--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Ronald Reagan on his 1980…" description: "\"President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: \"I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that Jimmy Carter came to me and asked why I wanted his job. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/bob-dole-8280_carter_president-ronald-reagan-on-his-1980-oppo_1255786.jpg" --- # President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: "I had a… ![“President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: "I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that Jimmy Carter came to me and asked why I wanted his job. I told him I didn't want his job. I want to be President."” quote by Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/bob-dole-8280_carter_president-ronald-reagan-on-his-1980-oppo_1255786.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/bob-dole-8280_carter_president-ronald-reagan-on-his-1980-oppo_1255786.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/969/bob-dole-8280_carter_president-ronald-reagan-on-his-1980-oppo_1255786.jpg) > “President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: "I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that Jimmy Carter came to me and asked why I wanted his job. I told him I didn't want his job. I want to be President."” [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously claims his ambition to be President, not to take another’s job, highlighting personal drive and political rivalry. **In simple terms:** He wants to be President, not just take someone else’s job. Key Takeaway Focus on your own goals, not others’. Themes politics ambition humor Mood witty reflective Type political humorous When to use this quote - political debates - career planning - public speaking Key Concepts leadership self‑interest campaign rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you beyond titles? - How does humor affect political perception? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex political motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carter/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreamed Jimmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamed-jimmy-3975277/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [I had a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-had-a-dream/) [Jimmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jimmy/) [Jimmy carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jimmy-carter/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President ronald reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-ronald-reagan/) [Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reagan/) [Ronald reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ronald-reagan/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-president/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > ['There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching, a door at the end of the day. Knowing someone on the other side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-greater-happiness-for-a-man-than-approaching-a-door-at/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I was a graduate student in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan called for the construction of a new space station. I knew then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-was-a-graduate-student-in-1984-when-president-ronald-reagan-called/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [The modern era of continuity planning began under President Ronald Reagan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-modern-era-of-continuity-planning-began-under-president-ronald/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The American pledge not to negotiate with terrorists has been honored more in the breach than the observance from the moment President Ronald Reagan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/the-american-pledge-not-to-negotiate-with-terrorists-has-been-honored/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Some People Live and Entire life, and wonderif they made a difference in the World... MARINES don't have that problem.! President Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/some-people-live-and-entire-life-and-wonderif-they-made-a-difference/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [You could tell he (President Ronald Reagan) was an old radio guy. He never once looked at the television monitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/you-could-tell-he-president-ronald-reagan-was-an-old-radio-guy-he/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [I was friends with President Ronald Reagan and he once said to me, 'I don't know how anybody can serve in public office without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/i-was-friends-with-president-ronald-reagan-and-he-once-said-to-me-i/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [“President Ronald Reagan, who spent World War II in Hollywood, vividly described his own role in liberating Nazi concentration camp victims. Living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/president-ronald-reagan-who-spent-world-war-ii-in-hollywood-vividly/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ President \[Ronald\] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I believed him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would-negotiate-and-negotiate-and/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [It was a particular pleasure to examine President Ronald Reagan's leadership. I experienced it first-hand, as a member of his administration in several capacities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/it-was-a-particular-pleasure-to-examine-president-ronald-reagan-s/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [ President \[Ronald\] Reagan never has tried to become an expert on military matters. He never has endeavored to learn the most important details in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-never-has-tried-to-become-an-expert-on/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [When President Ronald Reagan asked me a stupid question once, I called him an idiot in public! I thought I was going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/when-president-ronald-reagan-asked-me-a-stupid-question-once-i-called/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [Do Americans want the government to micromanage every aspect of our lives? President Ronald Reagan certainly didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/do-americans-want-the-government-to-micromanage-every-aspect-of-our/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [President Ronald Reagan used to speak of the Soviet constitution, and he noted that it purported to grant wonderful rights of all sorts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/president-ronald-reagan-used-to-speak-of-the-soviet-constitution-and/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [The first reports of AIDS closely followed the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan, whose 'family values' agenda and alliance with Christian conservatives associated AIDS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-first-reports-of-aids-closely-followed-the-inauguration-of/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) ## More by Bob Dole > [It's going to be hard for someone like me to run for president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/it-s-going-to-be-hard-for-someone-like-me-to-run-for-president/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people of the United States, and nowhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-will-seek-the-presidency-with-nothing-to-fall-back-on-but-the/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [ The California proposition \[Prop. 187\] is one I would agree with. That's the easiest way to put it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/the-california-proposition-prop-187-is-one-i-would-agree-with-that-s/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [A government that seizes control of the economy for the good of the people, ends up seizing control of the people for the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/a-government-that-seizes-control-of-the-economy-for-the-good-of-the/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I've never known a lot of rich people. It's not my bag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-ve-never-known-a-lot-of-rich-people-it-s-not-my-bag/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [If something happened along the route and you had to leave your children with Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I think you would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-something-happened-along-the-route-and-you-had-to-leave-your/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [As president, I will fight illegal immigration in order to preserve an appropriate level of legal immigration. At the same time, I believe our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/as-president-i-will-fight-illegal-immigration-in-order-to-preserve-an/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [We're trying to get good pictures. Don't worry very much about what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/we-re-trying-to-get-good-pictures-don-t-worry-very-much-about-what-i/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I don't know how many people run for vice president and president and lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-don-t-know-how-many-people-run-for-vice-president-and-president-and/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [Something is wrong with America. I wonder sometimes what people are thinking about or if they're thinking at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/something-is-wrong-with-america-i-wonder-sometimes-what-people-are/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I will seek the presidency with nothing to fall back on but the judgment of the people, and nowhere to go but the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-will-seek-the-presidency-with-nothing-to-fall-back-on-but-the-2/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [You read what Disraeli had to say. I don't remember what he said. He said something. He's no longer with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/you-read-what-disraeli-had-to-say-i-don-t-remember-what-he-said-he/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I think the Republican Party has indicated to everyone who wants to look at us that, you know, we're in the mainstream. We understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-think-the-republican-party-has-indicated-to-everyone-who-wants-to/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [If there is one clear lesson of our century, it is this: where aggression is tolerated, it multiplies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/if-there-is-one-clear-lesson-of-our-century-it-is-this-where/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I'm not a Gingrich fan. He's just difficult to work with. It's either Newt's way or the highway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/i-m-not-a-gingrich-fan-he-s-just-difficult-to-work-with-it-s-either/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) [Explore all 82 Bob Dole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) ## More Carter quotes > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Trying to make it from the bottom. His sins Feeling as hard as Vince Carter's knee cartilage is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-sweatshirt/trying-to-make-it-from-the-bottom-his-sins-feeling-as-hard-as-vince/) [Earl Sweatshirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-sweatshirt/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [When I worked in the White House for President Carter, we tried to do comprehensive tax reform and we made some progress, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rubenstein/when-i-worked-in-the-white-house-for-president-carter-we-tried-to-do/) [David Rubenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rubenstein/) > [They know where Carter at, straight off the launchin pad marching on the moon muthafuka I've been to Mars and back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/they-know-where-carter-at-straight-off-the-launchin-pad-marching-on/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [ I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy \[Kennedy\] had been with me since 1978. Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [ Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever \[Jimmy\] Carter says, as quickly as possible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-america-safe-always-do-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“Time crawls in the silence. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tock. Tock. Tock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mckay/time-crawls-in-the-silence-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tock-tock/) [Emily McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mckay/) > [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Over the weekend, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Rebecca Carter married each other during a huge ceremony in Houston. The happy couple is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/over-the-weekend-former-enron-executives-jeffrey-skilling-and-rebecca/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. Israel has benefited unbelievably from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/look-at-what-jimmy-carter-did-look-at-the-risks-he-took-for-a-country/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [After my bad experience as a kite, I simply refused to go about as a glowing Sadie-headed chicken. That’s fine for Carter, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/after-my-bad-experience-as-a-kite-i-simply-refused-to-go-about-as-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [- "Women should all move to Amazonia, or at least vacation there four times a year." - "Amazonia?" - "It's the girl world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/women-should-all-move-to-amazonia-or-at-least-vacation-there-four/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/mine-own-people-do-not-care-for-me-john-carter-i-am-too-unlike-them/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) [Browse all 437 Carter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: \"I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that Jimmy Carter came to me and asked why I wanted his job. I told him I didn't want his job. 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