A newspaper had set up a debate for Republican candidates, but only wanted Reagan and Bush. Reagan felt this was unfair to the other challengers, as did the Federal Election Commission.
Reagan's campaign offered to pay for a full debate with all challengers and the newspaper accepted. When Reagan arrived, there were only two seats - for him and Bush.
Reagan was trying to get this straightened out when the moderator from the newspaper ordered somebody to turn off Reagan's microphone, to which Reagan replied that he was paying for the debate.
I'll repeat my point that your facts are off somewhat. As much as I hate to say this, CNN did a great series called 'the race for the whitehouse' that uses actual news clips etc. from past elections, from the primaries through the debates and elections. The debate was set up by Reagan, he proposed a 1 on 1 with Bush, which was what Bush wanted, since he was winning by miles early in the primaries and didn't want to dilute his frontrunner status by being lumped in with a crowd. Reagan brought the whole field and insisted they all be included. That's when the arguing and microphone disabling started. Reagan wasn't bushwhacked, he did the bushwhacking.
(Sorry for repeating my post!)
A newspaper had set up a debate for Republican candidates, but only wanted Reagan and Bush. Reagan felt this was unfair to the other challengers, as did the Federal Election Commission.
Reagan's campaign offered to pay for a full debate with all challengers and the newspaper accepted. When Reagan arrived, there were only two seats - for him and Bush.
Reagan was trying to get this straightened out when the moderator from the newspaper ordered somebody to turn off Reagan's microphone, to which Reagan replied that he was paying for the debate.
I'll repeat my point that your facts are off somewhat. As much as I hate to say this, CNN did a great series called 'the race for the whitehouse' that uses actual news clips etc. from past elections, from the primaries through the debates and elections. The debate was set up by Reagan, he proposed a 1 on 1 with Bush, which was what Bush wanted, since he was winning by miles early in the primaries and didn't want to dilute his frontrunner status by being lumped in with a crowd. Reagan brought the whole field and insisted they all be included. That's when the arguing and microphone disabling started. Reagan wasn't bushwhacked, he did the bushwhacking.
Thank you for the correction!