Reagan 1980 was my first. I was at my duty station at Ellsworth AFB. After a long day in the field tending to my flock of Minuteman 3’s, I went down to the local school and stood on line for hours.
Finally it was my turn and they said, you do not live in South Dakota so you cannot get here. I yelled at the poor woman. The people on line went nuts.
They let me cast my ballot. It was dirty, and felt o so good.
I went to see Governor Reagan speak at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, CA. I was young and dumb, and had no idea where I stood politically. But a female friend talked me into going with her. The crowd was massive. We were near the back, but I am tall (6’8”) so I could see over the crowd. I was inspired. Everything the man said made perfect sense and I realized then and there that I was a conservative.