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When Ronald Reagan stunned America by picking a liberal running mate
Washington Post ^ | 07/11/2024 | Frederic J. Frommer

Posted on 07/11/2024 8:58:27 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27

Ronald Reagan, trailing President Gerald Ford in delegates leading up to the 1976 Republican National Convention, decided to make a high-risk move in his quest for the presidential nomination: He picked a liberal running mate.

Yes, that’s right — the man whose name is synonymous with conservatism sought to balance his ticket by choosing Sen. Richard Schweiker, a liberal Republican from Pennsylvania. The Reagan campaign hoped the move would help win delegates from the state, make him more attractive to liberals and moderates at the convention in Kansas City, Mo., and ultimately improve his odds in the general election against Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter.

“I am convinced that this is a ticket behind which all Republicans can unite and one which will lead our party to victory in November,” Reagan said at a July 26, 1976, news conference announcing the selection.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: america; reagan; runningmate; stunned
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So Trump is going to pick Jeb Bush for VP? (S)
1 posted on 07/11/2024 8:58:27 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

no, they said libera...... oh wait- yep!


2 posted on 07/11/2024 9:00:10 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Mike Pence would suffice


3 posted on 07/11/2024 9:00:17 AM PDT by C210N (Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Bush Sr?


4 posted on 07/11/2024 9:00:21 AM PDT by xoxox
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Advice from enemies. The CIA front known as the WP can FOAD.


5 posted on 07/11/2024 9:00:23 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck (He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I always felt like Bush was one several big mistakes that Regan made during his presidency.


6 posted on 07/11/2024 9:00:40 AM PDT by Sparticus (Primary the Tuesday group!)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Oh how I miss the Gipper!


7 posted on 07/11/2024 9:01:41 AM PDT by Thorium90
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Hillary is well-rested and ready to be one heartbeat away from taking over as President, should that need arise.


8 posted on 07/11/2024 9:01:46 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (It's not "Quiet Quitting" -- it's "Going Galt".)
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To: Sparticus

yes

I didn’t care about politics at all back then.

BUT I was stunned when he had GHWB on the ticket.

I couldn’t believe it. Saw RR across the street in 1976.


9 posted on 07/11/2024 9:03:05 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: ChicagoConservative27
So Trump is going to pick Jeb Bush for VP? (S)

Nope, it didn't work for Reagan , but more importantly it's not the MAGA road to victory. 🙂👍

10 posted on 07/11/2024 9:03:23 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Robert DeLong

(S) is for sarcastic


11 posted on 07/11/2024 9:04:12 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Richard Schweiker? I’ve never heard of him. I’m 53.


12 posted on 07/11/2024 9:08:41 AM PDT by rdl6989 ( )
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Under the same philosophy, he picked GHWB in 1980, and look where that took us.


13 posted on 07/11/2024 9:10:07 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: Sparticus
bush was forced on Reagan....they were arch enemies and suddenly he is picked as a running mate?....never in the real world...

deep state forced Reagan to pick that cow pile bush.....

14 posted on 07/11/2024 9:10:58 AM PDT by cherry
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To: C210N

“ Mike Pence would suffice”

Worked the first time


15 posted on 07/11/2024 9:11:23 AM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (Have you seen Joe Biden's picture on a milk carton?)
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To: ChicagoConservative27
"The Reagan campaign hoped the move would help win delegates from the state, make him more attractive to liberals and moderates at the convention in Kansas City, Mo., and ultimately improve his odds in the general election against Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter."

That went well......Man, how we suffered during the carter years.

Remember waiting in line for gas? No Christmas lights and that stupid sweater speach? Billy beer? The hunting trip (that was great)!

Today it's lies. They lie about the price of groceries. I hear from people shopping all the time how bad it is. Eggs $8 a dozen. The lies, the economy. Lying about covid.

If biden wins again it'll be worse than now.

16 posted on 07/11/2024 9:11:32 AM PDT by Indy Pendance (Jesus can't get here soon enough!)
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Reagan didn't "pick" Bush. The party did.

Bush badmouthed Reagan's economic plan as VooDoo economics.

You would have to be brain dead to think Reagan picked Bush.

If it wasn't for Reagan Bush would have been sucking hind tit trying to destroy him.

17 posted on 07/11/2024 9:15:36 AM PDT by lewislynn (Trump did more for America and Americans in a 4 yr term than any Pres. in your lifetime.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

What about a liberal who ‘chose a conservative’ then you find out the ‘chosen person’ was a conservative liberal?

What I can see is why the Washington Post is going under...


18 posted on 07/11/2024 9:15:50 AM PDT by GOPJ (Trump was NOT Hitler last time. He won't be a dictator this time. Democrats and the MSM lie. )
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To: Sparticus

JFK left us LBJ tragically, and Reagan left us GHW Bush. Pence was a terrible pick, but it’s indicative of how Trump was thinking he could play nice with the Establishment. He should know now that he CAN’T


19 posted on 07/11/2024 9:16:36 AM PDT by supremedoctrine
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Reagan made the same mistake picking Bush for 1980. He could have won with Donald Duck as his VP. The subsequent Bush Presidency came back to bite conservative Patriots later. May have helped in Reagan’s demise.


20 posted on 07/11/2024 9:17:08 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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