[Kit cat]

GilGil Manafort helped Ford AGAINST Reagan, GOPe hated Reagan Manafort got the GOPe the # of delegates to keep Reagan out!! He is on the opposite side NOW!!!

[perfect_rovian_storm]

First: calm down before you hurt yourself.

Second: Manafort worked for Ford on the 1976 campaign and then worked for Reagan in 1980. The guy is a hired gun and apparently a pretty good shot. I certainly wouldn’t want him working against me.

[Catsrus]

Your statement is only partially correct. He worked for Reagan in 1980. Get your facts straight.

[etcb]

He helped Ford against Reagan but not against Carter.

He is good at what he does. It will be interesting to see if he has the time and resources to get things together. In the final analysis, it is the candidate who wins or loses.

[TexasCruzin]

And he also got Reagan the nomination in 1980 so he’s helped a lot of people including Bush-1 in 1988.

[upchuck]

From Wikipedia:

In 1976, Manafort was the delegate-hunt coordinator for eight states for the President Ford Committee. Between 1978 and 1980, he was the southern coordinator for Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, and the deputy political director at the Republican National Committee.

Appears he worked for Ford and Reagan.

[SamAdams76]

Actually in 1976, Ford came into the convention with more delegates than Reagan. He was short of the majority needed (I think it was 1130 delegates at the time) but had more delegates than Reagan.

So Manafort didn't "steal" the nomination away from Reagan, he just preserved Ford's delegate lead and worked to get him the delegates needed to win on the first ballot.

This appears is the same role he will play for Trump this year.