Highest Rated Presidential Debates

5) Reagan vs Mondale (1984) (5 of 5)

5) Reagan vs Mondale (1984) (5 of 5)

This debate between President Reagan who was 73 at the time and was the oldest US President in history had a rating of 46%. This debate was the second one between him and the Democratic Nominee Walter Mondale, 56.

Pre emptying that the age issue might come up, the President nonchalantly dismissed the age issue with this line, “I want you to know that, also, 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.”  Reagan had won the debate and another term in the White House.