Reagan and Bush Debate Immigration, Border Fences, and Undocumented Children in 1980
Why Hacker News recommends it
Repeatedly posted in immigration threads to contrast 1980 Republican rhetoric with modern positions.
What it is
A short clip of George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan answering an audience question on illegal immigration at a 1980 Republican primary debate. Both take notably sympathetic positions, including on schooling for undocumented children.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2018 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends ceejayoz · 2024-01 · on “Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's online rant spurs threats to supes, police reports”
> Go over to YouTube and bring up some Reagan-Mondale or Clinton-Bush debates and compare their tone and temperament to what we see today. Reminded me of a fascinating video I recall; Bush and Reagan debate illegal immigration in 1980's primary. [this video] They sound more liberal than half of today's Democrats.
Recommends ceejayoz · 2025-10 · on “Who benefits from the MAHA anti-science push?”
> A position that was considered conservative in the 1980's is likely not conservative a generation and a half later. If you want a really jarring example of this, watch Bush (Sr.) and Reagan debate immigration during the 1980 primaries. [this video] They sound like Democrats today. (And that's in the primaries , where people tend to be more party-line!)
Cites krrrh · 2018-01 · on “Is Legal Pot Crippling Mexican Drug Trafficking Organisations?”
> How would the US possibly strengthen the Mexican Government though, barring massive investment? Not creating uncertainty by constantly threatening to pull out of NAFTA would be a good start. Helping to strengthen Mexico's economy was once a mainstream republican position seen to mutually benefit both countries. [1] [1] Excerpt on illegal immigrants from Regan/Bush 1980 primary debate: [this video]
Cites mhh__ · 2020-12 · on “Undocumented immigrants far less likely to commit crimes in U.S. than citizens”
Perhaps even more tragically, Both Reagan and Bush were so pro-immigration compared to the modern republican party they'd probably be ridiculed out of the debate hall. [this video]
Cites mullingitover · 2022-12 · on “‘two years of lost immigration’ is responsible for half missing workforce”
It's interesting how the roles reversed between the two parties over the decades. Here's a video of George Bush and Ronald Reagan tag-teaming pro-immigration policy speeches[1] that would have them tarred and feathered by the republican party of today. [1] [this video]
Cites renewiltord · 2023-01 · on “US Construction worker productivity has dropped 40% in the last 50 years”
Here are Reagan and H.W. debating whether "children of illegal aliens should be allowed to use schools" [this video] This is from 43 years ago.
Cites rhinoceraptor · 2023-07 · on “How Signal Walks the Line Between Anarchism and Pragmatism”
There are certainly many issues where a conservative of fifty years ago would be considered much further left than modern day conservatives, if not actually further to the left than modern day liberals. Contrast this clip of the George H.W. Bush of 1980 [1], to the rhetoric DeSantis uses in regards to immigration[2]: 1: [this video] 2: [LINK]
Cites ceejayoz · 2025-09 · on “Charlie Kirk killed at event in Utah”
Check out how they used to talk about immigrants. Here’s Reagan and Bush debating the issue in the 80s. You’d mistake them for Dems today. [this video]