Gerald Ford 1976 presidential campaign

American political campaign

Gerald Ford for President 1976

Campaign| 1976 Republican primaries
1976 U.S. presidential election
Candidate| Gerald Ford
38th President of the United States
(1974–1977)
Bob Dole
U.S. Senator from Kansas
(1969–1996)
Affiliation| Republican Party
Status| Announced: July 8, 1975
Official nominee: August 19, 1976
Lost election: November 2, 1976
Left office: January 20, 1977
Key people|

*     * Bo Callaway (first campaign manager)
* Rogers Morton (second campaign manager)
* James Baker (third campaign manager)

Slogan| He's making us proud again
|  |

This article is part of
a series about

Gerald Ford

|

* Early life
* Electoral history

* * *

Pre-vice presidency

* Military service

* U.S. Representative for Michigan's 5th

* Warren Commission

* * *

40th Vice President of the United States

* Confirmation
* Tenure
* Resignation of Richard Nixon

* * *

38th President of the United States

* Presidency
* Timeline
* Inauguration

* * *

Policies

* Environmental
* Foreign
* International trips
* Pardons

* * *

Appointments

* Cabinet
* Judiciary

* * *

Tenure

* Pardon of Richard Nixon

* Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974

* Education for All Handicapped Children Act

* Assassination attempts
* Sacramento
* San Francisco

* Timeline
* '74
* '75
* '76–77

* * *

Presidential campaign

* 1976
* Primaries
* Convention
* Debates
* Election

* * *

Post-presidency

* Presidential Library
* Activities
* AEI World Forum
* Death and state funeral

* * *

* v
* t
* e

The 1976 presidential campaign of Gerald Ford was an unsuccessful election campaign for the 1976 United States presidential election by incumbent president Gerald Ford, who had taken office on August 9, 1974 upon the resignation of Richard Nixon. Ford and his running mate Senator Bob Dole were defeated by Democratic presidential nominee Jimmy Carter and vice presidential nominee Walter Mondale. Ford, a Republican president and former vice president under Nixon, launched his presidential bid on July 8, 1975,[1] and secured nomination for his election to a full term on August 19, 1976. He was challenged in the Republican primaries by former California governor Ronald Reagan from his campaign which was formally launched on November 20, 1975, received more than forty percent of the delegates in the Republican National Convention, but Ford got more votes than Reagan. Reagan would later be elected president in 1980.[2]

Ford's tenure marked America's fall into a dark period, with a stagnant economy and effects after the Vietnam War (or Vietnam syndrome). Ford pardoned Nixon in the Watergate scandal, which many people believe that Ford lost to his opponent Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election. In the Republican primaries, Ford received 1,121 delegates while needing 1,130 votes to win. Ronald Reagan was one of those who stood in the way of Ford winning the nomination with Reagan receiving 1,078 delegates, this was one of the most controversial primaries ever, as well as the difference in votes of delegates and popular votes.[3]

However, Ford still received the Republican nomination on August 19, 1976 to face Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter on November 2, 1976. Carter defeated Ford, receiving 297 electoral votes and 50.1% of the popular vote, this was also one of the most controversial presidential elections when there was a fight over states and votes.[4] Carter took office on January 20, 1977 and held power for four years before Reagan defeated him in 1980 and took office on January 20, 1981.

Ford joined his vice presidential running mate Bob Dole on the campaign trail.[5]

## Background

[edit]

Gerald Ford, born July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska, his maternal grandfather was Illinois politician and businessman Levi Addison Gardner and his paternal grandfather was banker and businessman Charles Henry King, Ford's parents separated Just sixteen days after his birth and his mother took the infant Ford to Oak Park, Illinois, Ford later said his biological father had a history of beating his mother.[6]

Ford attended the University of Michigan. Ford graduated from Michigan in 1935 with a Bachelor's degree in economics. He turned down offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Instead, he took a job in September 1935 as a boxing coach and assistant football coach at Yale University and applied to its law school.[7]

Ford joined the United States Navy after the Imperial Japanese attacked on Pearl Harbor, some time later, Ford joined the U.S. House of Representatives, where he met President Lyndon Johnson in 1963. After the resignation of Spiro Agnew, he was confirmed to become Nixon's vice president in December 1973[8] until he ascended to the presidency on August 9, 1974 when Nixon resigned, becoming the only president in American history to have never been elected president or vice president.[9][10][11]

## Nomination

[edit]

### 1976 Republican primaries

[edit]

Main articles: 1976 Republican Party presidential primaries and 1976 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

See also: Ronald Reagan 1976 presidential campaign and 1976 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

Ford launched his campaign on July 8, 1975, after which he entered the Republican primaries, where his rival, Ronald Reagan, opened his campaign on November 20, 1975. Ford and Reagan faced each other intensely, with Ford ultimately receiving more votes than Reagan, even though the required number of votes was 1,130 votes. This is also one of the few times an incumbent president has lost state primaries, the most recent being when President Joe Biden lost to Jason Palmer in American Samoa after 44 years when President Jimmy Carter lost to Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts on March 4, 1980 and 11 states with Washington D.C..[12]

In the New Hampshire primary, Ford attacked Reagan's plan to cut $90 billion from the federal budget, as well as Reagan's plans for Social Security. Reagan's stump speeches included attacks on welfare queens, as well as other attacks on government welfare programs, Reagan then lost the primaries with 1,317 delegates remaining.[13][14][15]

### 1976 Republican National Convention

[edit]

Main article: 1976 Republican National Convention

President Ford shakes hands with Ronald Reagan in the Republican National Convention

After defeating their strongest opponents, Ford and Vice President Bob Dole were nominated at the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, where Reagan criticized Ford for his signing of the Helsinki Accords and indirectly blamed him for the fall of Saigon in April 1975. The Convention voted, Ford received 1,187 votes and Reagan received 1,070 votes, another candidate, Elliot Richardson, received only 1 vote, this was one of the biggest controversies at the Republican convention about choosing a presidential candidate in a time of crisis.[16] For the vice presidential candidate, Bob Dole received 1,921 votes, with an overwhelming margin of 85.04%. Ronald Reagan was also in this, but he only received 27 votes, the third lowest after Jesse Helms when he received 103 votes, the remaining candidates received less than 25 votes.[17] Reagan then delivered a speech that caused a stir, eclipsing Ford's own acceptance speech, despite being just over five minutes long. Some delegates later said they left the convention wondering if they had voted for the wrong candidate. Reagan's concession speech spoke of the dangers of nuclear war and the threat from the Soviet Union.[18][19]

## Main competitor

[edit]

Main articles: 1976 Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1976 Democratic National Convention, and 1976 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

See also: Jimmy Carter 1976 presidential campaign

President Ford and presidential candidate Carter debating on September 23, 1976, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jimmy Carter, a member of the Democratic Party as well as former Governor of Georgia and a peanut farmer, announced his 1976 presidential campaign on December 12, 1974, after which he participated in the presidential primaries of the Democratic Party and won 1,130 delegates, he then chose Walter Mondale as vice president at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, where he won the nomination to face Ford in the 1976 general election and would be inaugurated on January 20, 1977.

## Endorsements

[edit]

Main article: 1976 Republican Party presidential primaries § Endorsements

Here are the lists of Ford supporters in the presidential primaries:

List of Gerald Ford endorsements

Federal Officials

* Nelson Rockefeller Vice President of the United States[20]

Former Federal Officials

* Earl Butz former United States Secretary of Agriculture (1971–1976)[21]
* John Connally former United States Secretary of the Treasury (1971–1972)[22]
* Rogers Morton former Counselor to the President (1976)[20]

Senators

* Howard Baker (R-TN)[23]
* Dewey F. Bartlett (R-OK)[24]
* Henry Bellmon (R-OK)[24]
* James L. Buckley (C-NY)[25]
* Clifford Case (R-NJ)[26]
* Carl Curtis (R-NE)[27]
* Bob Dole (R-KS)[28]
* Robert P. Griffin (R-MI)[29]
* Mark Hatfield (R-OR)[30]
* Roman Hruska (R-NE)[31]
* Jacob Javits (R-NY)[25]
* Paul Laxalt (R-NV)[24]
* Bob Packwood (R-OR)[30]
* James B. Pearson (R-KS)[32]
* Charles H. Percy (R-IL)[33]
* Richard Schweiker (R-PA)[34]
* Robert Taft Jr. (R-OH)[35]
* Strom Thurmond (R-SC)[36]
* John Tower (R-TX)[37]
* Lowell Weicker (R-CT)[38]

Former Senators

* George Aiken (R-VT)[39]
* Gordon Allott (R-CO)[39]
* Wallace F. Bennett (R-UT)[39]
* J. Caleb Boggs (R-DE)[39]
* John W. Bricker (R-OH)[39]
* Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R-MA)[39]
* Harry P. Cain (R-WA)[39]
* Homer Capehart (R-IN)[39]
* Frank Carlson (R-KS)[39]
* Marlow Cook (R-KY)[39]
* John Sherman Cooper (R-KY)[35]
* Norris Cotton (R-NH)[40]
* Homer S. Ferguson (R-MI)[39]
* Leonard B. Jordan (R-ID)[39]
* Thomas Kuchel (R-CA)[39]
* Frank Lausche (D-OH)[41]
* Jack Miller (R-IA)[39]
* Thruston Morton (R-KY)[39]
* George Murphy (R-CA)[39]
* Leverett Saltonstall (R-MA)[39]
* Milward Simpson (R-WY)[39]

Representatives

* John B. Anderson (R-IL)[42]
* Bill Archer (R-TX)[28]
* John M. Ashbrook (R-OH)[43]
* Skip Bafalis (R-FL)[44]
* Alphonzo E. Bell Jr. (R-CA)[45]
* Edward G. Biester Jr. (R-PA)[46]
* William Broomfield (R-MI)[47]
* Bud Brown (R-OH)[35]
* Jim Broyhill (R-NC)[48]
* John Hall Buchanan Jr. (R-AL)[49]
* Al Cederberg (R-MI)[50]
* Clair Burgener (R-CA)[51]
* Donald D. Clancy (R-OH)[35]
* Don Clausen (R-CA)[23]
* James Colgate Cleveland (R-NH)[40]
* Thad Cochran (R-MS)[52]
* Barber Conable (R-NY)[53]
* Lawrence Coughlin (R-PA)[34]
* Phil Crane (R-IL)[54]
* Samuel L. Devine (R-OH)[41]
* William L. Dickinson (R-AL)[49]
* Jack Edwards (R-AL)[49]
* Millicent Fenwick (R-NJ)[55]
* Paul Findley (R-IL)[56]
* Edwin B. Forsythe (R-NJ)[55]
* Bill Frenzel (R-MN)[57]
* Louis Frey Jr. (R-FL)[44]
* Marvin Esch (R-MI)[29]
* Benjamin Gilman (R-NY)[25]
* Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-CA)[58]
* Bill Gradison (R-OH)[35]
* Chuck Grassley (R-IA)[59]
* Tennyson Guyer (R-OH)[60]
* Tom Hagedorn (R-MI)[57]
* Bill Harsha (R-OH)[35]
* Elwood Hillis (R-IN)[61]
* Frank Horton (R-NY)[53]
* Guy Vander Jagt (R-MI)[62]
* John Jarman (R-OK)[24]
* Tom Kindness (R-OH)[35]
* Del Latta (R-OH)[60]
* Trent Lott (R-KS)[63]
* Ed Madigan (R-IL)[56]
* Robert McClory (R-IL)[54]
* Pete McCloskey (R-CA)[23]
* Stewart McKinney (R-CT)[38]
* Charles Adams Mosher (R-OH)[21]
* Henson Moore (R-LA)[64]
* Carlos Moorhead (R-CA)[65]
* John T. Myers (R-IN)[61]
* Ron Paul (R-TX)[28]
* Joel Pritchard (R-WA)[66]
* Al Quie (R-MN)[57]
* Jimmy Quillen (R-TN)[67]
* Ralph Regula (R-OH)[41]
* Matthew J. Rinaldo (R-NJ)[55]
* J. Kenneth Robinson (R-VA)[68]
* John H. Rousselot (R-CA)[69]
* Ronald A. Sarasin (R-CT)[38]
* Dick Schulze (R-PA)[70]
* Keith Sebelius (R-KS)[32]
* Bud Shuster (R-PA)[34]
* Gene Snyder (R-KY)[35]
* Floyd Spence (R-SC)[36]
* J. William Stanton (R-OH)[41]
* Tom Steed (D-OK)[24]
* Alan Steelman (R-TX)[28]
* Dave Treen (R-LA)[64]
* Richard Vander Veen (R-MI)[71]
* Charles W. Whalen Jr. (R-OH)[72]
* Charles E. Wiggins (R-CA)[73]
* Bob Wilson (R-CA)[51]
* Chalmers Wylie (R-OH)[43]
* Bill Young (R-FL)[74]

Former Representatives

* E. Ross Adair (R-IN)[39]
* Glenn Andrews (R-AL)[75]
* William Hanes Ayres (R-OH)[39]
* LaMar Baker (R-TN)[39]
* James F. Battin (R-MT)[39]
* Page Belcher (R-OK)[39]
* E. Y. Berry (R-SD)[39]
* Jackson Edward Betts (R-OH)[60]
* Benjamin B. Blackburn (R-GA)[39]
* Frances P. Bolton (R-OH)[39]
* William G. Bray (R-IN)[61]
* Donald G. Brotzman (R-CO)[39]
* Joel Broyhill (R-VA)[39]
* D. Emmert Brumbaugh (R-PA)[39]
* Hamer Budge (R-ID)[39]
* George H. W. Bush (R-TX)[39]
* John W. Byrnes (R-WI)[39]
* Bo Callaway (R-GA)[39]
* John Newbold Camp (R-OK)[39]
* John Chenoweth (R-CO)[39]
* Harold Collier (R-IL)[39]
* William M. Colmer (D-MS)[76]
* William Sheldrick Conover (R-PA)[39]
* Sam Coon (R-OR)[39]
* William C. Cramer (R-FL)[39]
* Paul W. Cronin (R-MA)[39]
* Glenn Cunningham (R-NE)[39]
* Glenn R. Davis (R-WI)[39]
* John R. Dellenback (R-OR)[77]
* Robert V. Denney (R-NE)[39]
* David W. Dennis (R-IN)[39]
* Edwin Durno (R-OR)[39]
* Charles H. Elston (R-OH)[39]
* Hamilton Fish III (R-NY)[39]
* O. C. Fisher (D-TX)[39]
* Harold V. Froelich, (R-WI)[39]
* Ed Foreman (R-NM)[39]
* Ezekiel C. Gathings (D-AR)[39]
* Edith Green (D-OR)[51]
* Ezekiel C. Gathings (D-AR)[39]
* George A. Goodling (R-PA)[39]
* James R. Grover Jr. (R-NY)[39]
* Charles Gubser (R-CA)[39]
* G. Elliott Hagan (D-GA)[39]
* Leonard W. Hall (R-NY)[39]
* Charles Halleck (R-IN)[39]
* Seymour Halpern (R-NY)[39]
* Orval Hansen (R-ID)[39]
* Robert P. Hanrahan (R-IL)[39]
* William Henry Harrison III (R-WY)[39]
* R. James Harvey (R-MI)[39]
* Jeffrey P. Hillelson (R-MO)[39]
* Patrick J. Hillings (R-CA)[39]
* Lawrence Hogan (R-MD)[39]
* Joseph F. Holt (R-CA)[39]
* Craig Hosmer (R-CA)[39]
* Robert J. Huber (R-MI)[39]
* William H. Hudnut III (R-IN)[39]
* John E. Hunt (R-NJ)[39]
* Charles R. Jonas (R-NC)[39]
* Walter Judd (R-WA)[78]
* William J. Keating (R-OH)[39]
* Hastings Keith (R-MA)[39]
* Carleton J. King (R-NY)[39]
* Theodore Kupferman (R-NY)[39]
* Dan Kuykendall (R-TN)[67]
* John Henry Kyl (R-IA)[39]
* Melvin Laird (R-WI)[39]
* Odin Langen (R-MN)[39]
* Earl Landgrebe (R-IN)[39]
* Sherman Lloyd (R-UT)[39]
* Clare Boothe Luce (R-CT)[39]
* Buz Lukens (R-OH)[39]
* Clark MacGregor (R-MN)[39]
* William Mailliard (R-CA)[39]
* Joseph J. Maraziti (R-NJ)[39]
* David Martin (R-NE)<f name=ford/>
* James D. Martin (R-AL)[75]
* Bob Mathias (R-CA)[39]
* Wiley Mayne (R-IA)[39]
* William Moore McCulloch (R-OH)[39]
* Jack H. McDonald (R-MI)[39]
* Martin McKneally (R-NY)[39]
* Mike McKevitt (R-CO)[39]
* Robert T. McLoskey (R-IL)[39]
* Walter L. McVey Jr. (R-KS)[39]
* George Meader (R-MI)[39]
* William E. Miller (R-NY)[39]
* William Edwin Minshall Jr. (R-OH)[39]
* Wilmer Mizell (R-NC)[39]
* Arch Moore Jr. (R-WV)[39]
* F. Bradford Morse (R-MA)[39]
* Ancher Nelsen (R-MN)[39]
* Alvin O'Konski (R-WI)[39]
* Stanford Parris (R-VA)[39]
* Dayton E. Phillips (R-TN)[39]
* Alexander Pirnie (R-NY)[39]
* Richard H. Poff (R-VA)[39]
* Howard Pollock (R-AK)[39]
* Walter E. Powell (R-OH)[39]
* Bob Price (R-TX)[79]
* Ben Reifel (R-SD)[39]
* Edwin Reinecke (R-CA)[39]
* Howard W. Robison (R-NY)[39]
* Earl B. Ruth (R-NC)[39]
* Charles Sandman (R-NJ)[39]
* Henry Schadeberg (R-WI)[39]
* William J. Scherle (R-IA)[39]
* Fred Schwengel (R-IA)[39]
* Richard G. Shoup (R-MT)[39]
* Abner Sibal (R-CT)[39]
* H. Allen Smith (R-CA)[39]
* Henry P. Smith III (R-NY)[39]
* Katharine St. George (R-NY)[39]
* Robert H. Steele, (R-CT)[39]
* John H. Terry, (R-NY)[39]
* Fletcher Thompson (R-GA)[39]
* Thor Tollefson (R-WA)[39]
* David Towell (R-NV)[39]
* William M. Tuck (D-VA)[68]
* Stanley Tupper (R-ME)[39]
* James Van Zandt (R-PA)[39]
* Victor Veysey (R-CA)[39]
* John H. Ware (R-PA)[39]
* Prentiss Walker (R-MS)[39]
* Jack Westland (R-WA)[39]
* William B. Widnall (R-NJ)[39]
* John S. Wold (R-WY)[39]
* Wendell Wyatt (R-OR)[77]
* Samuel H. Young (R-IL)[54]
* Roger H. Zion (R-IN)[39]
* John M. Zwach (R-MN)[39]

Governors

* Robert Frederick Bennett (R-KS)[32]
* Kit Bond (R-MO)[80]
* Otis Bowen (R-IN)[61]
* James B. Edwards (R-SC)[36]
* Daniel J. Evans (R-WA)[66]
* Mills Godwin (R-VA)[68]
* James Holshouser (R-NC)[48]
* William Milliken (R-MI)[29]
* Robert D. Ray (R-IA)[59]
* Jim Rhodes (R-OH)[35]

Former Governors

* Sherman Adams (R-NH)[39]
* William T. Cahill (R-NJ)[39]
* Winfield Dunn (R-TN)[67]
* Warren P. Knowles (R-WI)[81]
* Benjamin T. Laney, (D-AR)[82]
* John Davis Lodge (R-CT)[38]
* Thomas Meskill, (R-CT)[39]
* Richard B. Ogilvie (R-IL)[27]
* George W. Romney (R-MI)[47]
* William Scranton, (R-PA)[39]
* John Bell Williams (D-MS)[83]
* Malcolm Wilson (R-NY)[84]

Lieutenant Governors

* John N. Dalton (R-VA)[68]
* James Damman (R-MI)[29]
* Bill Phelps (R-MO)[80]
* Shelby Smith (R-KS)[32]

Attorney Generals

* John Danforth (R-MO)[85]
* Louis J. Lefkowitz (R-NY)[84]
* Robert List (R-NV)[86]
* Evelle J. Younger (R-CA)[23]

Mayors

* Robert Folsom Mayor of Dallas, Texas[22]
* William H. Hudnut III Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana[61]
* Lawrence Francis Kramer Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey[55]
* Pete Wilson Mayor of San Diego, California[51]

Former Mayor

* Richard Lugar Mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana[61]

Individuals

* Joe Frazier boxer[87]
* Johnny Grant radio personality[35]
* S. I. Hayakawa President of San Francisco State University[23]
* Jack Nicklaus golfer[43]

Baseball

* Andy Etchebarren California Angels catcher[73]
* Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers catcher[29]
* Joe Garagiola former St. Louis Cardinals catcher[51]
* Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman[73]
* Ken Griffey Sr. Cincinnati Reds outfielder[35]
* Ted Kluszewski Cincinnati Reds coach[35]
* Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds infielder[35]
* Don Sutton Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher[73]

Basketball

* Johnny Orr Michigan Wolverines men's basketball head coach[29]

Football

* Lance Alworth former San Diego Chargers wide receiver[51]
* Bear Bryant Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach[49]
* Woody Hayes Ohio State Buckeyes football head coach[88]
* Ron Kramer former Green Bay Packers end[29]
* Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys head coach[89]

Actors and Actresses

* Fred Astaire[90]
* Chuck Connors[29]
* Bob Dornan[69]
* Glenn Ford[73]
* Zsa Zsa Gabor[51]
* Cary Grant[90]
* Peter Graves[51]
* Jayne Meadows[90]
* Ed Nelson[73]
* Hugh O'Brian[51]
* Dale Robertson[91]
* Wayne Rogers[41]
* Forrest Tucker[61]
* John Wayne[73]

Musicians

* Pearl Bailey singer[38]
* Sonny Bono singer[90]
* Roy Clark guitarist[91]
* Ella Fitzgerald singer[90]
* Lionel Hampton vibraphonist[87]
* Al Hirt trumpeter[85]
* Rod McKuen singer[51]

## Polling

[edit]

Main article: 1976 Republican Party presidential primaries § Polling

In Republican primaries:

### Before August 1974

[edit]

Poll source  | Publication  |

Spiro Agnew

Howard Baker

John Connally

Gerald Ford

Barry Goldwater

Charles Percy

Ronald Reagan

Nelson Rockefeller

Other

Undecided/None

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Gallup[92] | March 30 – April 2, 1973  | 700  | 35% | 1%  | 15%  | –  | –  | 8%  | 20%  | 11%  | 5%[a] | 6%
Gallup[93] | August 30, 1973  | ?  | 22% | 11%  | 10%  | –  | –  | 7%  | 22% | 13%  | 6%[b] | 9%
–  | 12%  | 12%  | –  | –  | 8%  | 32% | 16%  | 9%[c] | 11%
Gallup[94] | Oct. 6–8, 1973  | 356  | –  | 3%  | 16%  | –  | –  | 14%  | 29% | 19%  | 6%[d] | 8%
Gallup  | January 4–7, 1974  | 377  | –  | 5%  | 9%  | 24% | –  | 8%  | 20%  | 18%  | 8%[e] | 8%
–  | 7%  | 11%  | –  | –  | 11%  | 26% | 25%  | 10%[f] | 10%
Gallup  | July 21, 1974  | ?  | –  | 5%  | 5%  | 27% | 16%  | 4%  | 16%  | 12%  | 8%[g] | 7%

### August 1974 – December 1975

[edit]

Poll source  | Publication  |

Howard Baker

John Connally

Gerald Ford

Barry Goldwater

Charles Percy

Ronald Reagan

Nelson Rockefeller

Other

Undecided/None

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Gallup[95] | Feb. 28 – March 3, 1975  | 330  | 4%  | –  | 34% | 17%  | 3%  | 22%  | 10%  | 7%[h] | 3%
Gallup[96][97] | June 27–30, 1975  | 375  | 4%  | 2%  | 41% | 13%  | 4%  | 20%  | 5%  | 6%[i] | 5%
Gallup[97] | Aug. 15–18, 1975  | 348  | 3%  | 3%  | 45% | 11%  | 4%  | 19%  | 7%  | 5%[j] | 3%
Gallup  | Oct. 17–20, 1975  | 339  | 2%  | 1%  | 48% | 7%  | 2%  | 25%  | 5%  | 2%[k] | 5%
Gallup[98] | Nov. 21–24, 1975  | 352  | 2%  | 1%  | 32%  | 10%  | 3%  | 40% | 6%  | 5%[l] | 1%

### Head-to-head polling

[edit]

Poll source  | Publication  |

Gerald Ford

Ronald Reagan

Undecided/None

|
|
|
|

Gallup[99] | June 27–30, 1975  | 375  | 61% | 33%  | 6%
Gallup[100] | Dec. 12–15, 1975  | ?  | 45% | 45% | 10%

## Election day

[edit]

Main article: 1976 United States presidential election

Map of the 1976 U.S. presidential election, blue represents Carter winning that state/district, red represents Ford winning that state, light red represents Reagan received a vote.

On November 2, 1976, Ford lost the election to Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter. Carter won 297 electoral votes and 50.1% of the popular vote while Ford only received 240 electoral votes and 48.0% of the popular vote. However, Carter carried 23 states with Washington DC while Ford carried 27 states, this is one of the elections where the presidential candidate defeated the incumbent president in a narrow margin.[101] Reagan got 1 vote from Washington by Mike Padden.[102]

Before the election, both Ford and Carter also debated three times in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Williamsburg from September 23 to October 22, 1976. This is the second debate since 1960, after 16 years.[103]

The vice presidential debate also began at the Alley Theater in Houston, Texas, when Bob Dole faced off against Walter Mondale.[104]

### Results

[edit]

Electoral results  Presidential candidate  | Party  | Home state  | Popular vote  | Electoral
vote  | Running mate

|
|
|
|
|

Count  | Percentage  | Vice-presidential candidate  | Home state  | Electoral vote
Jimmy Carter | Democratic | Georgia | 40,831,881  | 50.08%  | 297  |  Walter Mondale | Minnesota | 297
Gerald Ford (incumbent) | Republican | Michigan | 39,148,634  | 48.02%  | 240  | Bob Dole | Kansas | 241
Ronald Reagan | Republican | California | —[m] | —[m] | 1
Eugene McCarthy | None | Minnesota | 744,763  | 0.91%  | 0  |  [n] | [n] | 0
Roger MacBride | Libertarian | Virginia | 172,557  | 0.21%  | 0  |  David Bergland | California | 0
Lester Maddox | American Independent | Georgia | 170,373  | 0.21%  | 0  |  William Dyke | Wisconsin | 0
Thomas J. Anderson | American | [o] | 158,724  | 0.19%  | 0  |  Rufus Shackelford | Florida | 0
Peter Camejo | Socialist Workers | California | 90,986  | 0.11%  | 0  |  Willie Mae Reid | Illinois | 0
Gus Hall | Communist | New York | 58,709  | 0.07%  | 0  |  Jarvis Tyner | New York | 0
Margaret Wright | People's | California | 49,016  | 0.06%  | 0  |  Benjamin Spock | Connecticut | 0
Lyndon LaRouche | U.S. Labor | New York | 40,018  | 0.05%  | 0  |  R. Wayne Evans | Michigan | 0
Other | 75,119  | 0.09%  | —  | Other | —
Total  | 81,540,780  | 100%  | 538  |  | 538
Needed to win  | 270  |  | 270

Sources: Leip, David. "1976 Presidential Election Results". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved April 27, 2024. (popular votes)

"Electoral College Box Scores 1789–1996". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved April 27, 2024. (Electoral votes)

## Aftermath

[edit]

Further information: Presidential transition of Jimmy Carter and Inauguration of Jimmy Carter

Outgoing President Ford and First lady Betty Ford meets with President-elect Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.

Carter became president on January 20, 1977 and served one term in office until January 20, 1981, after Reagan defeated Carter in the 1980 U.S. presidential election.[105]

This was the only modern presidential election in which both presidential candidates and both vice presidential candidates were still alive 30 years after the election, until Ford's death in 2006. And three of the four were still alive after 44 years, until Walter Mondale's death in April 2021. After Bob Dole's death in December 2021, Carter was the only candidate most alive.[106][107][108]

Ford and Carter both lived post-presidency for more than 25 years. Ford died in 2006 due to his worsening arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease and diffuse arteriosclerosis, Carter attended his funeral.[109]

## See also

[edit]

* 1976 Republican Party presidential primaries
* 1976 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection
* 1976 Republican National Convention
* 1976 United States presidential election
* Jimmy Carter 1976 presidential campaign
* Ronald Reagan 1976 presidential campaign
* Presidency of Gerald Ford

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ James Buckley with 2%, Edward Brooke and Daniel Evans with 1% each, and Bill Brock with 0%
2. ^ James Buckley with 3%, Edward Brooke with 2%, Daniel Evans with 1%, and Bill Brock with 0%
3. ^ James Buckley with 5%, Edward Brooke with 2%, Daniel Evans with 1%, and Bill Brock with 1%
4. ^ James Buckley with 3%, Edward Brooke with 2%, Bill Brock with 1%, and Daniel Evans with 0%
5. ^ Elliot Richardson with 3%, Mark Hatfield and James Buckley with 2% each, and Edward Brooke with 1%
6. ^ Elliot Richardson with 4%, James Buckley with 3%, Mark Hatfield with 2%, and Edward Brooke with 1%
7. ^ Elliot Richardson with 3%, James Buckley with 2%, Mark Hatfield with 2%, and Edward Brooke with 1%
8. ^ Mark Hatfield with 3%, Elliot Richardson with 3%, and James Buckley with 1%
9. ^ Elliot Richardson with 3%, Mark Hatfield with 2%, and James L. Buckley with 1%
10. ^ James L. Buckley with 2%, Mark Hatfield with 2%, and Elliot Richardson with 1%
11. ^ Elliot Richardson with 3%, James L. Buckley and Mark Hatfield with 1% each
12. ^ Mark Hatfield with 2%, Elliot Richardson with 2%, and James L. Buckley with 1%
13. ^ a b Mike Padden, a Republican faithless elector from Washington, gave Ronald Reagan one electoral vote.
14. ^ a b The running mate of McCarthy varied from state to state.
15. ^ Research has not yet determined whether Anderson's home state was Tennessee or Texas at the time of the 1976 election.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum • Gerald Ford officially announced his candidacy for..." Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
2. ^ "How Ronald Reagan's 1976 Convention Battle Fueled His 1980 Landslide". HISTORY. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
3. ^ Enten, Harry (2016-07-14). "What The 1976 GOP Primary Tells Us About 2016's". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
4. ^ "What can you tell me about the 1976 presidential election?". www.cliffsnotes.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
5. ^ "Remembering Bob Dole: Reliving the 1976 Vice Presidential Announcement | KRSL.com". www.krsl.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
6. ^ "Gerald R. Ford Biography - Gerald R. Ford Foundation". Retrieved 2024-04-27.
7. ^ "Growing Up Grand- High School". www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
8. ^ "Gerald Ford's unique role in American history - National Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
9. ^ "Naval Service of Gerald R. Ford in World War II". www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
10. ^ "Gerald Ford: Life Before the Presidency | Miller Center". millercenter.org. 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
11. ^ "Gerald Ford: Unelected". Voice of America. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
12. ^ Reporter, James Bickerton US News (2024-03-06). "Joe Biden is first incumbent president to lose a primary in 44 years". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
13. ^ Times, James M. Naughton; Special to The New York (1976-02-20). "FORD INTENSIFIES ATTACK ON REAGAN". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-27.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
14. ^ Witcover, Jules (1977). Marathon : the pursuit of the Presidency, 1972-1976. Internet Archive. New York : Viking Press. ISBN 978-0-670-45461-7.
15. ^ "'Welfare Queen' Becomes Issue in Reagan Campaign". The New York Times. 1976-02-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
16. ^ "Our Campaigns - US President - R Convention Race - Aug 16, 1976". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
17. ^ "Our Campaigns - US Vice President - R Convention Race - Aug 16, 1976". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
18. ^ Reagan's Impromptu Speech at 1976 GOP Convention. Retrieved 2024-04-27 - via www.youtube.com.
19. ^ "The Times-News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
20. ^ a b "Remarks Upon Arrival at the 1976 Republican National Convention Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri". 15 August 1976.
21. ^ a b "Remarks in Columbus at the Annual Meeting of the Ohio Governor's Conference on Aging". 26 May 1976.
22. ^ a b "Remarks at Opening Ceremonies for the Texas State Fair in Dallas". 9 October 1976.
23. ^ a b c d e "Remarks at a President Ford Committee Campaign Debate Party in San Francisco". 6 October 1976.
24. ^ a b c d e "Remarks in Lawton, Oklahoma". 8 October 1976.
25. ^ a b c "Remarks in New City, New York". 13 October 1976.
26. ^ "Remarks in Paramus, New Jersey". 13 October 1976.
27. ^ a b "Remarks in Chicago, Illinois". 26 October 1976.
28. ^ a b c d "Remarks at a Rally in Houston, Texas". 29 October 1976.
29. ^ a b c d e f g h "Remarks in Livonia, Michigan". 1 November 1976.
30. ^ a b "Remarks in Portland, Oregon". 25 October 1976.
31. ^ "Remarks at a President Ford Committee Volunteers Reception in Lincoln". 8 May 1976.
32. ^ a b c d "Remarks at a Picnic Honoring Senator Robert Dole in Russell, Kansas". 20 August 1976.
33. ^ "Remarks iDuring an Illinois Whitlestop Tour". 16 October 1976.
34. ^ a b c "Remarks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". 27 October 1976.
35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Remarks at a Rally in Cincinnati, Ohio". 28 October 1976.
36. ^ a b c "Remarks in Columbia, South Carolina". 23 October 1976.
37. ^ "Remarks to President Ford Committee Volunteers in Abilene". 30 April 1976.
38. ^ a b c d e "Remarks at the Connecticut State Republican Convention in Hartford". 16 July 1976.
39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej "The original documents are located in Box 7, folder "Campaign – Letters of support from Former Members of Congress" of the John Marsh Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library" (PDF). 1976.
40. ^ a b "Remarks at a Chamber of Commerce Dinner in Nashua, New Hampshire". February 7, 1976. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
41. ^ a b c d e "Remarks on Departure From Akron, Ohio". 1 November 1976.
42. ^ "Remarks in Rockford, Illinois". 11 March 1976.
43. ^ a b c "Remarks at the Ohio State Capitol in Columbus". 1 November 1976.
44. ^ a b "Remarks in Tampa, Florida". 29 February 1976.
45. ^ "Remarks in San Jose, California". 25 May 1976.
46. ^ "Remarks in Langhorne, Pennsylvania". 30 October 1976.
47. ^ a b "Remarks at a Public Rally in Birmingham, Michigan". 12 May 1976.
48. ^ a b "Remarks at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh". 23 October 1976.
49. ^ a b c d "Remarks in Mobile, Alabama". 26 September 1976.
50. ^ "Remarks at a Bicentennial Celebration in Saginaw, Michigan". 16 May 1976.
51. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Remarks in La Mesa, California". 24 October 1976.
52. ^ "Remarks in Gulfport, Mississippi". 26 September 1976.
53. ^ a b "Remarks on Departure From Rochester, New York". 31 October 1976.
54. ^ a b c "Remarks in Northbrook, Illinois". 26 October 1976.
55. ^ a b c d "Remarks at a Reception for Bergen County Business and Civic Leaders in Paterson, New Jersey". 6 June 1976.
56. ^ a b "Remarks at the Chanute Community Foundation Reception in Rantoul, Illinois". 6 March 1976.
57. ^ a b c "Remarks at a Republican Party Leadership Rally in Minneapolis". 19 August 1976.
58. ^ "Remarks Upon Arrival at Van Nuys, California". 26 May 1976.
59. ^ a b "Remarks at Iowa State University in Ames". 15 October 1976.
60. ^ a b c "Remarks in Findlay, Ohio". 7 June 1976.
61. ^ a b c d e f g "Remarks in Indianapolis, Indiana". 28 October 1976.
62. ^ "Remarks at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor". 15 September 1976.
63. ^ "Remarks in Bay St. Louis, Missouri". 26 September 1976.
64. ^ a b "Remarks Aboard the SS Natchez During a Trip Along the Mississippi River in Louisiana". 25 September 1976.
65. ^ "Remarks at the "Days of the Verdugos" Festival in Glendale, California". 8 October 1976.
66. ^ a b "Remarks in Seattle, Washington". 25 October 1976.
67. ^ a b c "Remarks at Dedication Ceremonies for the Commerce Square Fountain in Memphis". 14 May 1976.
68. ^ a b c d "Remarks in Richmond, Virginia". 23 October 1976.
69. ^ a b "Remarks to Employees of the Rockwell International Corporation in Hawthorne, California". 7 October 1976.
70. ^ "Remarks in Devon, Pennsylvania". 27 October 1976.
71. ^ "Remarks on Arrival at Grand Rapids, Michigan". 15 May 1976.
72. ^ "Remarks in Dayton, Ohio". 7 June 1976.
73. ^ a b c d e f g "Remarks in Fountain Valley". 24 October 1976.
74. ^ "Remarks in Sarasota, Florida". 29 February 1976.
75. ^ a b "Remarks at a President Ford Committee Leadership and Delegate Reception in Birmingham". 3 May 1976.
76. ^ "Remarks in Pascagoula, Mississippi". 26 September 1976.
77. ^ a b "Remarks in Medford, Oregon". 22 May 1976.
78. ^ "Remarks in Union, New Jersey". 13 October 1976.
79. ^ "Remarks on Arrival at Amarillo, Texas". 10 April 1976.
80. ^ a b "Remarks in St. Louis, Missouri". 16 October 1976.
81. ^ "Remarks to President Ford Committee Volunteers in Milwaukee". 2 April 1976.
82. ^ "Benjamin Travis Laney Jr. (1896–1977)". January 19, 2024.
83. ^ "Remarks in Biloxi, Mississippi". 26 September 1976.
84. ^ a b "Remarks to the New York Delegation at the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City". 18 August 1976.
85. ^ a b "Remarks in St. Louis, Missouri". 29 October 1976.
86. ^ "Remarks at the International Council of Shopping Centers Convention in Las Vegas". 24 May 1976.
87. ^ a b "Remarks in Hauppauge, New York". 31 October 1976.
88. ^ "Remarks in Hempstead, New York". 31 October 1976.
89. ^ "Remarks at a Rally in Dallas, Texas". 29 April 1976.
90. ^ a b c d e Critchlow, Donald (2013). When Hollywood was right : how movie stars, studio moguls, and big business remade American politics. New York : Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-19918-6 - via Internet Archive.
91. ^ a b "Ford made brief stop in 1976". December 31, 2006.
92. ^ "AGNEW REMAINS TOP G.O.P. CHOICE: Little Damage Seen 35% in Gallup Poll Support Him for President in '76". The New York Times. April 29, 1973. p. 41.
93. ^ Gallup, George (August 30, 1973). "GALLUP POLL: Agnew is losing support". p. 29.
94. ^ "Reagan Leads, Rockefeller Is 2d In Gallup Poll on '76 Nomination". The New York Times. October 21, 1973. p. 54.
95. ^ Gallup, George (March 28, 1975). "Ford, Reagan Top GOP Picks in '76". The Hartford Courant. p. 20.
96. ^ Gallup, George (July 14, 1975). "Ford Support Up As 1976 Hopeful". The Hartford Courant. p. 5.
97. ^ a b Gallup, George (September 7, 1975). "Ford Widens Lead Over Rest of Field". The Washington Post. p. A11.
98. ^ "Gallup: Reagan Passes Ford". Newsday. December 12, 1975. p. 6.
99. ^ Gallup, George (July 14, 1975). "Ford Support Up As 1976 Hopeful". The Hartford Courant. p. 5.
100. ^ Apple, R.W. (January 11, 1976). "G.O.P. Seems Evenly Split Over Ford-Reagan Contest". The New York Times. p. 1.
101. ^ "1976 | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
102. ^ "Electoral College wasn't done deal in 1976. Will it be in 2016?". AP News. 2016-12-17. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
103. ^ "AllPolitics - 1976 Debates Overview". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
104. ^ Miller, Arthur H.; MacKuen, Michael (1979). "Learning About the Candidates: The 1976 Presidential Debates". The Public Opinion Quarterly. 43 (3): 326–346. doi:10.1086/268525. ISSN 0033-362X. JSTOR 2748228.
105. ^ "Reagan Elected President | Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America". oa-bsa.org. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
106. ^ Naughton, James M.; Clymer, Adam (2006-12-27). "Gerald Ford, 38th President, Dies at 93". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
107. ^ "Former US Vice-President Walter Mondale dies aged 93". 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
108. ^ "Bob Dole, WWII hero and former Republican presidential nominee, dies at 98". NBC News. 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
109. ^ "Carter, Rumsfeld give final salute to Ford". Reuters. August 10, 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-01.

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(<- 1972) 1976 United States presidential election (1980 ->)

Democratic Party|

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Candidates|

* Nominee: Jimmy Carter
* campaign
* VP nominee: Walter Mondale

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Third-party and independent candidates

American Party|

* Nominee: Thomas J. Anderson

American Independent Party|

* Nominee: Lester Maddox

Communist Party|

* Nominee: Gus Hall
* VP nominee: Jarvis Tyner

Libertarian Party|

* Nominee: Roger MacBride
* VP nominee: David Bergland

People's Party|

* Nominee: Margaret Wright
* VP nominee: Benjamin Spock

Prohibition Party|

* Nominee: Ben Bubar
* VP nominee: Earl Dodge

Socialist Workers Party|

* Nominee: Peter Camejo
* VP nominee: Willie Mae Reid

U.S. Labor Party|

* Nominee: Lyndon LaRouche

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Gerald Ford

* 38th President of the United States (1974–1977)
* 40th Vice President of the United States (1973–1974)
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Life|

* Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens
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Cultural
depictions|

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* Gerald R. Ford International Airport
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Family|

* Betty Ford (wife)
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* ← Richard Nixon
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* ← Spiro Agnew
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