Changes

But from the ashes rose a politician who was masterful at communicating his message over [[television]]: [[Ronald Reagan]].  A former [[actor]], he perfected the art of using short statements (“[[sound bite]]s”) that could be easily understood in a televised broadcast.  He also looked youthful and sincere on [[television]], and his years of experience before cameras served him well.  He rode [[television]] to the [[White House]] 1980 and a landslide reelection in 1984.

But from the ashes rose a politician who was masterful at communicating his message over [[television]]: [[Ronald Reagan]].  A former [[actor]], he perfected the art of using short statements (“[[sound bite]]s”) that could be easily understood in a televised broadcast.  He also looked youthful and sincere on [[television]], and his years of experience before cameras served him well.  He rode [[television]] to the [[White House]] 1980 and a landslide reelection in 1984.

While [[Richard Nixon]] had been beaten by [[television]] in the presidential debates in 1960, [[Ronald Reagan]] delivered an unforgivable performance in the final televised [[president]]ial debate against his 1984 opponent, [[Walter Mondale]].  [[Ronald Reagan]] turned every tough question, like a difficult [[baseball]] pitch, into his own home run.  Asked how he could expect to serve as [[president]] at such an old age, [[Ronald Reagan]] simply joked that he would not use his opponent’s youthful inexperience against him.  Told that he more time to add to his answer, [[Ronald Reagan]] said he had nothing further to add to his quip.

While [[Richard Nixon]] had been beaten by [[television]] in the presidential debates in 1960, [[Ronald Reagan]] delivered an unforgettable performance in the final televised [[president]]ial debate against his 1984 opponent, [[Walter Mondale]].  [[Ronald Reagan]] turned every tough question, like a difficult [[baseball]] pitch, into his own home run.  Asked how he could expect to serve as [[president]] at such an old age, [[Ronald Reagan]] simply joked that he would not use his opponent’s youthful inexperience against him.  Told that he more time to add to his answer, [[Ronald Reagan]] said he had nothing further to add to his quip.

Even when [[Ronald Reagan]] misjudged his time in his closing remarks, causing the moderator to interrupt him and tell him to stop, [[Ronald Reagan]] even used his gaffe in his favor.  When another [[president]] would likely have insisted on continuing to talk, [[Ronald Reagan]] politely thanked the moderator and abided by the rules.  Here was a [[president]] who was not greedy for control, and played by the rules.

Even when [[Ronald Reagan]] misjudged his time in his closing remarks, causing the moderator to interrupt him and tell him to stop, [[Ronald Reagan]] even used his gaffe in his favor.  When another [[president]] would likely have insisted on continuing to talk, [[Ronald Reagan]] politely thanked the moderator and abided by the rules.  Here was a [[president]] who was not greedy for control, and played by the rules.