Nation: Two for the Show

The President insists that three's a crowd in the first debate

When the danger became clear, when they saw there was no way between Scylla and Charybdis, the President and his men battened down for the whirlpool of criticism they knew was coming. With cold calculation, they had refused the League of Women Voters' invitation to debate both Ronald Reagan and John Anderson in Baltimore on the evening of Sept. 21. The alternative, they felt, was a greater risk—enhancing Anderson's stature as a contender by appearing with him in the key first debate....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!