Here's a video of a 1980 Republican debate. It's GHW Bush and Reagan going head to head on how to deal with the Mexican border and illegal aliens.
http://boingboing.net/2016/03/07/two...onald-rea.html
Bush says if people are in America, they have to get the same things (like education) as their neighbours, and that Mexicans are good, strong, hardworking, family-oriented people.
Reagan says that while they are in the country, they should pay taxes, and that they should be able to go back and forth. Also, that Mexico has significant problems, and it's in America's best interest to make sure they don't get worse.
They both recognize the labor issue.
The contrast here isn't only in their (I would assume) "conservative" answers at the time, but at how the debate actually happens. They act, and speak, like adults, with actual thoughtful answers instead of rehearsed one-liners, insults, interruptions, shouting, eyerolling, and all the other good stuff we get today.
Hmm. I think I just wrote a "remember the good old days with Reagan and Bush" post.