Former Vice President Walter Mondale, who died Monday at the age of 93, came to Chattanooga while on the campaign trail nearly four decades ago.
In late April 1984, he campaigned at Chattanooga State college and then spent the night at the Downtown Sheraton, the Chestnut Street hotel that in recent years has become the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Then, in early September 1984, after the Democrat had picked Geraldine Ferraro as the first female running mate of a major party presidential campaign, he spoke at Memorial Auditorium in front of a half-filled audience of 1,500.
At that time, President Ronald Reagan was at the height of his popularity, and he would garner 57 percent of the vote in Tennessee on his way to a landslide national victory in November.
But the late Mr.
Mondale is being praised this week for being the first vice president to hold increased duties in his role under Jimmy Carter from 1977-81 and for setting the tone for vice presidents to follow.