I had followed politics since '68 but was never passionate like I was, for the first time, in '76.
Of course we didn't have 14 TV networks doing 7x24 coverage back them and no internet. We were reliant upon the evening newscast and the endless flow of newspaper reports.
I bought the SF Chronicle every day as they were closest to the action at the Cow Palace...but I suspect every major paper in the world was there by the final count.
Screaming. Fist-fights in the aisles. Shout-downs. Complete chaos.
Then Reagan announced his VP choice before, I believe, the 3rd ballot. Some NE LIBERAL (Weicker?) and the Mississippi delegation walked out, shortly thereafter announcing their support of Ford and ending the fight.
Millions of us dropped to the floor weeping.
A crushing defeat.
The NE liberal Reagan selected as his running mate in 1976 was Richard Schweiker.