1976 Republican Convention: Ford vs Reagan | Retro Report

This six-minute video explores the 1976 Republican National Convention, one of the most dramatic and irregular conventions in modern presidential history. Unlike nearly all modern conventions, in which the nominee has secured the nomination months before the convention begins, the struggle between California Governor Ronald Reagan and incumbent President Gerald R. Ford carried all the way into the convention hall, as the floor managers for each candidate fought for control over the party. The video is useful for lessons showing students what an openly contested convention looks like, and would fit in well with any sequence of lessons focused on the process for electing presidents.