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Tom Griscom helps mark historical events through the stories printed in his paper everyday, as publisher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The headlines tomorrow will chronicle the debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, but 28-years ago, Griscom sat on the other side, as a staff member of Presidential hopeful, Senator Howard Baker. "I can still see myself in that room, listening to that appeal, and looking and watching Ronald Reagan as he stood up and spontaneously rallied these other candidates."
Reagan, who didn't want the 1980 Republican Primary whittled down to just him and George Bush after one contest, convinced the other candidates to join him on stage for a debate in New Hampshire. "It was a great set up, they cornered that piece of the debate and used all these other candidates as props," says Griscom.
The debate will be remembered for Reagan's line "I'm paying for this microphone, Mr. Breen." Griscom says "it really made Ronald Reagan look like a man of principal "
Griscom watches debates to see how a person thinks, reacts, and deals with situations that come out of left field. Tonight's town hall debate may offer those examples, provided community members push McCain and Obama for solid answers. "Some candidates will then get a little testy, but that's real life, that's what you face when your in public office, not everybody agrees with the first thing you say."
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