Tower was pro-Ford and was outraged that he was shut out in the May 1, 1976, first ever TX Republican presidential primary. Reagan won all delegate slots, 96, I believe was the number.
I didn’t know that Buckley stayed neutral. But only Helms and Laxalt endorsed Reagan prior to Kansas City in 1976. I think Ron Paul in the House did too.
If Tower endorsed Ford he took his time doing it. Ford went to Texas to get Connally’s endorsement and he not only declined but told Ford he was going to get his ass waxed. If the Texas delegation did that to Tower, good for them. Arizona did the same thing to Goldwater (and rightly so). The Republican rank and file, in Republican states were firmly behind Reagan.