visitor visa eligibility when student visa refused decades ago

[transparency]

An applicant for visitor visa to the USA now was refused a student visa during 1978 (about 37 years ago). Does it matter at all? Does it disqualify the person from getting a visitor VISA since he was refused a student VISA decades ago? If the person has no record of the earlier application, even his old passport got misplaced and he is on a new passport; how should he handle his visitor VISA application now?

[Ideal sol]

Visas are issued based on present conditions and eligibility of the applicant and previous refusal of student visa will not effect on present visitor visa.

This is my opinion, not a legal advice.

[transparency]

thank you

An applicant for visitor visa to the USA now was refused a student visa during 1978 (about 37 years ago). Does it matter at all? Does it disqualify the person from getting a visitor VISA since he was refused a student VISA decades ago? If the person has no record of the earlier application, even his old passport got misplaced and he is on a new passport; how should he handle his visitor VISA application now?

Thank you for the response