Jimmy Carter in Reagan-Carter Presidential Debate

On Energy & Oil: Invest windfall profits tax in synthetic fuels & solar

CARTER: With the windfall profits tax as a base, we now have an opportunity to use American technology and American ability and American natural resources to expand rapidly the production of synthetic fuels; to expand rapidly the production of solar energy; and also to produce the conventional kinds of American energy. We will drill more oil and gas wells this year than any year in history. We'll export more coal this year than any year in history. This exciting future will not only give us more energy security but will also open up vast opportunities for Americans to live a better life and to have millions of new jobs associated with this new and very dynamic industry now in prospect because of the new energy policy that we've put into effect.

On Homeland Security: Steady increase in defense to offset 37% drop since 1969

CARTER: In the 8 years before I became President, had its own military strength decreased. Seven out of eight years, the budget commitments for defense went down, 37% in all. Since I've been in office, we've had a steady, carefully planned, methodical but very effective increase in our commitment for defense.

REAGAN: We were in a war that wound down during those 8 years, which of course made a change in military spending because of turning from war to peace. Gerald Ford left a 5-year projected plan for a military buildup to restore our defenses, and President Carter's administration reduced that by 38%.

CARTER: I think, habitually, Governor Reagan has advocated the injection of military forces into troubled areas, when I and my predecessors--both Democrats and Republicans--have advocated resolving those troubles and those difficult areas of the world peacefully, diplomatically, and through negotiation.

On Homeland Security: SALT II is result of 7 years of bipartisan negotiations

REAGAN: The SALT II treaty negotiations [began after] Mr. Carter had canceled the B-1 bomber, delayed the Trident submarine, and whatever other things that might have been done. The Soviet Union knew we had gone forward with unilateral concessions.

CARTER: There is a disturbing pattern in the attitude of Mr. Reagan: He has never supported any of those arms control agreements--the limited test ban, SALT I, nor the antiballistic missile treaty, nor the Vladivostok Treaty negotiated with the Soviet Union by President Ford--and now he wants to throw into the wastebasket a treaty to control nuclear weapons, negotiated over a 7-year period, by myself and my two Republican predecessors.

On Social Security: Voluntarily name beneficiaries, but no other voluntary part

REAGAN: The social security system was based on a false premise. It is trillions of dollars out of balance.

CARTER: As long as there's a Democratic President, we will have a strong and viable social security system. Although Gov. Reagan has changed his position lately, on four different occasions he has advocated making social security a voluntary system, which would very quickly bankrupt it.

REAGAN: This statement that somehow I wanted to destroy it, that I am for voluntary social security, which would mean the ruin of it. The voluntary thing that I suggested many years ago was that if this is an insurance program, the person who's paying in should be able to name his own beneficiaries. That's the closest I've ever come to anything voluntary with social security. I, too, am pledged to a social security program that will reassure senior citizens that they're going to get their money.

On Technology: Revitalize inner cities with $43B for transportation systems

CARTER: In 1976, everywhere I went the mayors and local officials were in despair about the rapidly deteriorating central cities of our Nation. We initiated a very fine urban renewal program, working with the mayors, the Governors, and other interested officials. This has been a very successful effort. We now are planning to continue the revitalization program with increased commitments of rapid transit, mass transit. Under the windfall profits tax, we expect to spend about $43 billion in the next 10 years to rebuild the transportation systems of our country. We also are pursuing housing programs. We've had a 73% increase in the allotment of Federal funds for improved education. These are the kinds of efforts [we've done] in the central cities that had been deteriorating so rapidly in the past.

On War & Peace: Kept our country at peace, and extend peace to others

CARTER: What we've done is to use that enormous power and prestige and military strength of the US to preserve the peace. We've not only kept peace for our own country, but we've been able to extend the benefits of peace to others. In the Middle East, we've worked for a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, successfully, and have tied ourselves together with Israel and Egypt in a common defense capability. This is a very good step forward for our Nation's security, and we'll continue to do as we've done in the past. There are always troublespots in the world, and how those troubled areas are addressed by a President, alone in that Oval Office, affects our Nation directly. That is a basic decision that has to be made so frequently by every President who serves. That's what I've tried to do, successfully, by keeping our country at peace.

On War & Peace: Strength is imperative for peace, but goal is peace

CARTER: The buildup of military forces is good for our country, because we've got to have military strength in order to preserve the peace. But I'll always remember that the best weapons are the ones that are never fired in combat, and the best soldier is one who never has to lay his life down on the field of battle. Strength is imperative for peace, but the two must go hand in hand.