[138] According to his son, Michael, Reagan said that he regretted signing the Family Law Act that granted no-fault divorces.[139] Unaware of the mental health provision,[140] Reagan expressed regret over signing the Therapeutic Abortion Act that allowed abortions in the cases of rape and incest.[141]

Seeking the presidency (1975–1981)
1976 Republican primaries
Main articles: Ronald Reagan 1976 presidential campaign and 1976 Republican Party presidential primaries
Reagan and Gerald Ford shaking hands on the podium after Reagan narrowly lost the nomination at the 1976 Republican National Convention
An insufficient conservative to many Republicans,[142] president Gerald Ford was beset from a series of political and economic woes, and Reagan called for a revitalized party in 1975.[143] Reagan repeated "A Time for Choosing" around the country,[144] and on November 20, he announced his presidential campaign,[145] mentioning economic, social problems and to a lesser extent, foreign affairs.[146] Ford never expected Reagan to run,[147] and in a phone call with him, disagreed with his opinion that a primary challenge would not be divisive nor hurt their party.[148] Ford had never been elected president[145] and ran to be elected in his own right.