Shortly after assuming his gubernatorial term , Reagan tested the 1968 presidential waters as part of a " Stop Nixon " movement , hoping to cut into Nixon 's southern support and become a compromise candidate if neither Nixon nor second-place candidate Nelson Rockefeller received enough delegates to win on the first ballot at the Republican convention . However , by the time of the convention , Nixon had 692 delegate votes , 25 more than he needed to secure the nomination , followed by Rockefeller with Reagan in third place
Republican convention
1968 Republican National Convention
Ronald Reagan