1976 Republican National Convention

1976 Republican National Convention
1976 presidential election
Nominees
Ford and Dole
Convention
Date(s)August 16–19, 1976
CityKansas City, Missouri
VenueKemper Arena
Candidates
Presidential nomineeGerald Ford of Michigan
Vice-presidential nomineeBob Dole of Kansas
Voting
Total delegates2,258
Votes needed for nomination1,130
Results (president)Ford (MI): 1,187 (52.57%)
Reagan (CA): 1,070 (47.39%)
Richardson (MA): 1 (0.04%)
Results (vice president)Dole (KS): 1,921 (85.04%)
Helms (NC): 103 (4.56%)
Reagan (CA): 27 (1.20%)
Crane (IL): 23 (1.02%)
Others: 82 (3.62%)
Abstentions: 103 (4.56%)
Ballots1
‹ 1972 · 1980 ›
Kemper Arena was the site of the 1976 Republican National Convention

The 1976 Republican National Convention was a United States political convention of the Republican Party that met from August 16 to August 19, 1976, to select the party's nominees for president and vice president. Held in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, the convention nominated President Gerald Ford for a full term, but only after narrowly defeating a strong challenge from former California Governor Ronald Reagan. The convention also nominated Senator Bob Dole from Kansas for vice president, instead of Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, who did not seek nomination for a full term. The keynote address was delivered by Tennessee Senator Howard Baker. Other notable speakers included Minnesota Representative Al Quie, retired Lieutenant Colonel and former Vietnam prisoner of war Raymond Schrump, former Democratic Texas Governor John Connally, Providence, Rhode Island mayor Vincent Cianci and Michigan Senator Robert P. Griffin. It is the last national convention by either of the two major parties to feature a seriously contested nomination between candidates.