Ronald Reagan: Did He Really Say That? Quiz

Answer: Medicare

Carter was discussing a national health insurance program, claiming that Reagan began his political career by opposing Medicare. Carter summarized his remarks with the words, "These are the kinds of elements of a national health insurance, important to the American people. Governor Reagan, again, typically is against such a proposal."

Reagan began his rebuttal with the words, "There you go again," and proceeded to clarify his positions on the original Medicare legislation.

Although both Carter's remarks and Reagan's rebuttal discussed Social Security as well, it was the Medicare issue that prompted the famous rejoinder.

Answer: Nancy Reagan had just whispered those words to him

When presented with this question at a 1984 photo op, Reagan seemed silent and confused for several seconds. A live microphone picked up Nancy Reagan whispering to him, "We're doing everything we can," and he immediately used those same words to answer the question.

Answer: "But I figure, why take the chance?"

This came from the 1987 Gridiron dinner, in which politicians and reporters make speeches poking fun at themselves.

Answer: "Send them someone they'll object to just as much."

The Bork nomination fight spilled out over several months from the summer of 1987 into the early fall of that year. Reagan's nominee after Bork's nomination failed, Douglas Ginsburg, withdrew his name almost immediately after revelations surfaced about him smoking marijuana in college. He finally nominated Anthony Kennedy, who was unanimously confirmed in February 1988.

Answer: "How are you, Mr. Mayor? I'm glad to meet you. How are things in your city?"

This was at a White House reception for mayors of American cities.

Answer: Both of these statements

Reagan's graciousness and humor made him seem larger than life. He used the incredible bump in his popularity after recovering from his wounds to push tax cuts and several other pieces of legislation through a congress that was reluctant to tangle with such a heroic figure.

Answer: A newspaper editor

George Bush won the 1980 Iowa caucuses, making him the front runner for the next contest, the New Hampshire primary. A few days before the primary was a debate, sponsored by the Nashua Telegraph newspaper. Bush had wanted to debate Reagan one-on-one, but Reagan instead underwrote the small cost of the debate and invited all the other candidates in the race.

When they showed up at the debate, an argument ensued about whether they could participate. As Reagan started to speak, Jon Breen, the paper's editor and the debate's moderator, ordered the sound man to turn off Reagan's microphone. Reagan's angry "I'm paying for this microphone, Mr. Green!" response (he'd gotten the man's name wrong), and Bush's seeming inability to address the situation, were defining moments in the campaign. Reagan won the primary and was in control of the nomination from that point forward.

Answer: A wayward kitchen remodeling project

The military had known that the troops in Beirut were vulnerable and had begun security improvements, but the improvements were not complete at the time of the attack. "Anyone that's ever had their kitchen done over knows that it never gets done as soon as you wish it would," he explained.

Answer: "I think we should keep the grain and export the farmers."

This quote, like the "why take the chance" one, was made in jest at a Gridiron dinner. American farmers, who had been lobbying for the chance to export more of their grain to the Soviet Union, didn't find it particularly funny.

Answer: When Jimmy Carter loses his

This was a big laugh and applause line for him during the 1980 campaign, a time of high inflation and unemployment in the US.