Re-Elect Carter-Mondale in '80 Button, 1980

Inflation and an energy crisis had dogged President Jimmy Carter's years in office, and a year-long hostage crisis in Iran at the end of his term seemed irreconcilable. In the 1980 general election, Carter faced Ronald Reagan, the conservative Republican nominee. On election day, the public chose Reagan and his optimistic vision of America over the seemingly overwhelmed president.