# What if Reagan was assassinated 25 years ago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 30, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-reagan-was-assassinated-25-years-ago/350596 "2006-03-30T21:00:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-reagan-was-assassinated-25-years-ago/350596/41 "2006-04-04T00:47:20Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > The 1984 election would have looked interesting. I think Mondale would still have won the nom, because nothing related to logic explained why he would have gotten it in the first place. Hart was his only serious opponent, and I don’t think the sudden death of Reagan **would have affected Hart’s decision about what to keep or not keep in his pants while under media scrutiny one way or the other**. I think you’re conflating the 1984 and 1988 elections here. Hart was a major player in the 1984 primaries, but lost to Mondale cribbed from the then-popular fast food commercial to ask “Where’s the beef?” regarding Hart’s proposals. It was the 1988 election in which Hart challenged the press to follow him around and was caught _in camera_ with Donna Rice sitting on his lap on board a yacht, spoiling his election changes and causing him to recuse himself from the primary race. It’s a shame, because he was probably the best contender, and judging by his post-election writing and punditry career, a capable, thoughtful observer of both domestic policy and world events. What might have been… For the bonus points, what was the name of the boat? (Answer: The _Monkey Business_.) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-reagan-was-assassinated-25-years-ago/350596/42 "2006-04-04T01:09:40Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I think you’re conflating the 1984 and 1988 elections here. Hart was a major player in the 1984 primaries, but lost to Mondale cribbed from the then-popular fast food commercial to ask “Where’s the beef?” regarding Hart’s proposals. > > It was the 1988 election in which Hart challenged the press to follow him around and was caught _in camera_ with Donna Rice sitting on his lap on board a yacht, spoiling his election changes and causing him to recuse himself from the primary race. Whoops, you’re right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-reagan-was-assassinated-25-years-ago/350596.md?page=2)