Kansas City had not hosted a major party convention since the 1928 Republican National Convention that nominated Herbert Hoover . Its premier venue , Kemper Arena , was diminutive by national standards but it was new , and the city aggressively courted the convention planners of both parties . The Democrats demurred early on , citing a lack of hotel accommodations , but Republicans were more receptive because the city had a reliably enthusiastic base of the party , and " fit the Midwestern image of Jerry Ford "
1928 Republican National Convention
1928 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention