Over the first half of 1984 El Salvador once again braced for national elections, this time a historic presidential race under the new constitution promulgated a year earlier. The two main candidates were strangers to no one, the Christian Democrats’ José Napoleón Duarte and ARENA's Roberto D'Aubuisson. For the Reagan administration, the presidential elections were a critical marker in demonstrating El Salvador's progress as a democracy. On the heels of the stunning vote in 1982, there was much greater confidence that the 1984 vote would be successful. Yet, as in 1982, U.S. officials were deeply concerned that ARENA might win again – and this time “winning” meant D'Aubuisson taking the presidency – an unacceptable outcome for engagement.

U.S. diplomats also missed no opportunity to remind Salvadorans that the United States would only work with Duarte's party. As one official revealed, “Everyone in the [U.S.] Embassy knew that if Duarte didn't win that was the end of Reagan's policy in El Salvador. But everyone also knew we couldn't say that to the Salvadorans.” Despite this poorly kept secret about U.S. intentions, Secretary of State George Shultz told an audience that the United States would “maintain a neutral position regarding the results of the elections.”

Duarte's centrist candidacy was complicated from the onset given that the country's military brass was deeply skeptical of his commitment to adequately maintain the counterinsurgency effort.