancy Reagan meets with outgoing President Jimmy Carter.