I am honored by your nomination and i accept it [applause] may we please come to order to begin the 1976 Republican National convention. Mr. Chairman, the great state of nevada wishes to place a nomination, the name of Ronald Reagan. For the presidency of the United States of america, gerald r. Ford. 20 votes for gerald r. Ford. And we may be fewer in numbers than weve ever been, but we carry the message theyre waiting for. Election, 1976, the Republican National convention. Your host is political analyst Richard Scanlan. Richard this is Richard Scanlan in washington. And with me today our professor Howard Penniman of georgetown university, mr. Stephen hess of the brookings institution. This morning we want to talk about the Republican Convention in kansas city, what it was, what it did, what it represents for the party and for the public in the United States and try to inquire a little into what the projection of that convention on the Campaign Season to come may mean for american politics in this bicentennial year and in the long range. Neither professor penniman were in kansas, but our colleague steve hess was. Start us off, steven. Stephen they did what a serious American Political Party is supposed to do in convention. It nominated for president , a candidate who the polls showed had the best chance of winning in november, mr. Ford, even though the intensity of support for his opponent, mr. Reagan was greater. Senator dole, a candidate who detracted least from the ticket which is basically what we expect of a Vice President ial candidate. It wrote a Party Platform which ideologue cal fell between the two contenders, mr. Reagan and mr. Ford and mr. Fords acceptance, it presented its Party Candidate in the best possible light on television to the American People and the looser, mr. Reagan gave a very gracious speech. The Republican Party left kansas city united. Given this was the first contested president ial primary and Convention Situation since 1952, the possibilities for disaster were enormous. They didnt happen in kansas city. Richard not only did they didnt happen in kansas city, but it didnt happen in new york for the democrats either. We may very well have seen so far at least in this bicentennial year, a react and make an of our system of selecting National Leadership. It passes the pragmatic test of any political system. It works. We did find with the democrats a gradual winnowing down of the field to mr. Carter and we have found a different situation with the republicans, a facetoface confrontation, a clean cut victory, a winner and a loser joining together the parties, both republican and democratic after their respective conventions on approximately, what i would call, centrist programs, center in Center Republican and Center Democratic and fight it out with the people. Howard there was this good feeling at the end and the endorsement of the candidate, by the losers by the winner. Its precisely because there was not that much difference between them. There was an ideological difference between ford and but it was not an ideological difference that was able bridgeable. Stephen the goldwater and mcgovern candidacies, the differences were so great, you couldnt paper it over. Howard by contrast with the Mccarthy Humphrey in 1968, the candidates were prepared not to take their marbles and go home, but participate as members of the party and contribute to the success to the party. It showed up here in a very bitter contest which sometimes it had been in the republican primary, but at the end with the unity which is perhaps even thor more likely to build success to the party had there been no prior contact. Richard let me put a question to both of my colleagues here today. I had a feeling as i said, the institution of the president ial preference primary and the institution of the convention and with it the, sometimes meaningful, sometimes meaningless platform, the selection of the Vice President as an appointee of the president , that these institutions of the system came out sort of burnished and goldplated on this trip. There is criticism of this system, i have a feeling it worked pretty well this time and its unlikely to be changed if we want to look forward to 1980, for example . Howard i dont see many changes in the future, one area we thought was the need for change was the selection of the Vice President ial candidate. Both parties played with the ideas of change and rejected that. I think we are apt to see a continuation of a system that now relies heavily on state Party Primaries rather than state conventions. Goodwill that you have at the convention. These people feel like they were openly and freely elected. Richard no party chicanery and backwoods politics. Howard i think you are quite correct. In the what happened Republican Party, which was surely unusual to have an incumbent challenged, not nearly as successfully as it was in this case, this is Something Else that might continue, where you have a primary it is possible to challenge, and a situation which is not true if you are dealing with state conventions and with Party Leadership nominated, the nominating processes. This is a process that is very open. As long as it is open, there is always the possibility of a , aslenge of the incumbent well as the fight that comes when you are on the outside and are looking to get in. Richard so much for our opening discussion on this convention and our views about its circumstance and possibility. Lets look now at some film clips, some actual visual presentations from the Republican National convention, august 1976 in kansas city, missouri. May we please come to order to begin the 1976 Republican National convention. [drumroll] the issue this year is this how much government is too much government . How many laws are too many laws . How much taxation is too much taxation . How much coercion is too much coercion . Those are the issues in 1976. [cheers and applause] two centuries ago, the Founding Fathers spoke the common sense of america when they declared that all men are created equal and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. In the days that saw the birth of the Republican Party, it was the common sense of america to put an end to slavery and to bind up the wounds of a divided nation. It is the common sense of america. It is the common sense of america to make government a creative instrument for doing together those things that we cannot do separately. At one critical turning point after another, it has been the popular wisdom, the good common sense of the people themselves that has been the nations salvation. On our shoulders we carry the hopes of free men and women everywhere. As a nation the responsibility we bear to the idea of freedom is a sacred trust. As a political party, the responsibility we bear to that same idea of freedom is an equally sacred trust. We shall be true to that trust and by placing our faith firmly and unshakably in the people, we shall prove ourselves worthy of the trust we ask of the people. Thank you very much. [cheers and applause] mr. Chairman, members of this convention, im here proudly to nominate Ronald Reagan for the office of president of the United States. [cheers and applause] so that we may give him our nomination, so that the nation may give him its mandate, i do now exercise the honor and the privilege of placing in nomination for the presidency of the United States of america, the name of gerald r. Ford. [cheers and applause] california, 167 votes. Madam secretary, for the next president of the United States, for californias greatest governor, we cast the largest number of votes at this convention, all 167 for governor Ronald Reagan michigan, 84 votes. Madam chairman, michigan casts 29 votes for governor reagan, 55 votes for the president of the United States, gerald r. Ford. West virginia. State of West Virginia fully mindful of the tremendous tenseness that has gripped this convention at this point, with an even greater appreciation for the Mutual Respect that all of us have for one another proudly presents its vote on behalf of our Party Candidate for the presidency, 20 votes for gerald r. Ford. 15 votes for Ronald Reagan. He has that quality of candor, of openness, of forth rightness, so needed in our times. I have the honor to nominate as the republican candidate for the vice presidency of the United States, the distinguished son of kansas, senator robert j. Dole. You have honored me tonight by giving me the opportunity to help the president continue the work he has begun. I mean to be worthy of that honor and this bicentennial year, we have the opportunity to resort to those principals upon which america was founded 200 years ago. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States and mrs. Ford. [hail to the chief] president ford tonight i can tell you straight away, this nation is sound, this nation is secure, this nation is on the march to full economic recovery and a better quality of life for all americans and ill tell you one more thing. This is here the issues are on side. Our side. Im ready, im eager to go before the American People and debate the real issues facetoface with jimmy carter [cheers and applause] i speak not of a republican victory, but a victory for the American People. You at home listening tonight, you are the people who pay the taxes and obey the laws. You are the people who make our system work. You are the people who make america what it is. It is from your ranks that i come and on your side i stand. [cheers and applause] president ford Something Wonderful happened to this country of ours the past two years. We all came to realize that on the fourth of july, together out of years of turmoil and tragedy, wars and riots, assassinations and wrongdoing in high places, americans recaptured the spirit of 1776. Lets look at the record since august 1974, inflation has been cut in half. Payrolls are up, profits are up, production is up, purchases are up since the recession was are up. Since the recession was turned around almost 4 million of our fellow americans have found new jobs or got their old jobs back. This year more men and women have jobs than ever before in the history of the United States. [cheers and applause] president ford confidence has returned and we are in the full surge of sound recovery to steady prosperity. Two years ago, america was mired in withdrawal from southeast asia, a decade of congresses had shortchanged our global defenses and threatened our strategic posture, mounting tension between israel and the arab nations made another war seem inevitable. The whole war watched and wondered where america was going. Did we in our domestic turmoil have the will, the stamina, and the unity to stand up for freedom . Look at the record since august two years ago. Today america is at peace and seeks peace for all nations. Not a single american is at war anywhere on the face of this earth tonight [cheers and applause] president ford our ties with western europe and japan, economic as well as military were never stronger, our relations with eastern europe, the soviet union and Mainland China are firm, vigilant, and forward looking. Policies i have initiated often offer sound progress for the peoples of the pacific, africa, and latin america. Israel and egypt both trusting the United States have taken a historic step that promises an eventual just settlement for the whole middle east. The world now respects americans peace through strength. The United States is again the confident leader of the free world. [cheers and applause] president ford nobody questions our dedication to peace, but nobody doubts our willingness to use our strength when our vital interests are at stake and we will. [cheers and applause] president ford i call for an up to date powerful army, navy and air force that will keep america secure for decades, a Strong Military posture is always the best insurance for peace. [applause] president ford americas strengths has never rested on arms alone. It is rooted in our mutual commitment of our citizens and leaders in the highest standards of ethics and morality and in the spiritual renewal which our nation is undergoing right now. [applause] president ford i have no fear for the future of this great country, and as we go forward together, i promise you once more what i promised before, to uphold the constitution, to do what is right as god gives me to see the right and to do the very best that i can for america. God helping me, i wont let you down. Thank you. [cheers and applause] richard now from those excerpts from the Republican National convention in kansas city, back to our discussion in washington. I suppose for many of our friends overseas, one of the most important questions which they ask about the american system and our president ial elections is where is the program . What platform do these candidates seek office on . Let me, if i may, howard pennyman, ill turn to you, and how would you tell them what the candidates stood for . Howard this is not always an easy question to answer, but in the case of president ford as in the case of most republican nominees, 1964 excepted, one that is a candidate who is slightly to the right of center within the american political spectrum. He is a man who is prepared to support Government Intervention in the social economic order but to a lesser extent would be the democratic candidate. He is a man who is supporting a traditional form of Foreign Policy which is going through the hands of democrats and republicans over the last two decades, for part of those two decades anyway. It would be roughly the same as the Foreign Policy would be that of the democratic candidate. For people overseas, there is going to be i would suppose, very little indication of change in americas Foreign Policy, if the president is reelected or the opposition is elected. The domestic policy exactly to is likely to be the greatest difference and its a difference of degree of magnitude. Richard steve, i had so much the impression during the years that i have watched american politics that this comment of howards has so much reality to it. Again, many of our friends overseas think there is or there ought to be at least one on Foreign Policy within the candidates in the parties. Howard, i have a feeling if mr. Carter would be elect indeed elected in november, that in two years time, you wouldnt be able to recognize major differences between his Foreign Policy and mr. Ford in the two years that he has been in office. Does that make sense to you . Steve that makes sense in Foreign Policy and International Economic policy. There doesnt seem to be any and Economic Policy. There doesnt seem to be any distinct differences. There have been times in American History where the two parties were different in this regard, but right now, there will be differences in personnel and, of course, this makes a difference in style, but probably not in substance. Richard and the basic lines of demarcation that we see in the next weeks of the campaign will be on domestic questions, Foreign Policy, health policy, income maintenance policy. The question, howard, as you put it, what the Republican Party and candidates, less time to intervene in the normal free market systems and these differences really, howard, would you call historical differences of our last basic election of change, which was 1932, when the republicans had brought in mr. Roosevelt who still so many years after his death seems to dominate the essentially domestic orientation of our political system . Howard going back to the roosevelt period, what we see as the major differences even on Economic Policy is a republican emphasis on holding down and replacing. The democrats will talk about holding down and replacing, they will put a good deal more emphasis than the republicans did on unemployment. They would seek to, even if it involves spending an amount of federal fund, which would have a negative impact on inflation, it would have a positive impact on unemployment and this reflects , in part, where support comes from. Their support tends to come from a greater degree from the low income groups, then that which is on the republican side. What is interesting is that there may be some who have trade unions which in terms of income, on inflation rather than on unemployment as a program. This is surely an area where mr. Ford will be seeking votes. By talking inflation. Steve i think if you would compare the two platforms, although we have to make it quite clear these are not binding on the candidates, but only guiding and sort of a feel for the directions in which the parties go. We could tell those overseas some very basic differences that we might expect and that the parties might tend to try to pass if they were to be elected, elected. The Department Party stands for a National HealthInsurance Plan for all americans, mandatory one. Catastrophic illnesses and there are serious illnesses that tend to come rarely, but that have the potential to wipe out a familys income. As you said, howard, the democratic thrust would be towards a federal program to create public jobs and public works projects when the economy is at a recession level. The republicans clearly oppose this approach and tend to use tax incentives to stimulate the private sector and private businesses. The democratic approach with Something Like gun control which is an emotional issue is much more toward federal regulation, the republican approach decided this is a state issue. So we see very definite differences between the parties. These are just guidelines. Richard if you think of where the votes are in the congress, the senate votes would not wait for gun control in the western democratic control, but the National Leadership looking for votes in the big urban centers would be on the side of gun control which might not represent the party at the congressional level. Representing the party at congressional level. Richard we talk about party, we have been talking about the Republican Convention in kansas city. How do you see the Republican Party, just the Republican Party, not the democrat. How do you see the Republican Party now compared to the past years, 20, 40, 50 years ago, it still in the relationship as it was in 1932 . Steve my feeling from talking to the delegates, they have emerged through the process to represent their constituencies, these are people who are small businessmen. These are people who are farmers. They tended to represent suburban and rural communities. They tend to be housewives more than professional women. This, the hard core of the party, the idea that the Republican Party once represented big business, wall street, the eastern establishment doesnt seem to be true anymore. The International Businessman can be comfortable or more comfortable indeed in the democratic party. Richard i suppose thats true, you can see the leadership and direction of Public Policy which he finds very congenial. Howard there is a considerable shift in these 40 years in the source of republican support because in 1936, the republican support from the trade union level or working class, organized labor level must have been virtually nil. In more recent years at the president ial level, its quite clear that a fair number of trade union people have been voting for republican president ial candidates. They cant win unless they pick up a lot of the votes and indeed in congressional elections. Those can come in president ial elections because they represent a somewhat more conservative position than the democrats and for the conservative trade union people, they come closer to their point of view now than they did, say, 40 years ago. Richard this is what were going to be looking forward to see in the next few weeks, after labor day when the 1976 president ial campaign really gets underway between president ford, the republican candidate, governor jimmy carter from georgia, the democratic candidate. This is richard scammon. With me is Howard Penniman and steven hess of the brookings institution. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] you can watch archival films on Public Affairs in their entirety on our weekly series reel america. Here on American History tv. American history tv is on social media. Follow us at cspan history. This is American History tv on cspan3, were each weekend, we feature 48 hours of programs exploring our nations past. American history tv is on cspan3 every weekend featuring museum tours, archival films, college lectures, and discussions on the presidency, civil war, and more. You can watch these in their entirety on our website, cspan. Org history. Heres a quick look of one of our programs. Thatu have made reference you have done this for a number of years. Our topic today about interpreting it has been an ongoing part of the conversation for a long time at Historic Sites throughout the world. Can you tell us about how it has changed from your perspective over the years . This interpretation of slavery. Yes, we are talking about it now. And we have been talking about it for a few years but not for the 40 years in which i have been involved. I am a child of the 1960s, so i grew up talking about this and we go in and out of it. In an historic sense, i began this at Independence Hall in philadelphia. There was mention of slavery. It was not engaged thoroughly. I am going back 40 years. Columbia to colonial williamsburg, williamsburg had embarked for several years upon the discussion of slavery. There was the africanamerican interpretive group and i welcome that opportunity to work with storyo better explain the and enact the story of our history. Monticello embarked at the same slavery, speaking on national Historic Sites across our country continue to speak about this more and more, engage this, but what is so important is to acknowledge it. To acknowledge it. And struggle with it. We need to struggle with this. At one ofa short look our many programs available in its entirety on our website. Cspan. Org history. American history tv, exploring our nations past every weekend on cspan3. Penn state professor Lee Ann Banaszak reflects on the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage and talks about the tactics women used to get the 19th amendment passed and ratified. This interview was recorded at the meeting in philadelphia