Transcripts For CSPAN 1976 Republican National Convention 20160717

Neither had a majority of delegates. Cbs news was there to cover a contested convention. Part of that coverage was a debate among delegates over a rule that would require president ford to name his running a made. Portion of that debate is 3. 5 hours. This is a cbs news special report. The Third Session of the Republican National convention. This portion is sponsored by merrill lynch. Now here is walter cronkite. Good evening. This may be the most exciting Political Convention session any errors a in years. The Republican Party is here to nominate a president ial candidate and an incumbent president for the First Time Since 1912 faces a serious challenge from within his own party. That comes tomorrow night according to the schedule with a scheduledt could be out on the floor of the arena tonight. Both sides will test their strength, which could make or break. New is the number of the rule proposed by the reagan side that would force president ford to name his Vice President ial running a. Othert, perhaps the fights in the contest on the platform in which the candidates are expected to run. A speech by John Connolly, the former governor of texas. Onetime democrat turned republican capable of a rousing speech from the podium that could affect the conventions course. Connolly is a ford supporter with strong ambitions of his own. President ford has broken the president of the years passed to take personal charge and today has been perhaps the most bob he had other delegations in his headquarters here on the 18th floor this hotel. One of the things that you come away with after talking to people around here walter is best. They seem to think they have the votes to get the nomination. On the other hand they are very worried about this coming up tonight. Tonight. One of the reasons they are worried is that they conducted a poll, winning by a very thin margin. Sendyou have a margin that anything can happen. The ford people know when you have a margin that then, anything can happen. They also know that if somehow the reagan forces push that through, there is a good chance it is going to cost mr. Ford some votes. That is why they will be working very hard against it and thats why the reagan folks will be working hard. Walter . Walter this has been a crucial day for the challenger, Ronald Reagan. Walter, first of all, the reagan camp is operating on the premise that the actual delegate battle is much closer than most counts indicate. Based on that, governor reagan was busy going from hotel to hotel, delegation to delegation, stressing two main things. First, reiterating very firmly that he would not accept a Vice President ial spot on a ford ticket if the income in order be this conventions nominee. Reagan said over and over he would go back to the private life, turning out speeches and turning out Radio Broadcasts and syndicated news columns, maintaining what he calls his independence to criticize government policy when he thought that was warranted. Second, he has been stressing this rule 16 battle, this is a reagan proposal that would force mr. Ford to name his perspective running mate in advance of running tomorrow. Reagan has been arguing to delegations that since he has named his potential running mate, senator schweiker, that delegates have a right to know who mr. Ford would choose. This is a point he has been making throughout the day, over and over again. The reagan people think this is a test of strength and a win on this issue would indicate reagans strength in this and think anyone ford would have to name in advance would offend someone and cost him some delegate support somewhere in this convention. Most observers with whom i talk think a win by the reagan people on this issue would not automatically mean a nomination victory for governor reagan tomorrow. They feel, however, that a loss might fatally hurt his nomination chances. The people of the reagan camp dont go that far. They have their own delegate headcounts, they are not revealing it and i are not saying whether they see a win or loss but theyd do not appear to be too worried. I think they think they have a good chance with this one, walter. Walter the reason this is so critical is the balance between the ford and reagan forces when it comes to the balloting tomorrow night is so narrow. As according to our delegate poll, president ford at this moment is running around 11 votes more than he needs. He needs 1130. Our delegate count indicates he has 1141. In other words, he would win it. There are still 78 undetermined, but anything such as this rule 16 fight could overturn those delegate counts. So, it wont be final until the balloting is actually done. Now, 16 c is going to be a very interesting parliamentary fight. A lot of things are going to happen out there. As the matter comes up, bruce morton will be following it all the way through and will be able to tell us what is happening from the podium. We assume, bruce. You can tell us in advance what you are expecting. Bruce . Walter, what we have learned our a modified market shows queens break. The ohio state chairman and chairman of the rules committee will read a report on all the rules considered. Thats just take five minutes in and then there will be 30 minutes of debate on Vice President ial 16 c. There will be six unnamed speakers for the ford side. There is a vote and there are all sorts of rumors about other proposed rules changes. Those presumably would get five minutes debate per side each. We will see how it goes. Walter . Walter thanks, bruce. Our floor correspondents will be following all of these intricate maneuverings tonight. They can tell us what they expect at the floor. First, roger mudd. Roger . Roger walter, president fords agents have been working the floor. I have talked to them. And they are nervously confident. They say they think they will win by 25 even though it earlier was reported they thought it would be about by 10. The biggest argument against rule 16 c as the reagan bandwagon slows down means the door would be left open for a reagan vice presidency and that is the argument you hear in this section of the floor. He says if we lose it, it would certainly heighten the anticipation for tomorrow morning. One member of the ford staff said president ford should never reveal his selection except in his will. Now, to mike wallace. Mike there are two vital delegations here on this part of the floor new jersey and mississippi. And both of them caucus on this Vice President ial item called 16 c. And neither one of them gave the reagan people the support they wanted. In new jersey, 67 votes, 61 according to our understanding against the reagan 16 c amendment. Four for it, to abstention. All along they have said in new jersey there are hidden votes. None showed apparently this afternoon. That is what we are going to see here this evening. 61 out of the 67 against 16 c. The big surprise as he reported walter on the evening news tonight was mississippi. They held a caucus this afternoon and voted 31 to 28 against 16 c. Now, some people say that is fords strength. Some people say the reagan people went along because they did not want gerald ford to have to nominate Ronald Reagan for his Vice President ial running mate before this came to its climax tomorrow. The fact remains that they voted as a unit and there will be 30 votes in this mississippi delegation cast against Ronald Reagan 16 c. Now, to dan rather. Dan ive been talking to delegates and its difficult to find a delegate on either side trying to force president ford to name his selection before the president ial nomination. Its very difficult to find anyone on either side of that who believes if the president is forced to do that that he will not name howard baker of tennessee. The general thinking is that if 16 c chances, bakers chances jump considerably. That is the speculation that runs fairly heavily down here. The big delegation to watch is pennsylvania. It is one where if the reagan forces are going to get what they want tonight on this issue of forcing president ford to get out front with his Vice President ial nomination. They have to win over the pennsylvania delegation. Our own straw poll indicates they will not be able to do that. We have a rough vote of 85 against the proposal if that holds in pennsylvania, difficult to see how the reagan forces can win. The nixon people slip of the tongue, sorry to say the ford people were out here early this evening checking out all of their communications equipment. They still have on the floor by far an organizational set up that is much better anything be reagan people have put out. They have walkietalkie and telephone communication. And a lot of experienced convention people. The reagan people have a far less efficient telephone system. As far as i know, they dont have any walkietalkie system at all. Delegation theas chairman who figures he can deliver all of his 100 delegate votes for the reagan side on the Vice President ial matter was telling his delegates that the evening session may last well past midnight. Mr. Barnhart told them to stick it out and snore in place if you must. But do not let your body depart. At the risk of restating the obvious, this issue does create a faceoff situation between mr. Reagan and mr. Ford, but it is not quite just that. It is more than that. There are a couple of things happening that could muddy the entire outcome on this vote on 16 c. The Vice President ial issue. Some ford people say they are going to vote against president ford on this amendment. They seem to be thinking while they want to buy ford, they want to sue the accessories look like before they finish the purchase. And we have heard from some reagan delegates who say they are going to vote against reagan on this amendment because they think it is unfair and is an example of the kind of intense pressure and battle being waged here walter on every, if not every seat in this hall is this little piece of paper handed out by the president Ford Committee that says vote no on 16 c. It says you should oppose the amendment because it prevents a fordreagan ticket since governor reagan could not at this time consent to the president s Vice President as required by the amendment. Point number 2 it eliminates a consultation with governor reagan for the Vice President nomination. In other words, the ford people are saying reagan is not going to win this president ial nomination. And unless you vote against 16 c, reagan is not going to be considered for Vice President , nor will he have a say in the Vice President ial nominee. The president will finally pick. Got that, walter . Walter i think i have. There are other subtleties in the matter as suggested by dan rather and that is if 16 c is voted tonight, the chances of president ford naming it tomorrow morning a moderate in order not to sway against him any of those who would support people on the fringes is greatly enhanced and that would be a for instance, howard baker, though there are other moderates who might satisfy liberals and more conservatives in the party. So, we are all standing aside here for the shootout from the kc stockyards. The Republican National Convention Coverage by cbs news will resume after this message. Walter the session is set to begin 15 minutes from now, the session that will tell whether president ford will get the nomination of his party or will it be the challenger, Ronald Reagan. Bill lawyers will be watching this rules fight tonight and we have some thoughts. Bill the president is first to choose winning the nomination rather than winning the election and in terms of the future of the country, the Vice President becomes president four out of the last six president s were i think it is Vice President s. Of course the ford people would not oppose it. He wants somebody who can help them in the election, but also somebody who could be president if necessary. If he loses the fight tonight, think what walter and dan rather are suggesting that it would be someone like baker, and inoffensive moderate. Bill yes. You have to keep in mind this was born not out of any first for reform. They tell a story about texas about a fellow who had to have a shotgun wedding. You took the onus off his own indiscretion. Ronald reagan is trying to turn this convention into a double shotgun wedding. Eric, he wants to call for the support of delegates to be angered no matter who he chooses. Eric the high moral tone is that it must be so. That must be solved. They are talking at the eastman case. They did not talk about mr. Agnew in 68. Would 10 hours make that much difference . Eric that is the point. People would have 10 hours to react whether they make that choice or not but to react in terms of investigating, they could do nothing. Bill it also highlights the fundamental rule of politics, which is reciprocity. It would mean that the winner, the president ial leader would be unable to select the loser as his running mate and closing down politics into an d, instead of an agent of reconciliation. Eric there is also the longdistance practical matter of future conventions here and you set a precedent. Each of the big blocks of delegates thinking they would have a serious chance to be president , none of them could designate one or the other as Vice President and it would betray their followers. That is a secondary consideration but a real one. Bill if a liberal nominee or conservative announces 10 hours in advance, he is not going to make the other people necessarily happy. He is likely to make his own people very unhappy. If he chooses a liberal, he runs the risk of making the battle more pitch and enduring and unreconcilable. Eric the selection happening here is more important than what happens in november. No Vice President ial ticket has ever increased the popular vote by more than 2 . Though, they can bring in an occasional state like lbj with in 1960. He helped to get texas and louisiana. That was a close calculation, but even lbj cost him a little bit. Bill i would expect right now that gerald ford doesnt know who he should take for the best interest of the party or for the country. Eric no, and i think he has to find that answer before he does. Walter we will be back in one minute with cbs News Coverage of the Republican National convention. Walter this crucial session of the Republican National convention is just 10 minutes or so away. It is generally agreed in kansas city that the momentum is with president ford. Nearly all of the delegate polls by various news media indicate ford has gone over the top, somewhere around a margin of five or 10 votes and upi, united press new service quoted a reagan aide as saying he has lost it. I dont see how he can pull it off. John sears is a Campaign Manager and a very smart political manager. Ronald reagan himself hoped to hold off by such maneuvers as the fight on 16 c, possibly a fight over the platform. That comes up tonight. The 21,000 word document that sets how candidates should campaign, what the Republican Party stands for. There are going to be some amendments offered tonight and one would be an amendment supported by reagan forces in the socalled independent conservatives that would in effect criticize the Henry Kissinger gerald ford Foreign Policy. That matter will be on the floor later tonight, if they get these rules things settled before dawn tomorrow. 16 c is the name of the game really because that comes up first. A major test vote. We have not had a test vote of this nature in a Political Convention since 1964 when the liberal scranton forces put a platform fight before the convention and lost it. And it was proof the goldwater forces indeed controlled that convention in san francisco. Roger mudd is with a georgia delegate who is against the Vice President ial amendment but is going to vote for it anyway. I gather, roger . Roger this is the state chairman of the gop in georgia. If Ronald Reagan is going to win on 16 c, hes going to have to get all the votes he can get. Georgia is a reagan state that there are some that will not vote for 16 c. Why is that, mr. Mattingly . Mattingly we see it as an attempt, a campaign technique to not necessarily embarrass the president but put him in a corner to change delegate votes. And i think reagan sees this and his supporters see this. And it could be indicative to how it goes. Roger while it is true you dont favor 16 c, youre going to have to vote for it . Mr. Mattingly yes, i will. Of delegations that are not sound like i am. I think the votes, no matter how it comes out tonight is not going to be indicative of the vote tomorrow night. Because as it stands right now, i believe president ford probably has the edge. And the only way the governor probably has a hope of trying to win the nomination is trying to get the president to name his Vice President ial nominee. Roger thank you. Walter . Walter most of the mississippi delegation remains officially uncommitted on the question of who should be the president ial nominee, but they made up their mind on this rules thing. Mike wallace is with the delegation chairman. Know, gilr, as you carmichael is the leader of the ford forces in mississippi. He ran for governor and almost took it last year. Gil carmichael, 30 votes against Ronald Reagan. Mississippi, how come . Gil there was a vote today and it could not help the interpreted as a ford vote. It was a real desire in the delegation to be very fair. Mike the people voted 3128. One person not there. And as a result, you invoked the unit rule. Does that reflect the fact certain reagan people simply went along . Explain the vote. Gil i think what happened is a decision was made. The ford strength is there and a lot of people did not believe it. Theres a strong support for president ford and a strong support for governor reagan. And this brought it out. We kind of divided up in the room. And just passed our most like that. Mark reid voted for 16 c but has committed himself to president ford, so that gives us 32 votes. I would say the president has 16plus votes. Mike what you seem to be saying is the mississippi delegation could go for president ford in the nomination tomorrow night . One quick note. You remember the uncommitted delegate who said she was going to give up the news first. You have now decided in favor of . President ford. Mike gerald ford. Right. Mike you said you were going to get a message from up on high. Is that where you got it . I prayed all night last night. Mike 30 votes against 16 c and conceivably a ford majority for the nomination. Which would be a big surprise tomorrow night. Walter dan rather is with one of the ford floor leaders who will be watching his delegate closely on these floor fights. Carl curtis of nebraska, senator. Dan what is the strongest argument you have found to use with people who say im going to vote for president ford for the president ial nomination but i really want to support the reagan people on this matter of getting out front with these Vice President ial choices . Senator curtis i dont know any ford people who would do that. This is a scheme to lock schweiker in for Vice President. Reagan has his backers. If the convention would force ford to have a package, they vote between it to packages and he would be home free. He can be nominated on the floor of this convention in a straight out fight. Now, if this new rule is adopted, it locks schweiker in if reagan wins. If ford wins, it locks reagan out. It is foolish why it would prevent ford from conferring even with reagan about Vice President because he couldnt do it until after the contest was over. Dan just before we went on the air, there were three or four members of the delegation trying to convince you that was not true. Did you find that persuasive . Senator curtis not at all. They cannot nominate him on this floor. And this is the rules to lock him in without a direct vote. Best with him run in nebraska . Senator curtis reagan. And as locked out if they vote for this new rule. Dan do you think theres any chance despite what he said . Senator curtis yes. Now, he would say no. He would probably say no until thursday morning, but at least he can become altered. In the past, ive known a lot of candidates who said no and in the morning, they said yes. Dan that is the kind of argument supporters are giving against 16 c. Walter of course, what senator curtis is talking about is there is a large Movement Among the more conservative delegates here that even if their candidate is nominated for the presidency, they would vote against his Vice President ial choice when i got to that vote on thursday. It seems almost every few minutes now since early this afternoon, we got another indication from our delegate count that ford is building his momentum. We just got word from our people who are keeping track of the delegates feeding them into our computers, a delegate from virginia just told cbs he would vote for president ford. He had previously been counted as having no preference. So now it goes up to 1141. The convention is just getting underway now. This crucial session of the convention with the trooping of the colors into the hall. Cbs News Coverage of the Republican National Convention Continues in a moment. Announcer cbs news continues its special report, campaign 76. Tonight, the second session of the Republican National convention from the kemper arena in kansas city. This portion is sponsored by the people of Ford Motor Company on behalf of ford and lincoln mercury dealers. Ford wants to be your car company. Oh say can you see by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, over the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that starspangled than her yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave [applause] walter that was gordon mcrae, popular singer singing the National Anthem this opening session. The invocation will be given by one of my good friends in congress, one of the outstanding members of congress in the First District of minnesota, the delegate at large. [applause] al ladies and gentlemen, let me ask you that also, if you would communicate with god in your own way, let us bow our heads and hearts. Oh, lord, god, we acknowledge that you created and planned all in the universe and created us in your image. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving this evening that you care for us, that we can safely worship you and share with others our belief in you, that we as a minority in this nation can assemble to state what we stand for and select our republican choice for president and Vice President. That your presence may infect us. Fill us through your wisdom of the holy spirit. We have differences of opinion as you know. Help us that we might love each other with the love of christ, as we push for what we believe in and who we believe in and while we need your forgiveness, help us above all to be forgiving of others. Lastly, may i remind all of us who are gathered here your words to your disciples. When james and john asked to sit at your right hand and left hand in your kingdom and you said we are to be different. Whoever would be great must be a servant, just as the son of man came not to be served but serve and give his life as a ransom for many. We pray in jesus name. Amen. Walter the convention is going to hear some brief remarks on the p. O. W. Missing in action issue from Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Shrum. The colonel retired from the army in 1973 after being a prisoner of war for five years from 1968 to 73 in vietnam. On thursday, the North Carolina delegation is considering honoring him by putting his name into nomination on the Vice President ial ballot. Thereafter, in the early parts of this evening for around 15 minutes or so, there are remarks to be heard from representative Melissa Fenwick and the president of the National Federation of republican women. Then the introduction of former senator connally, former governor connally, excuse me. The presiding officer is a temporary chairman, senator bob dole of kansas. Senator dole i ask you to take your seats. We have a most important guest. It is my honor to introduce to you one of the greatest americans of our generation. No one appreciates how long a single day is until he has spent days in a p. O. W. And communist prison. Colonel Raymond Shrum of North Carolina spent five years as a pow during the vietnam war. With him in that communist prison camp was a friend of mine, john done from hutchinson kansas. Emotional for me to tell you that he had himself engendered in his fellow prisoners. Decorated for his bravery with two silver stars, to legions of merit, three purple hearts and two awards in the combat infantry badge, it is the greatest honor to introduce colonel and mrs. Shrum. [applause] senator dole, distinguished guests, fellow republicans, as i stand here before this convention and our lord and savior jesus christ, i pray that you will bless the men and their families of whom i am about to speak. As you know, my background is largely that of a career soldier and now for at least the past two years, a small businessman. As you will immediately become aware, im neither a politician or a speaker. However, i do claim a cherished and priceless title, the most important in these United States, i am a private citizen of this republic. [applause] schrumpf with your permission tonight, i shall exercise not only the rights and privileges of that citizenship, but, more importantly, some of the responsibilities that go along with the title. That is quite simply to speak to you of the things that are on my mind and in my heart concerning the condition and direction of our country. Having spent five years of my life denied the freedoms i once took for granted, i came to realize just how precious those freedoms really are and, today, i cherish them beyond words. [applause] my faith in god, faith in my country, faith in my fellow man. It is altogether fitting and timely in this year of our 200th anniversary as the greatest republic of all time to reaffirm ourselves to the preservation not only to the bracing principles on which this country was founded. America is the only country in the world that knows the true cost of freedom and that cost can only be measured in human life and personal sacrifices. [applause] regardless of your feelings and mine on the vietnam war or how it was conducted, what is more important today is how to resolve the last chapter of the vietnam war. How to obtain the release of the remaining men still being held and the return of those who died so that they may be properly buried. [applause] as a typical, average american, i do not understand the intricacies of the world of politics, but i am learning fast. We elect individuals to Political Office with the fervent hopes they will protect their lives and liberties and love america as much as we do , individually and collectively. That personal gain and quest for political power will not be the overriding decision when hard decisions must be made on our behalf. However, my efforts on behalf of our prisoners of war and missing in action has given me pause to wonder. Where are the patriotic leaders in our country who will take a stand on behalf of the men they asked to serve . [applause] today, in this great and free nation of ours, there are many wives and children and parents who have only love to keep alive their hopes for a loved one listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action. Only god knows how many men are trying to stay alive on memories of such a love . We do not know the status of over 1000 men listed as missing in action. These men left this country and endorsed our nations commitment to its allies. That endorsement was not accomplished merely by a signature on a bill or treaty, but by personal sacrifice of life and freedom. Nor do they enjoy any of the rights and privileges we often take for granted, and for which they were willing to pay the ultimate price. Must there endorsement be forfeited to support our national interest. The idea that this matter of recognition and dedication to duty is becoming the in saying and is a fearsome not in deed. As a matter of national integrity, we are morally bound to a complete accounting and recognition of these lost men. [applause] are we the American People going to allow the leadership of this country that committed these men to be forgotten . No schrumpf right now, more and ever before, we must return integrity and moral commitment to our government. [applause] the democrats did not consider a platform for prisoners of war or missing in action. However, i noted with great interest last month that the Democratic Convention got a draft evader from the vietnam war was an elected delegate and asked for opendoor amnesty and was nominated as Vice President of the United States of america. Perhaps i am a prude, but frankly, i do not want to draft evader or deserter to have anything to say or speak for me. [applause] resolved today, now, that you will rededicate yourself to the cause of the National League of families and end the anguish of these rave men and their families. This is the humanitarian way, but more importantly, it is the american way. [applause] some of these men died in my presence, and i can assure you not one, not one ever lost his faith in his country, in his god, or in you, his fellow man. [applause] poor is the nation that has no heroes. Shameful is the one that having them forgets. Thank you, god bless you, and god bless america. [applause] walter Lieutenant Colonel raymond schrumpf, for five years, a prisoner of war in vietnam. The convention will now hear from congressman fenwick from new jersey, but meanwhile, on the floor, all of the talk is about the big fight to come tonight on rule 16 c that would require president ford to name his Vice President ial running mate no later than tomorrow morning. For more on that fight on that rule change, here is morton dean with representative Margaret Heckler from massachusetts. Martin this is a reagan and ford fight and most conservatives are siding with mr. Reagan. There is an interesting sideline. But theres congresswoman heckler is a moderate and she, in general terms, agrees with the reagan position but you will not be voting on that position, why not . Rep. Heckler i dont require i dont agree with the requirement that the president select his nominee but i do agree it in the Public Interest to have all president ial candidates suggest to the press and to the public the names of their potential running mates. And i feel that would be a reform and focus on the vice presidency. So, i agree in part but not with the specifics of this. I think this particular 16 c is a political gimmick by a shrewd but desperate Campaign Manager and not a real reform. Morton if you say the people and the press should know the type of men or women being considered for the vice presidency, why not agree with the idea of having mr. Ford name his man . Rep. Heckler i think that would be disastrous. I feel the advantage of having the public and media know who the candidates are thinking of as the running mate is that it would allow the exposure of these candidates to public view, the scrutiny of the press, the scrutiny of the public would then bring out the reflections on connolly, which came out and were helpful. I do feel the question of selection goes too far and ties the president ial candidates hand , and makes him refer to the convention instead of the body politic. Morton but you would like for the next convention that there to be some kind of arrangement or rule where the man running for president says i am considering the following individuals . Yes, i do. I feel that kind of reform would be in the Public Interest and give us an idea of who the Vice President ial hopeful might be. The names would be before the public. Morton i want to put you right on the hot seat. If this was a ford measure, as opposed to a reagan measure, you might be voting differently on this . No, i really would not. Because i think this convention does not represent the American People in its totality and if i were to vote for that proposition, i would be saying then that this convention is representative and the president ial candidate should reflect the needs of the convention and should go out to the convention and get the delegate strength and use that as a tool in choosing a vice presidency. I think that is wrong. Morton congresswoman heckler of massachusetts. Walter . Massachusetts. Walter the Republican National Convention Coverage will continue after this message. Walter how do the reagan forces look on this crucial fight on 16 c tonight . Well, one of the people who can tell us is mike wallace and he is with the reagan news secretary. Mike . Actually, he is with kathy mackie of nbc and she is talking to him. Hes has been with Ronald Reagan since virtually the beginning of his political career. He is very savvy. Knows california politics and National Politics and has read in on 16 c. Lets have a conversation here, if we can. Were you surprised at this point in time . Were you really hoping they would call kahty, i think we have a chance to go with it. Kathy thank you. I wonder if you look at camera seven. Then, the ford people have been putting out literature saying both know against 16c. They are suggesting people oppose 16 c because it prevents the ford and reagan ticket because governor reagan could not consent to be the president s Vice President as required by the sears amendment. Mike, that is a phony issue and they didnt know it. Governor reagan made it clear he would not accept the vice presidency. It has no validity at all. It just would not happen. Two, it limits consultation with governor reagan for the Vice President ial nomination. That is a fact. Obviously, the man is hardly going to call in Ronald Reagan and say i want to name a Vice President. Ron, i want your advice about all of this, but i cant do it on account of 16 c. I have to sit down and talk to you. Thats not true. If gerald ford wants to call the governor, im sure he would take his call. Mike im sure he would get that call. These are excuses. Most of the ford people admit this is a good proposal and the only thing you are saying is dont do it this year because it might affect us. Mike i think people across the United States are saying its a very good idea. But why change the rules in the middle of the game . Lets take our time and understand better how to choose a Vice President ial candidate . We are not in the middle of the game. Mike, the first place, they have years. This for four trying to figure this out without contradiction, people say this is a good way. The fact is it is a good way and mike youre only way at this point and you know it. Lynn that is not so. I think were going to win on the platform issue and i think were going to win tomorrow night. Mike the bottom line is votes. Make a prediction. Is it going to carry and if so, by how much . Mike, it will carry. But i would never be so dumb as to give you a count. Mike you know you are not getting the votes you hoped for in new jersey. Mike senator case has just told me 62 out of 67 votes in new jersey are going against 16 c. 1 abstention for 16 c. You need these votes and you just dont seem to have them. There are 167 votes going to vote for 16 c. And those votes are going to come from california. Mike walter . Walter that floor fight is not far away and when the floor fights begin, not only are they going to be on the floor, some of it will be in the periphery. The strategy for each side, the directions to the delegates and delegate hunters on the floor is run from the trailer area just outside the hall. Jim mcmanus is out there. Calledey are communication trailers. Or in military parlance, command posts. The one behind us belongs to president ford. The security is so tight that these are checked every day for electronic bugs and telephone wiretaps. Not that anyone from washington, d. C. Ought to worry about anything like that. The trailer behind us now belongs to Ronald Reagan. The general sits here in the equivalent of a broadcast anchor booth. The telephone consoles are marked button by button for each delegation and to keep track of the proceedings, a andriy of television monitors. Them,oordinators, 10 of man the telephones along the walls and these boots. They are in Constant Contact with their counterparts on the arena floor, each responsible for five state delegations. In this case, kentucky, North Carolina, tennessee, virginia , and west virginia. This is a conference room. If governor reagan and mrs. Reagan come here, this is where they will spend their time. And so, as the reagan forces get ready to do battle on the Convention Floor, this is the place from which it will all be directed. Jim mcmanus, cbs news. Inside the reagan command post, inside kemper arena. Walter president ford facing a challenge to nomination from his party, the first such of an incumbent president since 1912 is gaining momentum this evening. He has added a delegate and another delegate until now most of the media polls show he is over the top. 1130 needed. We at cbs news show he has 11 more votes than he needs but any of that could be upset and one of the test votes comes on rule 16 c, a reagan sponsored rule that would force president ford to name his Vice President ial candidate by tomorrow morning. The leader of the reagan forces here is a senator from nevada. A short while ago, he talks about what he expect on this rules vote. How does the 16 c fight shape up . From this moment, it looks good. I was a little worried about the mississippi delegation but the last word i had a little while ago was it will break down on a 1614 basis. 16 in favor of ford. 14 for reagan. If we can hold it in on that basis, i think we will win this fight tonight. Beyond mississippi, what kind of headcount do you have . We looked at headcounts on the assumption it would rake out even. That is the range we are in. It is going to be terribly tight but i am confident we are going to win this. What would the loss mean to the reagan nomination chances . It would be harmful, but how harmful, barry, would depend on the extent of the loss. Inside 10 votes, i dont think it would mean that much but i cant emphasize this is a test vote for the reagan people. Barry perhaps the most important. This could be the shootout. Walter earlier today, they had scaled down the estimate of the first ballot reagan strength. Now, john sears, the Campaign Manager for reagan, has been saying 1140 votes on the first ballot, enough to win, but today, he was saying it would be something under 1130 on the first ballot. An indication that some confidence has been shaken, but it is all going to come out in the wash. Probably, some indication of it on this vote on 16 c tonight. Besides the rule 16 c fight, there may also be an effort to strike down rule 18, a fordsponsored rule that would require the 19 states where the delegates are pledged to vote according to the results of their primary campaigns, to vote that way and not to defect. This was aimed primarily at North Carolina where the delegates are reagan delegates, but according to the way the vote went, most of them will have to vote for ford on a first ballot. After the primary vote in North Carolina. There was some talk they might not vote that way and vote for reagan instead and hence, this ford defensive move. Rule 18, before the convention tonight. Then, we move into the platform fight after the rules matter is settled, assuming it is settled early enough tonight for this session to go on to a platform. There is some talk that it is possible that the rules fight could go on so long tonight, that they would have to go into a daytime session tomorrow to get onto the platform before we move wednesday night to the balloting for the president ial nomination. The Campaign Managers dont really want to do that. The convention managers dont really want to do that. It is costly to have a session in the afternoon. One problem they have got is that they use the city buses to transport delegates from their convention hotels, some of which are quite a way out of kansas city to this arena and they cannot get the buses in the middle of the day when they are used on their normal city routes, so there is a problem involved in changing the schedule to that degree. The Republican National Convention Coverage on cbs will resume after this message. In a very few minutes now, the iowa Donald National committeeman. Several challenges brought forde the that was mrs. Outside the Convention Hall. Been listening to the reports of how things are going . Oh yes. I have had the tv on all the time. Said he thought the president would get 1200 votes on the first ballot, what do you think of that . That is a lot. I hope so. How are you enjoying kansas city . Very much. Back to you, walter. A card someone handed me that she had fallen. Did she fall down . What she did was, she was coming out of the car it down this ramp which is behind me and all of the reporters including yours truly sort of said mrs. Ford, mrs. Four, and she looked mens at the secret service caught her before she fell and she says she is fine. I could not leave it hanging that way. Glad mrs. Fortis all right. She is on her way into the hall now. And mrs. Hunter, the head of the Republican National federation of republican women has just impleaded her remarks and as i was saying before mrs. Ford arrived, john mick donald, the chairman of the Credentials Committee is about to give his report. There were some delegate challenges but they were settled in the committee. None are scheduled as far as we know and the protests has passed so the delegate list will be approved without any problems, we expect. Robert dole is residing. Lets listen. Hugs others may want to hear. Others may want to hear. If you would make every effort to clear the aisle. Be important business conducted. 2059r we might note the republican delegates at this mostly white, male, welltodo. Years, 9 are8 older than 64 years, 97 are white. The 1972han convention. The convention is toone mail. Welloff, halfre 35,000 arn more than year. As the chairman of the convention committee. The officers it like that to serve at that time were as follows. John mcdonald, chairman. Chairman,mann vice snowden of the district of columbia, secretary. At the Contest Committee hearings which were held on august 9, 1976, in kansas city, three contests were presented. Intern turn, the reports of these contests were presented to Republican National committee sitting as a committee of the whole pursuant to the rules for no appeals were taken to the Credentials Committee and annie of those cases. Cases. Ny of those in five states, changes with reference to delegates are requested in and were approved. A letter request for changes in the ardennes delegation in oregononne in the delegation denied. Print, there was an inadvertently left off a line. Of theof the proceedings Credentials Committee, we were to the by assistant general counsel and further utilize the services of the executive director of the Contest Committee, joy price. Moves, mr. Tee now chairman, that the temporary role of delegates and alternates as presented to this convention on august 16, 1976, as amended and five instances in relation to delegates and corrected in the case of florida, become the dominant role of the convention. Thanks thank you. In case youre wondering, the delegates get her on the following basis. Each state gets six at large delegates and three delegates districtcongressional and in addition, atlarge delegates are awarded on the republicanese states victories in 1972 and the 1972 state elections. The next order of business is the presentation of John Connolly for a speech. John connolly it was said is planning a rousing speech. Her comes mrs. Ford to her box. Again, it sets off a demonstration from the delegates. Was being assisted to the box by her daughter, susan ford. There are her sons. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] mrs. Ford with her youngest son. A student in animal husbandry. Her daughter susan. There is jack, the oldest son. He had a rough time before the new york delegation today. He was going to speak and the reagan delegate said it was all bringthat they wanted to a couple speakers in that started a ruckus and that started a record so finally the state chairman decided to settle the whole thing by asking jack to leave. He was only there for a few minutes. Box,san ford came into the with them is tony orlando, the musical star. On susans big bus. Notonald reagans wife is in the hall as tonights guest. Less night we were privileged to see some unusual scenes. Talking to thes crowd and susan ford arrived. Kind of a challenge as the crowd , dividings attention their cheering as well. If you couldve had a meter on the applause and cheering, maybe you wouldve gotten a strong idea on how the reagan end ford forces stack up at this convention. Ladieses and gentlemen, and gentlemen thank you very much. Dole finallyobert getting the attention of the convention. You just saw the credentials of these delegates. There was a test vote on credentials in 1952 that gave the convention of that year the first indication that Dwight David Eisenhower was going to defeat the old party leader, robert have to have ohio. After that point, it has been a way. Ttle all the the credentials of texas and georgia were put before the convention and the eisenhower forces one both of those. Both tonighto test on a roll change. First we are going to hear from John Connolly, former governor of texas. Former cabinet member under the nixon administration. He has been preparing, we have been told, a speech. It is a speech that could excite this convention and possibly influence, which direction remains to be seen. He is a ford supporter. The texas delegation, however, reaganor the delegation. Reagan having struck the primary there. Get connolly would like to the Vice President ial bid although of course he has not said so in so many words. I am sure he would like to. He has his chances with his be chaired tonight. Last night, hundreds of thousands of americans have now had a chance and politics had this opportunity because we had the help of mrs. Williams. I have had literally hundreds of phone calls and telegrams across that thetry saying Republican Party does have a hard. We are a party of compassion. We are a party who cares. Because of the efforts of mrs. Williams last night will stop i wanted you all to thank her. Thank you terry much. Much. Y ] pplause ladies and gentlemen, our next guest will be introduced by the delegate from rhode island. A former specialist. The former mayor of providence, rhode island. He is the first republican mayor of providence in modern history. 35 years old. Federal prosecutor. Thank you very much. Conventioneers, the name i am about to bring to the attention of this convention is a man familiar to all. Priority of fulfilling that responsibility, i would like to address myself to mr. Carter. If he is watching, that is. Is simpson, and mayor of the great city of providence, rhode island. Not an italianm proud of my ethnic background. Applause] thehen you refuse to see italoamerican delegation last month, you heard me and my friends. Theme remind you about building of this great nation, the 23 million foreigners who emigrated to our shores in search of a better opportunity. [applause] so now comes the rich right cultures that characterize our american way of life. Long, ethnic seven treated as statistics by Democratic Political machines that stifle their hopes, laugh at their ambitions, and scoff at their dreams. For too long, we have been seen by sociologists and urban planners as figures on a graph or spoken of an academic terms, allegory to Republican Party has seen fit to recognize the needs of our neighborhoods by including our particular interests ambitious platform. Party will rekindle the American Dream for the greek americans, for the polish and armenian americans, for the wrench, and afroamericans, and for the innovaroamericans to. Aloamericans, too. Yes, our republican ranks contain many of us who are probably come from providence, from the streets of boston, or from texas. Because it shall be from the cities and neighborhoods of the east and the west that republicans, independents, and yes, even democrats with names that end and all and i is the aunt t. 0 and i and z and t. The man i call your attention to now is one of as. Polish,up on monday mexican, and czechoslovakian communities. He has unique interest and special understanding for the heritage of this nation and the people from the many lands who made it so. His credentials are long dead familiar to you all. He was the secretary of the navy, the secretary of the treasury, a man whose wisdom and judgment has been sought by former president s representing both parties. But he never gave up his childhood and he personally conceived and supported creation by the state of texas of a magnet for get institute of culture switch depicts and honors the 26 ethnic groups that help to build that great state. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you now a man who knows how to pronounce ital oamericans and knows how to pronounce the word friend. Let and gentlemen, the former governor of the great state of texas, governor john connally. John connolly introduced. Mr. Connolly thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Chairman, ladies and 200 years ago in 1776, a bandr of of patriots convened at philadelphia to undertake a task for which there appeared little promise. Against all odds which seem to insurmountable. Oppositionrenched which seemed impregnable they they contended to get there and against one another. But when those deliberations were done, they brought forth together a new nation which has changed the course of human history. Of in this historic summer other americans representing their countrymen in every region of state our meeting together in this nations heartland facing a challenge no less formidable they on which confronted the first of americans. Again, against all odds which are long, against opposition which is strong, we are here to take up the challenge of changing our nations course. Changing it away from a reckless and senseless course which course andoth our our principles. Changing and in ways which will preserve americas enduring values and assure americas continuing greatness. , we present to our fellow americans no contrived facades or artificial unanimity. In view of all of our countrymen we are meeting together, contending together, deciding together. Have no aims to conceal, no plans to hide, no. Oals to obscure when these deliberations are done, we shall go forth united with one clear goal. To elect a president dedicated preferences the majority of americans are devoted to and stand. [applause] connolly our cause is a proud cause and a just cause. It is also an urgent cause and i is to that urgency which will. Across the decades of this troubled century, the tragedies of freedom most often have been brought for the failure of people to face the clear and compelling evidence of their freedom. , free men and women have seen the encroachments upon their lives and liberties. Seen the oppressiveness at home. When tested abroad. Yet, seeing all of those signs and signals they still have thatd, hoping, trusting, what they might surely see would somehow be changed. At this moment in history in america, there is an urgent need for all concerned to acknowledge the meaning. A clear and unmistakable meaning of what is apparent to us all. I know it. You know it. A segment of the American Population which does not know we are living under the reign of government long enough. ,he benevolent object dems worthy purposes, idealistic goals, cannot obscure the ugly in disturbing reality that change has come over the nature of government and this land. That every station in this society and the citizens who suffer poverty to those who enjoy plenty, government is feared and distrusted. Where once a americans could rejoice that theres was a government of the people, for the people, by the people, today there is widespread questions whether it is now any of those things. What has changed . What has gone wrong . To answer these questions, i believe we must look to the very beginning of our system. To the system brought into being for us to centuries ago. The founders of this nation designed the system on three sound and suppose. First three sound principles. First, it should be a system of checks and balances. They further conceived the system is one of which the representatives of the people only ae first and accountable to the people who are chosen them to serve. That undernvisioned the system the power of the presidency itself would be interested to leaders known and tested in the national leadership. Leadership thoroughly proven in the crucible of power before themselves being entrusted with power. It is by those principles that i believe all americans should measure the choices with which this year ofe in crucial decisions. Let me explain. You, the nation watched and listened to the delegates of the democratic already in new york city. Are those proceedings, americans heard speaker after speaker boasting of their party as the party in control of the american system. The parting control of local government. The party controlled state government. The party in of congress and the United States. Theirt, the Democrat Bill case. Arguing they should begin for an absolute and total dominion over all the power of the system by control of the executive branch of the federal government as well. I believe that is an argument which americans must view with great alarm. I say to you, it is time. That weng past time must awaken to the reality that our system is in danger of losing the balances which assured its success and our personal freedoms. Not in the lifetime of anyone present here, not in the lifetime the republic itself have we been so near as we are now, today, to the subjugation of the system under the role of iningle already will stop the last 44 years, almost one fourth of the life of this nation, it is the democrat nation which has exercised control over the congress. Not a lawf that time, been an acted, not a Government Agency created, not a single tax dollars spent for the government except by and with the votes of the democrat majority controlling the congress and those records of the years is a from which the democrats cannot escape responsibility. The party in the last 44 years, it has been the Democrat Party threats absolute domination of the congress which is fire to the stoking inflation that is consuming the earnings, the hopes, and the aspirations of americans of all ages in this country today. Applause] for 40 of the 44 years, it has been the democrat already through which total control of , which has built the federal bureaucracy of a larger in larger in and direct to the agents of that bureaucracy to penetrate deeper into the private affairs of this nation and our lives. Democrat partye in congress. The Democrat Party had every level which has unleashed upon the American People a curse. An abomination. A government which today careens about so clearly out of control. Is this the party which the people in this land now want to final dominion over their lives and liberties . no put itst the party to people . R the no you know it and i know that the answer is no. Applause] not only must we keep a republican president in the white house, we must vote toselves and every district restore Party Alignment and both houses of the congress and to the party who must lead discharge . Who of the people of muslim discharge for this country . Republicans here in this hope. You must lead the charge. Applause] and that challenges made doubly demanding by the factions now gaining ascendancy. For our Founding Fathers recognized as the system must ite its checks and balances, must also function on the principle of the accountability. The accountability of elected representatives to those who they are elected to serve. Party has moved relentlessly everyze control of segment of the system. So it is controlling segments thismoved to contravene accountability and we must remember only two years ago the true object was made bare for all of us to see. Not only did they seek to veto through congress, and congress beyond any influence offered strength from a republican theydent, but if that time undertook to make all democrat representatives accountable not to the people but to the parties. Wn narrow leadership youword you will recall, will recall that the word went forth from every state and henceforthat positions of leadership within the party would be denied them unless they marched in lockstep with the command of the corpus rather than answering honorably to the dictates of their own conscience, beliefs, and constituents. I submit to you that this way is not the way. That the system, this nation, the great nation we wish to return to now. Against this ground we see the works of the recent Democratic Convention in a new and clear light. At that convention, the Democrat Party of today finally closed the circle. It nominated and submitted to the people as the partys 1976 a man unknown. A man untested. Subservient to those annexed portably tightening their control over the nation. Of those choice, every american, past loyaltyor her must surely upon us to question. Do you want to entrust the leadership of this land for the next four years to a man of whom you have never heard one year ago . No are you willing to place at the helmets of this time, a commanderinchief who may not know where he intends to steer the ship of state . No occupiedsince america a role of responsibility and leadership has any party ever asked the American People to give their vote to a candidate so little known, so little tested, so little probe as the Democratic Party nomination for 1976. ] heers and applause and let me respectfully remind you all, in the big leagues of world leadership, they would rather play softball. Applause] with this country needs a hand must have is more leadership, more republican revival. We need more Republican Leadership to come to the aid. Come to the aid of the president of the United States. Begins with a honesty, with candor, and with boldness. , the averageicans have problems we and are willing to face up to them. We must tell the American People promise them cheap energy because the days of cheap energy are over and the sooner we face that fact the better we are as a people. The Republican Party must say to america, there is going to be a great pressure on our capacity and fiber because of the expanding population. We must face the fact the present population is expected to double in the next 35 years to 8 billion people. We must tell the American People that the future may not be all sweetness and light because it probably will not be. Only 29 of the people in this world live in relative freedom. The other 80 live under some form of yearning and some of those tyrants are sworn to destroy america and it is time we faced that cold, hard fact. [applause] we must tell the American People that government cannot he a cradle to the grave security. It cannot. We must tell the American People we cannot forever live beyond our income as a nation. Because we cannot. Once and for all, we must convince the American People that those who tell Us Government cant do those things are cool deceivers playing with our hopes and dreams and they are false prophets who are married only to scorn. Must tell the American People that we are living in a dangerous and changing world. We cannot continue to be wasteful and extravagant with the worlds precious resources. We represent only 5 of the worlds population yet we consume almost one third of the worlds from iteris. We must tell the American People weve seen the end of an era of abundance and affluence and now face a time of scarcity and sacrifice. People must understand that political promises of impossible achievement and only an bitter disillusionment. Of thent talk only problems of america. Lets keep in perspective some of the things that are right with this great nation. Most importantly, we are at peace with the world. A piece brought about by a republican administration. [cheers and applause] no american is on a battlefield at any place on this earth and for that we should all be grateful. Secondly, were still probably wearing the mantras of the leadership of the free world. Where the most powerful nation on earth and we review center dot conquest but for peace and prosperity. Tonight, almost 88 million americans are gainfully employed. Basis, more than any other society in the face of europe. We as a people enjoy the highest standard of living ever obtained by any people in recorded history. We house more people and house them better. More people and educated them better than any people since the beginning of time. [applause] just to reflect on our good fortune. To carry on a republican revival we must lead the Republican Party will lead the American People in this nation to new strengths. To carry on a republican revival, we should talk about national security. We must remain number one in the world. Whatever the cost. Applause] to carry on a republican revival, we must pledge our leadership to the new economic and opportunity and security. The miracle of this nation has been the remarkable Economic Vitality of our Free Enterprise system and we must not allow anyone to dismantle or nationalize it. On a republican revival we must pledge to get the federal government often the backs of our people. Off of the the backs of our people. The farmer. Lets give it a pledge of freedom from the farms imposed by regulations and guidelines. Every working man and woman in america has a say in this because it affects wages, job security, and new job opportunity. And to deficitd spending. Spending andeficit the cruel inflation that silently robs all americans hurting most those who can afford it least. Republican administration has fanned the flames. Theing is more vital to stability and wellbeing of this nation. The time is come for the Republican Party to lead the fight for a constitutional amendment to prohibit deficit spending except in time of war or national emergency. [cheers and applause] finally, and most importantly, the republican wety must tell america that are dedicated to the rekindling of the spirit of the individual. Government surely must provide many sureties and we must be poised to see those services are provided and effectively. A government did not tell this nation. Of theentless spirit individual built this nation and if we are to face the challenges of the future, we must once again encourage the genius of the individual not the mediocrity and conformity. Our Founding Fathers fashioned a system of rights and privileges life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for they common man but they also fashioned a system that would provide the uncommon man. Freedomsn our personal and the system of commerce and it is a climate of responsibility that produced an uncommon man named Abraham Lincoln. It was a climate of opportunity that produced Thomas Alva Edison and Alexander Graham bell. It was the climate of opportunity that produced an georgen in man named washington carver and dr. Jonas salk. An out there tonight are countless more young minds that andbecome uncommon men uncommon women. We need those individuals. Genius the extraordinary for the future of america and the future of this world. We must rekindle bad genius and the system of rewards. America can the individual source i with godgiven talents and personal dedication. Without the shackles of caster class cast her class. Takenare those who have away that fountainhead of individual chief achievement. Their goals would nationalize our economy and reduce us to a massive mediocrity. It down the pathway lies the conformity. Loud of smothering vitality of our people and reducing life to hopeless despair. Thehat pathway, and beyond economic freedom, lies the loss of all economic freedom. We have enjoyed those freedoms longer than any other nation in history and we tend to take those freedoms for granted. But listen to one of the worlds great spokesman for freedom. Listen. He says of us, you have the impression that democracies can last. But democracies are islands in an immense river of history and the waters are always rising. About whate and link he is saying to us. And when we think of the freedoms we enjoy today, lets remember always the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson engraved on that memorial. Swear eternal hostility against every tyranny over the mind of man. Long thisnow how nation of personal freedoms will last. It all depends upon you and me and our determination to protect them and our courage to defend them. We do know is that most societies, no nation has remained number one or ever. Egypt createdf remarkable feats but it was covered with the sins of the deserts. The golden age of greece saw one of the greatest times of man, but that golden age passed into a bolivian. The roman legions conquered the known world but the great roman of law anderms justice and culture and learning, faded into obscurity. The dark ages descended on the world and with the passing of the dark ages, the great colonial powers rose. The rule the world for 400 years. , but the end of world war ii saw the end of the great colonial powers and the leadership fell for the first time on the United States. How long will we have it . How long will we bear it . Only you and i can say. How long the civilization, the free society of america will exist, i do not know. I only hope that when the time our labors in of this great republic, historians will not save us as they did of the ancient athenians, they wanted comfort and security more than freedom and in the end they lost their freedom, their comfort, and their security. I would hope when the record of our Services Finally written it will be deeply engraved in the mind of all who follow that up till the very end we were still trying. Up until the very end we were reaching beyond our best. Up until the end we weres health daring to expand the horizon of human freedom and human opportunity. Up to the very end we were trying to enrich the lives of all people. October the end we resisted with every fiber of our being the dominatingcentral government and up until the very end we had an abiding faith in almighty god that there is more good thing in evil in man. Thank you very much. Applause] John Connolly is former governor of texas. He turned from democrat to republican in the nixon administration. He is a favorite of many members of this convention for a nomination. He is almost equally opposed by many members of the convention. Accepting atted of bribe to influence an increase in milk price support. There is some talk that he is on the watergate tapes from the white house. Heart of this have not been made public and members of the House Watergate Committee that voted impeachment said republican members said they did not think you should be on a republican ticket for that reason and he is quite a controversial figure. Admittedly one of the strongest members in Public Appeal and in his negotiating capabilities. Connollylly, john turning from democrat to republican is not the only member who has made that switch in the democratic to Republican Party with considerable success. Andrew johnson did. He was Abraham Lincolns Vice President. Theell wilkie, standardbearer of this party did it. Strom thurmond was once a democrat. Governor of virginia, and of course we can also name Ronald Reagan who was once a democrat that is now a challenger for the republican nomination itself. Others, like john lindsay, former mayor of new york didnt the other way around. Republican to democrat. Senator wayne morris of oregon. He was a republican, then an independent, then a democrat. He won reelection under all those banners. Now we come to the point after the official photograph they are about to take of this convention proceeding, the rules Committee Report and then that test vote will come on socalled role 16 c. Demand a for two reagan effort to demand forward name his Vice President ial running mate by 9 00 tomorrow morning. Our chief delegate. He has done their job for us for a long time now. He has been out taking a rather informal poll on the floor of the convention and he says it appears to him 16 c will be a reagan test vote to it will be a test vote in that sense. Also, if it were a state vote all the weight through, ford would be the winner since the cbs news elegant indicates they have votes for the majority of the convention. It should be pointed out that the president ial nomination takes a majority of all the delegates. For a vote on the roles change, it would take only a majority of 30. Bud selig may not be 11 we really wont know what the majority says until we know how many actually vote. If it goes over 11 already, it will have to be considered a victory. The connellys supporters in this convention are continuing a demonstration. That John Connolly had been told by president ford that he was no longer under consideration as a possible running a. He denied he had been told that. There seems to be some hesitance. Strong opposition in the party. John connolly is seeing less support, particularly in the south. Not in the northeastern section and there is some talk that John Connolly was hoping to get Ronald Reagan to tell him he would be the man to bring the country back together and maybe that will happen. The John Connolly demonstration has turned into a board demonstration. Ford demonstration. [gavelling] and gentlemen. Would you please take your seats. Or take anybodys seat. But please, sit down. Bob dole, temporary chairman. The gavel. 40 feet of timber. Good resonance. Bob dole if you will please take your seats. You very much. [pounding gavel] roaring] [whistling] seems to be no particular reason for this demonstration at the moment. The last big effort before they get to the rules committee on 16 c. But abdul is having very little luck getting their attention but bob dolan is having very little lucky getting their attention. Bob dole is having very little luck getting their attention. Gentlemen. Adies and es and gentlemen thank you. Thank you. [crowd roaring] [pounding gavel] bob dole ladies and gentlemen. Please be seated. Will the delegates and audience please be seated . Will the delegates and alternates please be seated and on the floor please be seated . The delegates on my right please be seated . [gavel pounding] andill the delegates alternates please be seated . Bob dole thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Your special attention is needed at this time. Your special attention is needed at this time. Bob dole will the delegates please be seated, as well as her guests in the back. Back willsts in the my delegates on the left please be seated . They decided to use music to finally closed this demonstration. Perhaps no place to go either. Ford groups were deciding for their particular candidate. The first time we have seen this in a Political Convention for, 45 conventions. Delegateswill the please be seated . [yelling] thank you very much. I remember in 1972, i would like to thank john conley our speaker. And that he is now a republican. 1972 in miami when i was chairman of the Republican Party, the most exciting event was taking the official photograph. I can see from the enthusiasm here that you may have other things in mind. In any event, the time has come to take the historical photograph of this 31st republican convention. Is fromcial photograph kansas city, missouri. Look upon my right. From moving or speaking for 30 seconds, you might set the record, and you might receive a photograph. So please, look towards the right towards the cbs anchor booth. Please know we are not taking the official photograph from the cbs anchor booth. Doesnt the potential of photographers learn about us. Republican National Convention coverage by cbs news will continue after this message. Cbs news continues its special report campaign 1976. Tonight, the Third Session of the Republican National convention from kansas city. This portion is sponsored by the people of Ford Motor Company on behalf of ford and lincoln mercury dealers. Ford wants to be your car company. Now here again is water concrete. Walter cronkite. Beginning,will be there is something going on in the mississippi delegation. Like wallace can tell us what. Florida politics, mississippi style in the delegation. We told you earlier they had voted 3128. The unit rule was going to give them 30 votes against. Whichwas a headline quoted roger martin as saying president ford intends to bypass the cotton south in his campaign between now and the convention. That infuriated many people in the mississippi delegation. Now the reagan people are asking for a caucus. A want to go off the floor. They would like to break the unit rules. They believe they have some adherence to their cost. There has been a fight, shall we or shall we not leave the floor in order to break the unit rule . We have the leader of the four forces here in the mississippi delegation. The ford forces here in the this is be delegation. Can explain what the fight is about . We are taking to see if the mississippi delegation wants to caucus. Right, but you want to caucus over breaking the unit rules. You dont want them to break the unit rules. Thats not the question. We agreed on one thing, but now we get here and we disagree. This afternoon while we were in caucus, we brought it up three times, does anybody want to break the unit will . The answer was no. We asked for a caucus three times yesterday and were not granted it. And now we have one. Why do you people now want this caucus . Like you want to break the unit rule . Malcolm . We think this is a ballgame tonight. How do you mean . If we can past 16 c on the floor of the convention, this will force the hand of president ford. Was it a headline in the birmingham paper, the fact that will give short thrift to the cotton south . I dont know if that is what started it. It certainly played a part in this. Did you hear john taylor saying that roger martin had shot his mouth off . And that the president called clerk rate and had no clark reed and how a no intention of visiting the south . I had not heard the president say it. Are you indeed going off the caucus . Im not. In other words, just the reagan people are going to caucus. It appears that way. The legions of the already convinced will go off and talk to each other . There may be others that go with us. Never a convention, democrat without a real, donnybrook in the mississippi delegation. Chairman of the ohio state committee is now making his formal talk before presenting the rules. Of theabout the fairness rules procedures on the Republican Party. A somewhat partisan view. While he is doing that, dan rather has been covering the reagan floor leaders can report on what congress is making on this fight. Two of the talked to reagan leaders. They are still talking a good game, but the sense on the floor , whether it is the pennsylvania delegation or the michigan delegation is this it is slipping away if indeed the reaganites ever had it on 16 c. Pennsylvania is a good example as any. The chairman thinks he can deliver, not the delegation chair. I stand corrected. Is the leader of the forces in this delegation. What you are seeing is a portrait of a politician, top down on the floor, extremely crowded. Little touches us bitterness between the ford and reagan people,\ not in pennsylvania but over in texa and the balcony. They had a sign torn down earlier. We have friends and are unified and we wont conduct ourselves friendly to nominate so you hold. Indications were that it would be 85 votes for the fourth position, against 16 c enforcing the president to name his Vice President for choice before he himself is nominated. May be as many as 89 votes for the delegation. Overall the flow is away from the reaganites on this question and toward the ford forces. Suddenly, the reagan forces have been shifting. Well, either if we dont win out on 16 c, we will do better on platform. Seems that they have a point, that it might be easier for the reaganites, if they are going to win one on the platform. Without the easier in this case . Would that be easier in this case . [indiscernible] in the rules form that they are in the platform. Dan, mrs. Reagan is coming into the hall, nancy reagan, seven off another demonstration. As t chairman of the rules committeeh and chairman of the state committee was getting through part of the rules concerning the Vice President ial nomination. And rule 16 c. Now will have a break for this demonstration for nancy reagan. The impression that the lives of the candidates for the president ial nomination are being moved like pawns, or perhaps like queens, in a chess game. Nancy reagans arrival tonight must have been timed by the reagan forces for the maximum impact just before this vote. Even as last night the arrival of mrs. Forward seemed to be imed ford seemed to be t overwhelmingly at a time orchestrated for nancy reagan. They have chosen this moment of the demonstration for nancy reagan to strike up a dance with mrs. Ford. Coverage of the National Convention will continue in a moment. The timing of arrival of in theuished persons convention, not a new art of course. It has gone on since time immemorial. There was one occasion where a candidate appeared in the whole before the vote of the declared candidate, that was back in 1956 in a tight nomination race. He said the reason was that his father wanted to come to the Convention Hall and that he needed to escort him. Set quite off a demonstration from the stevens and people naturally. Naturally. N people have issued aple round of applause for John Connolly, and the reagan people took up the chant and cheers. To its word to if it was John Connolly sitting the applause or reagan getting more support from his northeast supporters. Finally i think it was the latter. Many attribute these delegates to him. There were a lot of people sitting on their hands, and connolly is a controversial figure in this party. Dan rather is on the floor with the Republican National chairman roger morton. He is the floor chairman. It, thei understand mississippi delegation is talking about a throat attributed to you to write off the south. Absolutely not. I said in the interview that we werent going to write off anything. I said some would be easier than others. I believe when the president is nominated should take a plane to georgia. Dan i want our viewers to understand this situation fully. The mississippi delegation, under the unit rule, is going to vote all the way with president not tonight on 16 c, force him to name his president Vice President of choice. Now the mississippians, whether hard to it or not, its be upset about what they think you said. I think some states are easier than others. I believe strongly that the republicans bus far can visit all of the southern states. Dan do you think this will tip over the mississippians tomorrow night . I hope not. I do not think it will. I think the mississippi delegation will hold fast. I have always been a bigger fan and i dont see any reason baker fan and i dont see any reason why it would change. Dan have you talked to anyone in mississippi about the situation . No, and im going to. I have been talking to them on the telephone trying to assure them that i absolutely believe should visitsident an all of the southern states. I said inamed zero that i wasnt going to i said in the interview that i wasnt going to write off everything. Question ne was not a mark, will ford right off the south . I dont think he will do that. We are going to take a plane to georgia. I have been tried to talk to him on the telephone. Hell, i am a southerner myself. Dan are you going to mississippi right now . I have not yet. Dan why dont we walk over there with you and lets get it straightened out . Rogers morton came on the floor as many have been doing. He is going over to the mississippi delegation to straighten out something. I think you might be better off if he can get over it this way. Takes a few minutes to get over there. It is so crowded down here. I think i may have covered him over the years. He is concerned about this situation. He thinks is a genuine misunderstanding with the mississippi delegation. Anytime youre talking about it delegation with 30 votes, as mississippi is with the unit rule, you can understand why he want to straighten it out. Walter dan, dan Rogers Morton knows a lot of people. She knows a lot of people and wants to stop for a moment. Those in the yellow hat are part of the Ford Operation on the ground. Apparently to ask him what he has heard. Rogers morton is getting the increasing feeling that this will be a little larger than he first figured on. [indiscernible] rate this way to mississippi, i think. Understand. Tells me he has had second thoughts about this whole operation and has gone over to discuss the matter with for the floor reps president ford. Both in close contact with senator robert griffin, the man in control on the four for president ford. He says he wants to talk to him privately. Morton does not seem to be in any great hurry to get over there. Considering the crowd of the perhapsppi delegation, like wallace can catch up with Rogers Morton when he gets over there. The man in the red hat, another one of senator griffins floor operatives for senator ford. Another forfive minutes to go in the mississippi delegation. We will keep an eye on you dan. Will take you up when you have something. Meanwhile on the Convention Floor, the chairman of the rules committee is just about to finish his formal report before getting to rule 1 6 c. Cbs news of the Republican National convention will can you in just a moment. Will continue in just a moment. The clerk is now reading the amendment for rule 16. Will get to section c in just a moment. In making the nomination for president and Vice President and voting thereon, in no case shall eitherl of the role cents with the total time of the nominating speech and seconding speeches or any candidate for president or Vice President shall not exceed 15 minutes. By delegatesfered at a new section to read [gavel clacking] [cheering and yelling] [gavel clacking] walter it was an unruly convention tonight, and they did not even get to the matter of the ruling. Will the delegates and nominates please be seated. [yelling and chanting] [gavel clacking] [yelling] ladies and gentlemen, this is most important. This will impact the outcome of whatever happens here, in any c ase. I will ask the reading clerk to proceed. I will ask him to reread the amendment. Amendment offered by delegates Thomas B Curtis of missouri. Sec new section to read tion c whole persons seeking to be no donated for president under section a and b above shall announce to the convention as with his secretary a declaration stating whom he or she will recommend to the convention as the vice isesidential nominee. Th declaration [yelling] this declaration shall be filed with the secretary of the convention by 9 00 a. M. On the day on which the nomination for president is held. This declaration shall state the persons name and that he or she has agreed to accept such nomination. No delegates or units to the convention shall be bound by any commitment of any kind, public or private to support any president ial candidate who does not file such a declaration. The clerk reading that is joe bartlett, the minority clerk. I would only ask that you listen to me for about 30 seconds. I am about to read the agreement between the ford and reagan forces as to how we might dispose of this matter. Is important that all the delegates and alternates have a right to be heard. I will therefore ask the media to conclude their interviews in the aisles and permit those who are here [cheering] i would ask that the aisles be cleared and alert the sergeant at arms that the aisles will be cleared. I would ask the media to please retire to the rear of the room and conduct your interviews in that area. Detrimentally delegates seated manycannot there are delegates seated that cannot participate because you are there. [cheering] will the sergeant at arms please cooperate . Or will the media please cooperate . Will all those in the aisles please moved to the bears of the arena . To the rears of the area . We would like to get onto this very important business. The delegates have a right to be heard. Those presenting the argument for the amendment and against have the right to be heard. Asked the media on my left to please clear the aisle. Sergeant affirms begin a pointed post at the convention. They are hired guards and ushers. They are now moving out into the out thetrying to cur edict of temporary german bob dole that the aisles be cleared. Temporary chairman bob dole that the aisles be cleared. Media representatives in the aisles, somewhere there there are the delegates. As the media People Living voluntarily, the veil gets not the delegates not so quickly. Bob dole i think those for incorporating. F i thank those cooperatingor. Little the sergeant at arms please clear the aisles. If bob dole succeeds in clearing these aisles, i think it will be the first time at a Public Convention in a quarter of a century where the aisles have been cleared. This proceeds the days of television, too. Bob dole can all the delegates see or hear what is happening . Bob dole ladies and gentlemen, i will now read the agreement. The chair wishes to advise the delegates of the procedure which will follow and ask among the amendment rule on in order of business. The delegates please withhold any audible conversation. The delegates are entitled to hear the debate. That i collect have a important decision to make. The delegates want to make that decision objectively. And those who are guests and those who may be in the hall standing, seated or otherwise, please bear with us just for a while. Thankair should first those who have offered the amendment on this procedure. The debate will be limited to 30 minutes which will be divided evenly. They may each choose their time as they see fit, using it all themselves, were dividing time, the speakers. Of all the time is elapsed, the adoption of the amendment will be ruled and order of business. If there is no objection to the procedures outlined by the chair, we shall proceed. Ordered, the chair now recognizes delegate tom curtis to open the debate. Tom . Tom curtis, former congressman for missouri speaking for the reagan amendment. Ladies and gentlemen, we have the opportunity to strengthen our party procedures for the even more important we have the opportunity to demonstrate the resilience of our fellow citizens are watching that we republicans are wise enough to learn from recent painful experiences. This evening our party should make a finding and moral disclosureto do full and put trust in the American People. You my fellow delegates are the representatives of the people of this convention and they are watching for you to decide between secrecy and candor and politics as usual versus the national interest. Before explaining why i believe that it has changed in role 16 as necessary. Credentials. Er my during my 18 years as a congressman i served as the ranking republican in the joint housesenate committee to modernize the rules of congress, a job that still needs to be done. [applause] served my convention as acting parliamentarian. May i was chairman of the federal Election Commission in protest to the sex successful attempt of the congress led by wayne hayes to destroy this. I asked the president not to reappoint me. Against fellow who ran tom eagleton in 1968. [applause] we recall how his hasty selection for the 1972 democratic ticket led to a fiasco. The democrats have talked about reform but have not done anything except the space of political beauty parade and empty crusade for the den of benefit of the news media. [applause] since 1972 our own parties ruled and has urged that improvement depot proposed. Andproposal is responsive it is a serious proposal made at the time when our party has compelling reasons to bear witness to its desire for reform. Change united Political Science theory with political reality. It recognizes the enormous importance that the office of the vice presidency has placed in recent years. It gets rid of tragic procedures. Eliminates the frantic post midnight scramble of the about the denial of the Convention Delegates to know the neighborhoods. It will win the election and govern according to a strategy and policy known in advance. Under our proposal the convention chief has power. The majority of the delegates but the big change here is that the president ial candidate a compatible running mate. Hiss not restricted in method of selection. But with they must tell us who is on the team before expecting them to join. Trust the delegates and take back before they cast their vote. There is only a day just 24 hours but it also adds real meaning. Responsibility is fair because will share the longterm consequences of the candidates decision. Of the effect of our decisions. Tatians always attempt to make these forms respective. I say we recognize the problem we have four years with these of facts. And i restore the balance of my time. Ideal two minutes of my time to the delegate from wisconsin. He will be speaking for the fourth position. Delegates my name is Dori Gunderson and i am from wisconsin. [applause] amendment and i understand it. I oppose it. The reason before. Reason for this last minute of and amendment is for equal opportunism. Now i believe it is time to really tell like it is. Furthermore, none of you has participated for the Vice President potential candidate that was designated by governor reagan. Ladies and gentlemen. As paul harley so adequately put. T the real reason for this proposal. Thank you. More to come. It will resume after this message. Speaking for the reagan proposal, she got a good laugh from this convention when she said she was reminded of a bridegroom who was about to be married on wednesday night but wednesday morning has not decided which girl to take for the bride. We dont know who is invited to the wedding. It is of prime importance that we know in advance who has had our team at the top. We hope that you will have your support for the good of the Republican Party. The mississippi delegation is deeply divided on both the and wasnd ford issue we certainly have not seen this kind of spirit. Since the 1964 convention when this party was deeply divided. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a very enthusiastic audience but this is agreed to. Everyone that walks up to this podium is a little nervous to start with. [applause] thank you mr. Chairman. Two additional minutes of my time. I would appreciate it if you would give her your attention. Fellow delegates. Served in the subcommittee assigned in consideration of Vice President ial reform. As for the past two years i have served on the rule 29 committee and the rules committee before serving as your vicechairman on the rules committee of this convention. Tenure we have fully discussed all of the Vice President ial Selection Process proposals. However, none of the proposals were not reviewed without debate and there have been no proposals made for a purely political purposes. [applause] it is nothing more than a lastminute political maneuver. I would like to tell you that this proposal has been rejected not only once but twice. It has been rejected by the rules committee and the rules committee of this convention. And it was rejected by a resounding margin. This proposal is tampering with the institution of the vice presidency. If we are to be the first of the two major republican parties to adopt adopt reform. This proposal and 16 c is to benefit only one candidate. By president ial Selection Process and for this reason it should be voted down. Walter she was Vice President of the rules committee. They did turn down this is why itn and that has, up on the board. Yield toan i additional minutes of my time. Mr. Chairman and fellow i came from texarkana, arkansas to join you in this position to it. Andominate an expresident to nominate the next Vice President of the United States. [applause] i think we have the two best candidates running in america today. And for this reason i am opposed to rule 16 c. My reason is basic and it is simple. Me and itanchises disenfranchises you. Many of you know because i have you. Ith yield walter there is something going on in the new york delegation. Many of them there seem to be chasing some large man off the board. He is being exported escorted by the guards. We will find out what that is about. The new york delegation has been having its troubles all day. They are complaining against the and theytreatment insisted today that they be heard. They caused so much fuss about that. Our reporters were asked to leave the floor. We cannot find out when Something Like this does happen. We hope we can get an answer in a few moments. Bob dole is trying to get order again. Will the delegates please take their seats . There are too few problems. Someone with a credential came by and ripped the phone out belonging to richard rosenbaum, the chairman of the new york delegation. We have another problem. They will not summon the news people on the floor. Senator dole has ordered them to clear the aisle can you explain what the problem is now. Let me walk down. She demands that the authorities arrest that gentleman but he was escorted off the floor. I cant understand you. Tell us what happened. He came up and tore up my phone. He also damaged my other phone. What did he say . And what did he say to you . He is the vicechairman of one of those delegations. What reason did he get . A think they got. With some is that . Phone is that . My other phone is damaged to. A lot of pushing and shoving right now. Certainly when the aisles are cleared. Orderly for an procedure. News they cannot get through it. Bob dole is waiting for this matter to be cleared. This is the quadrennial rePublic Convention. This in effect is it. It is a rule that has been proposed and the president ial nominees are seeking to name the Vice President ial candidate in the morning before. Our office is inside there and someone offer the facilities and they have been enough for about 1015 minutes. What they want to do is break that unit rule. As you earlier today they voted 2128. And then they decided to go with the unit rule which is 30zero. Story about Rogers Martin saying the president was not going to pay that much attention upset a good many people inside that mississippi delegation. For the last 1015 minute we started talking. Thank you mike. Someone made a deal. I suggested my office. The utah delegation told them. They claimed this. What happened in there . They tried not to break the unit rule. There soone was in some of them. This is terry wilkes. They said they missed most of the delegation. Get 31e sure they can now. He is the reagan with in the mississippi delegation. It seems the vote on 16 c is extremely close. You mean in mississippi or across the country . All across the country. Needed for 16 c to pass in order to win. Right now the mississippi delegation is going to be cold individually on whether or not to come out from under the unit rule on this particular issue. Only the delegates will vote. And the delegates will be pulled individually to determine who is for and who is against it coming out from under the unit rule. If we come out from under the unit rule than the delegates will be pulled. Have the four people agreed to this procedure. Some of them. We are going to poll them individually. This is what we have been told. Malcolm avery told me that this was the ballgame. If you lose here, you have lost. That is not correct because the vote on 16 c. It is not a clearcut fourreagan decision in the mississippi delegation. Very cool and comfortable. We think cbs. He reports the majority of about 50 votes against 16 c which is still being debated on out here. Withoutjust 15 votes even counting mississippi either way. What happened . Could we have that handle down there. Can i just spent down . Here. One people are i can tell you with the greatest efficiency. Mr. Vice president can you tell us what happened . Happened. And what know that if he didnt get that sign back. They saw you take a sign from another man. Just it was a man from utah who came to get that reagan signed from you. This is the light side. Something new every day. The Vice President wants to get out of here. The secret service is helping. Walter, back to you. We will resume after this message. Pbs news continues the special report campaign. This is sponsored from the Ford Motor Company. Ford wants to be your car company. Now here again is walter cronkite. Forces lostreagan tonight in this auditorium in kansas city. It has failed and now the question is what will the reagan forces do. Will they perhaps give up at this point. I am standing here with congressman and they were just standing here. They tried to come to some compromised language. Eager to have this. I noticed you were marking off the buzzwords. Example you wanted to knock office word. Tell us you were talking about. We talked about a lot of things. We hope it will be a voice. Are you willing to seek a compromise . Im not a member of the but i wanted to see we can make a few changes here. We know there are some conservative members of the platform committee. What is his position on this. We wrote a very strong point. Is reallysed language an attack on kissinger. And the ford fallen Foreign Policy. We may not have a fight on Foreign Policy after all. We will know in a few minutes on the Convention Floor. They have just approved john rhodes. Leader as thety permanent chairman of this convention. Know and he already is anxious to be the majority leader. He is campaigning. Roger would also like to have a Republican Congress next year. He is a longtime leader in this party. We are very excited about it. It is really a victory for the Republican Party. It is a very difficult thing. Are trying now to compromise on Foreign Policy. Would you say that you think its all over . I dont think you should ever try to think that. It does look like the delegate count is very solid. Do they work out just about the same . Closer than you would think. Linesould cut across the of the two candidates. Concerned . Did it shake you up with that . At thought the vote of 5944 was in the rules committee. I thought it showed strength. The platforms never have. Committee it is a good platform. I dont know these amendments that would fail. Talk is an awful lot of that 16 c what a foreclosed president ford from inviting reagan. Do you think reagan is a possibility . I would certainly hope that the president would consult and it is very important. This has been a long primary. I think the process that he has gone through he has gotten a great deal of input. Obviously im sure the input and couldntf the party get very many candidates. It doesnt even have to go to a moderate life in order to bring the parties together now. Pretty close split for the incumbent. I think the president would like someone that is compatible with him and in terms of philosophy. That is the way i think it will go. I certainly wouldnt exclude anyone. Not anymore. Thank you very much. We will see how it all goes tomorrow night with your delegate count as well. Shortly after the reagan forces went down in defeat on this Critical Role jim mcmanus talked to one of the chief reagan supporters. I dont know if its possible of course. It appeared to go the wrong way but the ballgame is not over. We have a ninth inning yet. We will do everything we can. Of course that played into it. He played that thing like a fiddle. Works and in the heat and confusion of the Convention Floor people dont always think exactly straight. They might have voted differently. What of these reagan delegates tried to stampede this convention . Take ronaldave to reagan as his word. He has that he is not going to accept any offer that would come to him as Vice President. His exact words to me was no way. I have to assume that it is positioned. Again what does it mean . About the moment with you is that i just came from a trailer there. Back to the drawing board. One of the socalled independent conservatives the group that spoke of the candidacy of mr. Buckley. Talk of being united and that he might walk out of this party if the ticket did not satisfy him. And he still has the capability to cause that. It still excites considerable passion here. Although with the rules of the convention as they are it is very difficult to do that on the floor. Is ifly thing they can do they got 25 of the vote. Do only other thing they can is try to strike parts of the platform. But ity try to do that does seem that the fire has gone withf the reagan forces the loss of this important test vote. One of the important things to is those voting against 16 c. The truth of the matter is as we vote tonight, the vote followed precisely the lines of the cbs delegate count. There was no subtlety in the casting of any votes. Solidte was absolutely for forward and for reagan. Is almostd certainly the candidate at this point. We will resume after this message. President ford would go on to win the presidency by a slim margin. Here is the acceptance speech he gave. His just under an hour. President ford delegates and alternates to this republican convention, i am honored by your nomination and i accept it. [applause] with pride, with gratitude, and with a total will to win a great victory for the American People. [applause] we will wage a Winning Campaign in every region of this country, from the snowy banks of minnesota to the sandy plains of georgia. [applause] we concede not a single state. We concede not a single vote. This evening i am proud to stand before this Great Convention as the first incumbent president since dwight d. Eisenhower who can tell the American People america is at peace. [cheering] tonight i can tell you straightaway 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. [applause] and i will tell you one more thing, this year the issues are on our side. I am ready, i am eager to go before the American People and debate the real issues face to face with jimmy carter. [applause] [cheering] [whistling] [chanting] the American People have a right to know firsthand exactly where both of us stand. [applause] i am deeply grateful to those who stood with me in winning the nomination of the party whose cause i have served all of my adult life. I respect the convictions of those who want a change in washington. I want a change, too. After 22 long years of majority misrule, lets change the United States congress. [applause] my gratitude tonight reaches far beyond this arena to countless friends whose confidence, hard work, and unselfish support have brought me to this moment. It would be unfair to single out anyone, but may i make an exception for my wonderful family, mike, jack, steve, and susan and especially my dear wife, betty. [applause] we republicans have had some tough competition. We not only preach the virtues of competition, we practice them. [applause] but tonight we come together not on a battlefield to conclude a ceasefire, but to join forces on a Training Field that has conditioned us all for the rugged contest ahead. [applause] let me say this from the bottom of my heart, after the scrimmages of the past few months, it really feels good to have ron reagan on the same side of the line. [applause] to strengthen our championship lineup, the convention has wisely chosen one of the ablest americans as our next Vice President , senator bob dole of kansas. [applause] with his help, with your help, with the help of millions of americans who cherish peace, who want freedom preserved, prosperity shared, and pride in america, we will win this election. [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 that i stand. [applause] Something Wonderful happened to this country of ours the past 2 years. We all came to realize it on the 4th 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. We saw again the pioneer vision of our revolutionary founders and our immigrant ancestors. [applause] their vision was of free men and free women enjoying limited government and unlimited opportunity. [applause] the mandate i want in 1976 is to make this vision a reality, but it will take the voices and the votes of many more americans who are not republicans to make that mandate binding and my mission possible. I have been called an unelected president , an accidental president. We may even hear that again from the other party, despite the fact that i was welcomed and endorsed by an overwhelming majority of their elected representatives in the congress who certified my fitness to our highest office. [applause] having become Vice President and president without expecting or seeking either, i have a special feeling toward these high offices. To me, the presidency and the vicepresidency were not prizes to be won, but a duty to be done. [applause] so, tonight it is not the power and the glamour of the presidency that leads me to ask for another 4 years; it is something every hardworking american will understand, the challenge of a job well begun, but far from finished. [applause] two years ago, on august 9, 1974, i placed my hand on the bible, which betty held, and took the same constitutional oath that was administered to george washington. I had faith in our people, in our institutions, and in myself. My fellow americans, i said, our him Long National nightmare is over. It was an hour in our history that troubled our minds and tore at our hearts. Anger and hatred had risen to dangerous levels, dividing friends and families. The polarization of our political order had aroused unworthy passions of reprisal and revenge. Our governmental system was closer to stalemate than at any time since Abraham Lincoln took the same oath of office. Our economy was in the throes of runaway inflation, taking us headlong into the worst recession since franklin d. Roosevelt took the same oath. On that dark day i told my fellow countrymen, i am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your president by your ballots, so i ask you to confirm me as your president with your prayers. [applause] on a marble fireplace in the white house is carved a prayer which john adams wrote. It concludes, may none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof. Since i have resided in that historic house, i have tried to live by that prayer. [applause] i faced many tough problems, i probably made some mistakes, but on balance, america and americans have made an incredible comeback since august 1974. [applause] nobody can honestly say otherwise. And the plain truth is that the great progress we have made at home and abroad was in spite of the majority who run the congress of the United States. [applause] for 2 years i have stood for all the people against a votehungry, freespending congressional majority on capitol hill. [applause] fiftyfive times i vetoed extravagant and unwise legislation, 45 times i made those vetoes stick. [applause] those vetoes have saved american taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. I am against the big tax spender and for the little taxpayer. [applause] i called for a permanent tax cut, coupled with spending reductions, to stimulate the economy and relieve hardpressed, middleincome taxpayers. Your personal exemption must be raised from 750 to 1,000. [applause] the other partys platform talks about tax reform, but there is one big problem, their own Congress Wont act. [applause] i called for reasonable constitutional restrictions on courtordered busing of schoolchildren, but the other partys platform concedes that busing should be a last resort. But there is the same problem, their own Congress Wont act. [applause] i called for a Major Overhaul of criminal laws to crack down on crime and illegal drugs. The other partys platform deplores americas 90 billion cost of crime. There is the problem again, their own Congress Wont act. [applause] the other partys platform talks about a strong defense. Now, here is the other side of the problem, their own congress did act. They slashed 50 billion from our National Defense needs in the last 10 years. My friends, washington is not the problem their congress is the problem. [applause] [whistling] you know, the president of the United States is not a magician who can wave a wand or sign a paper that will instantly end a war, cure a recession, or make bureaucracy disappear. A president has immense powers under the constitution, but all of them ultimately come from the American People and their mandate to him. That is why, tonight, i turn to the American People and ask not only for your prayers but also for your strength and your support, for your voice, and for your vote. [applause] i come before you with a 2year record of performance without your mandate. I offer you a 4year pledge of greater performance with your mandate. [applause] as governor al smith used to say, lets look at the record. Two years ago inflation was 12 . Sales were off. Plants were shut down. Thousands were being laid off every week. Fear of the future was throttling down our economy and threatening millions of families. 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 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. [applause] 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 world 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, 2 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. [applause] 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 offer sound progress for the peoples of the pacific, africa, and latin america. Israel and egypt, both trusting the United States, have taken an historic step that promises an eventual just settlement for the whole middle east. The world now respects americas policy of peace through strength. The United States is again the confident leader of the free world. [applause] 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. [applause] i called for an uptodate, powerful army, navy, air force, and marines that will keep america secure for decades. A Strong Military posture is always the best insurance for peace. [applause] but americas strength 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] two years ago peoples confidence in their highest officials, to whom they had overwhelmingly entrusted power, had twice been shattered. Losing faith in the word of their elected leaders, americans lost some of their own faith in themselves. Again, lets look at the record since august 1974. From the start my administration has been open, candid, forthright. [applause] while my entire public and private life was under searching examination for the vicepresidency, i reaffirmed my lifelong conviction that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only government but civilization itself. [applause] i have demanded honesty, decency, and personal integrity from everybody in the executive branch of the government. The house and senate have the same duty. [applause] the American People will not accept a double standard in the United States congress. [applause] those who make our laws today must not debase the reputation of our great legislative bodies that have given us such giants as daniel webster, henry clay, sam rayburn, and robert a. Taft. [applause] whether in the nations capital, the state capital, or city hall, private morality and public trust must go together. [applause] from august of 1974 to august of 1976, the record shows steady progress upward toward prosperity, peace, and public trust. My record is one of progress, not platitudes. My record is one of specifics, not smiles. My record is one of performance, not promises. [applause] [cheering] [applause] it is a record i am proud to run on. It is a record the American People, democrats, independents, and republicans alike, will support on november 2. [applause] for the next 4 years i pledge to you that i will hold to the steady course we have begun. But i have no intention of standing on the record alone. We will continue winning the fight against inflation. We will go on reducing the dead weight and impudence of bureaucracy. [applause] we will submit a balanced budget by 1978. We will improve the quality of life at work, at play, and in our homes and in our neighborhoods. We will not abandon our cities. We will encourage urban programs which assure safety in the streets, create healthy environments, and restore neighborhood pride. [applause] we will return control of our childrens education to parents and local school authorities. [applause] we will make sure that the party of lincoln remains the party of equal rights. [applause] we will create a tax structure that is fair for all our citizens, one that preserves the continuity of the family home, the family farm, and the family business. [applause] we will ensure the integrity of the Social Security system and improve medicare so that our older citizens can enjoy the health and the happiness that they have earned. There is no reason they should have to go broke just to get well. [applause] we will make sure that this rich nation does not neglect citizens who are less fortunate, but provides for their needs with compassion and with dignity. We will reduce the growth and the cost of government and allow individual breadwinners and businesses to keep more of the money that they earn. [applause] we will create a climate in which our economy will provide a meaningful job for everyone who wants to work and a decent standard of life for all americans. We will ensure that all of our young people have a better chance in life than we had, an education they can use, and a career they can be proud of. [applause] we will carry out a farm policy that assures a fair market price for the farmer, encourages full production, leads to record exports, and eases the hunger within the human family. We will never use the bounty of americas farmers as a pawn in international diplomacy. There will be no embargoes. [applause] we will continue our strong leadership to bring peace, justice, and economic progress where there is turmoil, especially in the middle east. We will build a safer and saner world through patient negotiations and dependable arms agreements which reduce the danger of conflict and horror of thermonuclear war. While i am president , we will not return to a collision course that could reduce civilization to ashes. [applause] we will build an america where people feel rich in spirit as well as in worldly goods. We will build an america where people feel proud about themselves and about their country. We will build on performance, not promises; experience, not expediency; Real Progress instead of mysterious plans to be revealed in some dim and distant future. [applause] the American People are wise, wiser than our opponents think. They know who pays for every campaign promise. They are not afraid of the truth. We will tell them the truth. [applause] from start to finish, our campaign will be credible, it will be responsible. We will come out fighting, and we will win. [applause] yes, we have all seen the polls and the pundits who say our party is dead. I have heard that before. So did harry truman. I will tell you what i think. The only polls that count are the polls the American People go to on november 2. [applause] and right now, i predict that the American People are going to say that night, jerry, you have done a good job, keep right on doing it. [applause] [cheering] [chanting] as i try in my imagination to look into the homes where families are watching the end of this Great Convention, i cant tell which faces are republicans, which are democrats, and which are independents. I cannot see their color or their creed. I see only americans. I see americans who love their husbands, their wives, and their children. I see americans who love their country for what it has been and what it must become. I see americans who work hard, but who are willing to sacrifice all they have worked for to keep their children and their country free. [applause] i see americans who in their own quiet way pray for peace among nations and peace among themselves. We do love our neighbors, and we do forgive those who have trespassed against us. [applause] i see a new generation that knows what is right and knows itself, a generation determined to preserve its ideals, its environment, our nation, and the world. My fellow americans, i like what i see. [applause] 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 very much. [applause] what he is just to him. He is gesturing to him. He is shouting into the microphone. We come down and bring nancy said the president. They just deliver the alabama standard to reagan. It is possible that reagan may be making his way. He may be going down the hallway. , mrs. Ent and senator dole though. Dole. Mr. Dole to the left there. Theyre waiting on him. To the reagans are just about on the platform now. They are being greeted. [applause] this convention is full of things we have never seen before. These two contestants appealing together. As the president said tonight, they will need any vote they can get. [applause] everybody in this great auditorium tonight, we are all tremendously pleased and honored to have ron reagan and nancy reagan come down. We are all a part of this great republican family that will give the leadership to the American People to win on november 2. I would be honored on your friend toask my good say a few words. [applause] thank you very much. Ord, mr. Ident, mrs. F Vice President , mr. Vice president to be [applause] here,stinguished guests and you ladies and gentlemen, i will say fellow republicans here, but those that are watching from a distance, all those millions of democrats and independents that are looking for a cause around which to rally, and which i believe we can give them. [applause] mr. President , before you arrived tonight, these wonderful people gave nancy and myself a welcome. That, plus this, plus your kindness and generosity by bringing us here will give us a memory that will live in our hearts forever. [applause] watching on television these last few nights, and i have seen you with the warmth that you greeted nancy, and filled my heart with joy when you did. May i just say some words . [applause] that are cynics who say Party Platform is something that nobody bothers to read and doesnt amount to much. Whether it is different this time than it has ever been before, i believe the Republican Party as a platform that is a coler of bold unmistakable ors. [applause] we have just heard a call to arms based on that platform. And a call to us to really be successful in communicating and revealed to the American People the difference between this platform and the platform of the opposing party, which is nothing but a revamp and reissue and running of a late late show of the things we have heard from the last 40 years. [applause] if i could take a moment, i had an assignment the other day. Someone wanted me to write a letter for a time capsule that will be opened in los angeles 100 years from now. It sounded like an easy assignment. They suggested i write something about the problems of the day. I set out to do so, writing down the coast in an automobile, looking at the blue pacific and the as entertaining as methods at the under, and could not wonder if it would be done beautiful 100 years from now as it was on a summer day. As a charge to write, let your own minds turned to that task. You will write for people 100 years from now who know all about us, we know nothing about them. We dont know what kind of a world they will be living in. And suddenly i thought to myself, if i write of the problems, they will be domestic problems of which the president spoke here tonight. The challenges confronting us. The erosion of freedom under democrat rule in this country. The invasion of private rights, the controls and restrictions on the vitality of the great free economy that we enjoy. These are challenges that we must meet. Then again there is that challenge of which she spoke that we live in a world in which the great powers have poised and aimed at each other verbal missiles of destruction, nuclear weapons, that can in a matter of minutes right at each others country and destroy. Virtually the civilized world we live in. Me,suddenly it dawned on those who would read this letter 100 years from now will know whether those missiles were fired. They will know whether we met our challenge. Freedomshey have the that we have known up until now will depend on what we do here. Though they look back with appreciation and say, thank god for those people in 1976 who headed off the loss of freedom . Who kept is now 100 years later, free . Helped our world from Nuclear Destruction . If we failed, there probably would not get to read the letter at all because it spoke of individual freedom. And they wont be allowed to talk about. This is our challenge. This is why in this hall tonight, better than we have done before, we have to quit talking to each other and about each other, and go out and communicate to the world that we might be fewer in numbers than we have ever been, but we carry the numbers they are waiting for. We must go forth united, determined, at what a great general said a few years ago is true there is no substitute for victory. [applause] [applause] applause]d