The 1976 Republican National Convention was held in Kansas City . As the convention began , Ford was seen as having a slight lead in delegate votes , but still shy of the 1130 delegates he needed to win . Reagan and Ford both competed for the votes of individual delegates and state delegations . In a bid to woo moderate Northern Republicans , Reagan shocked the convention by announcing that if he won the nomination , Senator Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania , from the northern liberal wing of the party , would be his running mate . The move backfired , however , as few moderates switched to Reagan , while many conservative delegates were outraged . The key state of Mississippi , which Reagan needed , narrowly voted to support Ford ; it was believed that Reagan 's choice of Schweiker had led Clarke Reed , Mississippi 's chairman , to switch to Ford . Ford then won the nomination , narrowly , on the first ballot . He chose Senator Robert Dole of Kansas as his running mate . After giving his acceptance speech , Ford asked Reagan to come and say a few words to the convention
1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican National Convention
1976 Republican Party presidential primaries