Rochester journalist, who moderated pivotal Reagan-Bush debate, dies at 81

Candidates Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush flank former Nashua Telegraph editor Jon Breen, moderator of the famous 1980 debate in Nashua. (Courtesy/Reagan Presidential Libarary)

Jon Breen, the longtime editorial writer at Foster's Daily Democrat and the moderator of a pivotal 1980 presidential debate that catapulted Ronald Reagan toward his win over President Jimmy Carter, has died.

Breen. 81, died on Sept. 14 at Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover.

A longtime resident of Tara Estates in Rochester, Breen was working in the editorial department of the Nashua Telegraph in 1980 when the newspaper hosted the primary debate between George H.W. Bush and Reagan.

According to a 2016 CBS News report looking back at the debate, it was noted election officials would not allow a newspaper-sponsored debate, so Reagan underwrote the cost.

John Breen (Courtesy)

Meanwhile, the Telegraph had geared up for a one-on-one showdown between Bush and Reagan - most likely for dramatic effect - but Reagan wanted several lesser candidates to also get their chance on stage.

The Telegraph plan was to have only Bush and Reagan participate, while the other candidates would have to settle for just making closing arguments.

As the lesser candidates waited in the wings and Breen began to lay out the debate ground rules, Reagan said he wanted to make an announcement, which prompted Breen to say to the sound man, "Would you turn Mr. Reagan's microphone off for a minute?"

Reagan then stood up dramatically, picked up a cluster of microphones and said, "Is this on?"

After the crowd yells, "Yes," he sits down and begins to talk after which Breen again implores the sound man to turn the mic off again.

Reagan then utters those famous words (mistaking Breen for Green), "Mr. Green, I am paying for this microphone," to which the crowd cheers in thunderous hurrahs and applause.

Reagan went on to win the presidential election, while Breen went on to serve many years as executive editor at The Telegraph before moving over to Foster's, from where he retired in 2010.

In his years at Foster's, Breen rarely brought up his life's most famous media moment, but when it did a cryptic smile would soon appear just for a moment.

"He was a man of few words, who let his editorials speak for him," said former colleague and Rochester Voice editor Harrison Thorp, who was then editor of the Foster's Sunday Citizen. "And he was always a gentleman."

Breen was also a diehard Yankees fan, and his office across from the Foster's sports department also made for much comic fodder over the years, Thorp added.

The microphone Reagan used during the event is on display at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

To see a You Tube video of the debate back and forth between Breen and Reagan click here.

Breen's obituary can be seen on The Rochester Voice obituary section in today's postings.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m., on October 7, at the clubhouse at Tara Estates, in Rochester.