The 10 Most Memorable Lines in Presidential Campaign History

Sound bites…

They have been shaping and reshaping political campaigns since the beginning of time… or at least since the founding of our republic and the dawn of the television age. And so, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that at the top of my personal list – as well as at #2 and #4 – are lines attributed to the Great Communicator himself, Ronald Wilson Reagan.

For better or sometimes worse, here are the lines that impacted recent presidential campaigns the most.

1. "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.” – Ronald Reagan, 1984

“The Gipper” used this memorable punch line to put to rest concerns about his advancing age and mental acuity. Even former Vice President Walter Mondale had to crack up laughing.

2. “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” – Ronald Reagan, 1980

Reagan asked this question of voters as his closing argument in his last debate with the incumbent president, Jimmy Carter. Apparently, voters answered “No!” because Reagan went on to claim a landslide victory in the general election.

3. "There is no Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe." – Gerald Ford, 1976

President Gerald Ford’s foreign policy flub made him look grossly naïve and misinformed… and challenger Jimmy Carter jumped all over the miscue.

4. "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green!” – Ronald Reagan, 1980

Reagan, an enraged frontrunner, defiantly confronted the debate moderator in New Hampshire… and GOP voters ate it up!

5. “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” – Lloyd Bentsen, 1988

Lloyd Bentsen had this rehearsed line ready in case Dan Quayle fell into the trap of comparing his lack of experience with JFK’s. When Quayle did… Bentsen pounced.

6. “Read my lips. No new taxes.” – George H.W. Bush, 1992

President Bush made this promise at the GOP convention in the summer but broke his own pledge in the fall. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton seized on Bush’s broken promise and the rest is history.

7. "Follow me around. I don't care. I'm serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They'll be very bored." – Gary Hart, 1988

Hart was the Democratic frontrunner when rumors started circulating about his alleged womanizing. Hart responded by challenging reporters to surveil his activities. They did… the suspicions were verified… and Hart dropped out of the race shortly thereafter.

8. "Who am I? Why am I here?" – Admiral James Stockdale, 1992

Ross Perot’s vice-presidential running mate, Stockdale began his opening statement in his debate with Al Gore and Dan Quayle with these rhetorical questions. Unfortunately for him, Stockdale never answered his own questions, leading viewers to think he was confused and disoriented.

9. “For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.” – Ted Kennedy, 1980

Ted Kennedy ended his keynote address – and his upstart campaign – at the Democratic National Convention with these memorable words. Finally, after a lackluster campaign, he had shown some spark as well as the famous Kennedy charisma. The speech was interrupted 51 times by applause and delegates cheered for a full 30 minutes after it was over. Sadly, for Ted, it was a case of too little, too late.

10. “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” – Barry Goldwater, 1964

Goldwater uttered these words during his acceptance speech at the GOP convention, but LBJ used them against him in the general election, portraying Goldwater as a warmongering extremist who would lead us into a nuclear war.

I couldn’t help but add an 11th line that may have impacted the 2020 election… and which may have implications for 2024 as the same two candidates seem poised for a contentious rematch.

11. “You’re a clown.” – Joe Biden, 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden had had enough of President Donald Trump’s incessant interruptions during their first debate and ad-libbed his frustrations. After losing the first debate, Trump toned down his rhetoric in the second one, which he handily won, but it was too late as Biden went on to win the hotly contested general election.

And finally, a bonus line, uttered not by a candidate, but by a commentator. At the 1976 Republican National Convention, following Ronald Reagan’s rousing concession speech, a television anchor stated matter-of-factly that “Some Republicans may be wondering if they just nominated the wrong candidate,” referring to President Gerald Ford, whose longwinded and uninspiring acceptance speech was overshadowed by Reagan’s brief extemporaneous remarks.