I was 18 and a Junior in HS. We were going to do “Presidential Debates” in our American History class. I was seriously disallusioned by the entire Nixon/Watergate fiasco and really, really wanted to be the one to be Carter. Nope, the teacher decided I would be Ford.
“Ford” won the debate, and the “election” we held. I voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980 :-)
I worked on the Reagan reelection campaign with the College Republicans in 1984. First time I voted! We were quite libertarian, of course, but it was Reagan vs. Dukakis!
Vice President Old Mr. Bush visited our campus. “Wow, it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Vice President!”