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1980 Republican Party presidential primaries

← 1976 January 21 to June 28, 1980 1984 →
1,990 delegates to the Republican National Convention 996 (majority) votes needed to win
Candidate Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush John B. Anderson Home state California Texas Illinois Delegate count 1,407 250 59 Contests won 42 9 0 Popular vote 7,709,793 3,070,033 1,572,174 Percentage 59.79% 23.81% 12.19%
First place by first-instance vote First place by delegate allocation First place by convention roll call     Reagan      Bush      Uncommitted
Previous Republican nominee Gerald Ford Republican nominee Ronald Reagan

From January 21 to June 28, 1980, voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for president in the 1980 United States presidential election. Retired Hollywood actor and two-term California governor Ronald Reagan was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the Republican National Convention held from July 14 to 17, 1980, in Detroit, Michigan.

Background

As the 1980 presidential election approached, incumbent Democratic president Jimmy Carter appeared vulnerable. High gas prices, economic stagflation, a renewed Cold War with the Soviet Union following the invasion of Afghanistan, and the Iran hostage crisis that developed when Iranian students seized the American embassy in Tehran all contributed to a general dissatisfaction with Carter's presidency; his job approval rating sank to below 20 percent in late-1979 as a result. Consequently, the president faced stiff Democratic primary challenges from Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and California Governor Jerry Brown. A large field of Republican challengers also emerged.

Candidates

Nominee

Candidate			Most recent office	Home state	Campaign	Popular vote	Contests won	Running mate
Ronald Reagan			Governor of California (1967–1975)	California	(Campaign • Positions) Secured nomination: May 24, 1980	7,709,793 (59.79%)	42	George Bush

Withdrew during primaries

Candidate			Most recent office	Home state	Campaign Withdrawal date	Popular vote	Contests won
George H. W. Bush			Director of Central Intelligence Agency (1976–1977)	Texas	Campaign Withdrew: May 26 (endorsed Ronald Reagan, nominated for vice president)	3,070,033 (23.81%)	9 CT, DC, DE, IA, ME, MA, MI, PA, PR
John Anderson			U.S. Representative from Illinois (1961–1981)	Illinois	Withdrew: April 24 (ran as independent)	1,572,174 (12.19%)	None
Phil Crane			U.S. Representative from Illinois (1969–2005)	Illinois	Withdrew: April 17 (endorsed Ronald Reagan)	97,793 (0.76%)	None
Ben Fernandez			Special Envoy to Paraguay (1973)	California	Withdrew: March 30 (endorsed Ronald Reagan)	25,520 (0.20%)	None
Bob Dole			U.S. Senator from Kansas (1969–1996)	Kansas	Withdrew: March 15 (endorsed Ronald Reagan)	7,204 (0.06%)	None
John Connally			Secretary of the Treasury (1971–1972)	Texas	Withdrew: March 9 (endorsed Ronald Reagan)	82,625 (0.64%)	None
Howard Baker			U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1967–1985)	Tennessee	Withdrew: March 5 (endorsed Ronald Reagan)	181,153 (1.41%)	None
Harold Stassen			Director of the Foreign Operations Administration (1953–1955)	Pennsylvania	[data missing]	25,425 (0.20%)	None

Withdrew before primaries

Candidate			Most recent office	Home state	Campaign Withdrawal date
Larry Pressler			U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1979–1997)	South Dakota	January 8, 1980
Lowell Weicker			U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1971–1989)	Connecticut	May 16, 1979

Declined to run

Jesse Helms	Jim Thompson	Bill Simon	Jack Kemp	Elliot Richardson	Alexander Haig	Gerald Ford
U.S. Senator from North Carolina (1973–2003)	Governor of Illinois (1977–1991)	United States Secretary of the Treasury (1974–1977)	U.S. Representative from New York (1971–1989)	United States Secretary of Commerce (1976–1977)	Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1974–1979)	U.S. President from Michigan (1974–1977)
November 8, 1978	January 23, 1979	March 6, 1979 (Endorsed Ronald Reagan)	September 28, 1979	October 16, 1979	December 22, 1979	March 15, 1980

Speculated Candidates

The following potential candidates were considered possible candidates to run for the Republican nomination in 1980 by the media, but never stated a preference for or against running.

• Frank Borman, former astronaut from Indiana and Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Air Lines
• Bill Brock, RNC Chairman of Tennessee; former Senator from Tennessee
• John Danforth, Senator from Missouri
• Pete du Pont, Governor of Delaware
• Spiro Agnew, former vice president of the United States
• John Heinz, Senator from Pennsylvania
• Charles Mathias, Senator from Maryland
• Charles Percy, Senator from Illinois
• William Ruckelshaus, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Richard Schweiker, Senator from Pennsylvania; presumptive running mate of Ronald Reagan in 1976

Polling

National polling

1. Including 1% for Phil Crane.
2. Including 2% for Phil Crane.
3. Including 2% for Phil Crane.
4. Including 1% each for Phil Crane, Benjamin Fernandez, and Harold Stassen.
5. Including 1% each for Phil Crane, Benjamin Fernandez, and Harold Stassen.
6. Including 1% each for Phil Crane, Benjamin Fernandez, and Harold Stassen.
7. 1% each for Phil Crane, Benjamin Fernandez, and Harold Stassen.

Primary race

• The Nashua debate between Reagan and Bush
• A Chicago debate with Crane, Bush, moderator Eric Sevareid, Reagan, and Anderson

Ronald Reagan, who had narrowly lost the 1976 Republican nomination to President Gerald Ford, was the early odds-on favorite to win the nomination in 1980. He was so far ahead in the polls that campaign director John Sears decided on an "above the fray" strategy. He did not attend many of the multi-candidate forums and straw polls in the summer and fall of 1979. George H. W. Bush, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and chairman of the Republican National Committee, did go to all the "cattle calls", and began to come in first at a number of these events. Along with the top two, a number of other Republican politicians entered the race. In January 1980, the Iowa Republicans decided to have a straw poll as a part of their caucuses for that year. Bush defeated Reagan by a small margin. Bush declared he had "the Big Mo", and with Reagan boycotting the Puerto Rico primary in deference to New Hampshire, Bush won the territory easily, giving him an early lead going into New Hampshire.

With the other candidates in single digits, the Nashua Telegraph offered to host a debate between Reagan and Bush. Worried that a newspaper-sponsored debate might violate electoral regulations, Reagan subsequently arranged to fund the event with his own campaign money, inviting the other candidates to participate at short notice. The Bush camp did not learn of Reagan's decision to include the other candidates until the debate was due to commence. Bush refused to participate, which led to an impasse on the stage. As Reagan attempted to explain his decision, Jon Breen, the editor of the Nashua Telegraph and debate moderator, ordered a technician to mute Reagan's microphone. When the technician refused, Breen repeated his order. A visibly angry Reagan responded, "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green [sic]!" Eventually the other candidates agreed to leave, and the debate proceeded between Reagan and Bush. Reagan's quote was often repeated as "I paid for this microphone!" and dominated news coverage of the event; Reagan sailed to an easy win in New Hampshire.

Lee Bandy, a writer for the South Carolina newspaper The State stated that heading into the South Carolina primary, political operative Lee Atwater worked to engineer a victory for Reagan: "Lee Atwater figured that Connally was their biggest threat here in South Carolina. So Lee leaked a story to me that John Connally was trying to buy the black vote. Well, that story got out, thanks to me, and it probably killed Connally. He spent $10 million for one delegate. Lee saved Ronald Reagan's candidacy."

Reagan swept the South, and although he lost five more primaries to Bush—including the Massachusetts primary in which he came in third place behind John B. Anderson—the former governor had a lock on the nomination very early in the season. Reagan said he would always be grateful to the people of Iowa for giving him "the kick in the pants" he needed.

Reagan was an adherent to a policy known as supply-side economics, which argues that economic growth can be most effectively created using incentives for people to produce (supply) goods and services, such as adjusting income tax and capital gains tax rates. Accordingly, Reagan promised an economic revival that would benefit all sectors of the population. He said that cutting tax rates would actually increase tax revenues because the lower rates would cause people to work harder as they would be able to keep more of their money. Reagan also called for a drastic cut in "big government" and pledged to deliver a balanced budget for the first time since 1969. In the primaries, Bush called Reagan's economic policy "voodoo economics" because it promised to lower taxes and increase revenues at the same time.

Results

Tablemaker's Note:

The Republican National Convention was held in Detroit, Michigan, from July 14 to 17, 1980.

Endorsements

See also

• 1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Notes

1. This should not be taken as a finalized list of results. While a significant amount of research was done, there were a number of Delegates who were not bound by the instruction, or "Pledged" to a candidate, and to simplify the data these delegates were considered "Uncommitted". Some states also held primaries for the delegate positions, and these on occasion were where slates or candidates pledge to a certain candidate might be elected; however, as these elections allowed for a single person to vote for multiple candidates, as many as the number of positions being filled, it is difficult to determine how many people actually voted in these primaries. For this reason, while the results of some are in the table, they are not included in the popular vote summaries at the bottom of the table.
2. Includes 1,822 votes (0.97%) for Ben Fernandez and 589 votes (0.31%) for Harold Stassen.
3. Includes 380 Write-In votes (0.26%) for Gerald Ford.
4. Includes 3,398 Write-In votes (0.85%) for Gerald Ford, 374 votes (0.09%) for Benjamin Fernandez, and 218 votes (0.05%) for Harold Stassen.
5. Includes 2,300 Write-In votes (3.51%) for Harold Stassen and 105 Write-In votes (0.16%) for Harold Stassen.
6. Includes 171 votes (0.12%) for Benjamin Fernandez and 150 votes (0.10%) for Harold Stassen.
7. Includes 544 votes (0.26%) for Harold Stassen.
8. Includes 1,377 votes (0.22%) for Harold Stassen and 898 votes (0.15%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
9. Includes 809 votes (0.40%) for Benjmain Fernandez and 200 votes (0.10%) for Harold Stassen.
10. Includes 3,757 votes (0.33%) for Veldi Arvel "VA" Kelley and 1,106 Write-In votes (0.10%) for Gerald Ford.
11. All 308 votes (0.17%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
12. Includes 809 votes (0.40%) for Benjmain Fernandez and 200 votes (0.10%) for Harold Stassen.
13. Includes 1,051 votes (0.12%) for Benjmain Fernandez and 1,010 votes (0.11%) for Harold Stassen.
14. Includes 150 votes (0.35%) for Harold Stassen and 125 votes (0.29%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
15. Only two of eight districts held conventions on this date.
16. Includes 6,767 votes (0.55%) for Harold Stassen and 2,521 votes (0.20%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
17. It was generally felt that Reagan had won over the vast majority of those delegates elected, though legally they were uncommitted.
18. Results only for 537 of the 979 Delegates were accounted for in the source.
19. Only one of eight districts held conventions on this date.
20. Only five of ten districts held conventions on this date.
21. Only five of eight districts held conventions on this date.
22. Only five of ten districts held conventions on this date.
23. Includes 201 votes (2.67%) for Harold Stassen and 60 votes (0.80%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
24. Includes 14 Write-In votes (0.01%) for Gerald Ford.
25. Includes 799 votes (0.39%) for Harold Stassen and 400 votes (0.20%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
26. Includes 2,248 votes (0.38%) for Benjmain Fernandez and 1,938 votes (0.33%) for Harold Stassen.
27. Includes 1,223 votes (1.29%) for Harold Stassen and 764 votes (0.81%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
28. Only one of five districts held conventions on this date.
29. Includes 10,242 votes (0.40%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
30. All votes for Harold Stassen.
31. Includes 1,795 votes (3.01%) for Benjmain Fernandez and 947 votes (1.59%) for Harold Stassen.
32. Includes 107 votes (2.01%) for Harold Stassen and 48 votes (0.90%) for Benjmain Fernandez.
33. All votes for Harold Stassen.
34. All votes for Harold Stassen.
35. The results four district conventions are included, their exact dates not being found.

References

1. "Reagan Maneuvering His Bandwagon," Washington Post, April 18, 1980.
2. "Helms: President? No Thanks". The Sentinel. November 9, 1978. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Thompson Not In Race". The Pantagraph. January 25, 1979. p. A-6 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Clymer, Adam (March 8, 1979). "Backers of Reagan Open His Campaign". New York Times. p. A18. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
5. "Kemp Calls For 'Revolution' In GOP". The Daily Item. September 29, 1979. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Richardson Rules Out Bid For Presidency Next Year". The Morning Union. October 17, 1979. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Haig Tries 'Water,' And Climbs Out". The Morning Union. December 23, 1979. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "No Groundswell, So Ford Won't Run". Chicago Tribune. March 16, 1980. p. 2A – via Newspapers.com.
9. Sidey, Hugh (May 29, 1978). "The Presidency: Roses with a Touch of Ragweed". Time.
10. "Republicans: There's Life in the Old Party Yet". time. November 15, 1976.
11. ^ "US President – R Primaries". OurCampaigns.com. November 16, 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
12. "Reagan's Nashua Moment". Retrieved February 11, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
13. "Nation: We Were Sandbagged". Time. March 10, 1980.
14. "Molloy Sound and Video Contractors: Articles (1/1/11)". Molloysoundandvideo.com. February 10, 2000. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
15. Dunham, Richard (October 20, 2009). "New book tells inside story of pivotal Bush-Reagan debate in Nashua". The Houston Chronicle.
16. Forbes, Stefan (2008). "Transcript – Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story". PBS Frontline.
17. "BUSH WINS BY 2,182 VOTES". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. January 25, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
18. "ARKANSAS GOP SELECTS SEVERAL DELEGATES BUT MORE ARE TO BE PICKED FEB 16TH". The Daily World. Helena, Arkansas. February 4, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
19. "ARKANSAS GOP SELECTS SEVERAL DELEGATES BUT MORE ARE TO BE PICKED FEB 16TH". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. February 17, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
20. "BUSH WINS ALL IN PUERTO RICO". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. February 4, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
21. "BAKER TAKES SOLID 3D IN GOP CONTEST". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. February 27, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
22. "BUSH SOLIDIFIES WIN OVER REAGAN IN COUNTY TALLY". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. March 3, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
23. "VERMONT GOES TO REAGAN, MASSACHUSETTS TO BUSH". The New York Times. New York, New York. March 6, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
24. "STATE DELEGATE FIGHT HAS ALREADY BEGUN". The Times Argus. Barre, Vermont. March 6, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
25. "REAGAN WIN CRUSHES FIELD IN GOP VOTE". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. March 9, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
26. "KENNEDY GETS 2 DELEGATES". Birmingham Post-Herald. Birmingham, Alabama. March 17, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
27. "CARTER, REAGAN SWEEP SOUTH". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. March 12, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
28. "HERE'S DELEGATE BREAKDOWN OF CANDIDATE PREFERENCE". The Columbus Ledger. Columbus, Georgia. March 12, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
29. "ANDERSON LOSES HOME STATE". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. March 19, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
30. "ILLINOIS PRIMARY FINAL RESULTS". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. March 20, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
31. "REAGAN FELL JUST SHY OF DELEGATE MAJORITY". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. March 29, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
32. "BUSH VICTORIOUS OVER REAGAN IN CONNECTICUT PRIMARY". New York Times. New York, New York. March 26, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
33. "SCORECARD OF DELEGATES". New York Times. New York, New York. March 26, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
34. "STATE MOVES TO DELEGATE STEP". The Marysville Advocate. Marysville, Kansas. April 3, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
35. "STATE FINAL VOTE TOTALS". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. April 3, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
36. "STATE VOTE TOTALS". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. April 7, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
37. "REAGAN WINS NORTH DAKOTA". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 18, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
38. "BUSH CAPTURES MAINE DELEGATES". The Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Maine. April 21, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
39. "REAGAN GAINS DELEGATES IN MISSOURI". St. Cloud Times. Saint Cloud, Minnesota. April 21, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
40. "ALASKA REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR REAGAN". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Sitka, Alaska. April 21, 1980. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
41. ^ "KENNEDY, CARTER IN CLIFFHANGER; BUSH, FLAHERTY, SPECTER WINNERS". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. April 23, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
42. "REPUBLICANS". The Times Argus. Barre, Vermont. April 23, 1980. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
43. "REAGAN ADDS TO DELEGATE COUNT". St. Cloud Times. Saint Cloud, Minnesota. April 28, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
44. "REAGAN GAINS DELEGATES IN MISSOURI". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. February 4, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
45. ^ "REAGAN GAINS DELEGATES IN MISSOURI". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. February 4, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
46. ^ "REAGAN SWEEPS STATE DELEGATES AT CONVENTION". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. May 4, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
47. "BUSH WINS EIGHT DELEGATES". The Winona Daily News. Winona, Minnesota. May 5, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
48. ^ "BUSH LIKELY TO FIND TIME RUNNING OUT". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. May 5, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
49. ^ "CARTER, REAGAN PAD LEADS WITH PRIMARY WINS". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. May 7, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
50. ^ "CARTER, REAGAN HOLD THREE-QUARTERS OF NEEDED DELEGATES". The Roanoke Times. Roanoke, Virginia. May 7, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
51. "WYOMING ADDED TO REAGAN LIST". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. May 11, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
52. ^ "CARTER, REAGAN WIN EASILY". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. May 14, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
53. "GOP DELEGATES PICK 'OPEN-MINDED' STANCE". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. May 18, 1980. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
54. ^ "BUSH STRUGGLES TO CASH IN ON MICHIGAN WIN". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. May 22, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
55. "BUSH IS VICTOR AT DELAWARE CONVENTION". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. April 21, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
56. "VERMONT IS REAGAN'S; KENNEDY BEATS CARTER". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. May 25, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
57. "FINAL RETURNS". The Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. May 29, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
58. "CARTER". The State Journal. Frankfort, Kentucky. May 28, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
59. "CARTER IS ONLY 86 DELEGATES SHY OF GOAL". Merced Sun-Star. Merced, California. May 28, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
60. "REAGAN SWEEP LEAVES FEELINGS". The Austin Daily Herald. Austin, Minnesota. May 31, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
61. "REAGAN, CARTER WIN STATE POLLS". The Daily Sentinel. Grand Junction, Colorado. June 2, 1980. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
62. "U.S. MUST BE STRONG, REAGAN SAYS HERE". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. June 1, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
63. ^ "CAPSULE LOOK AT RESULTS OF 9-STATE PRESIDENTIAL RACE". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. June 4, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
64. ^ "CAPSULE LOOK AT RESULTS OF 9-STATE PRESIDENTIAL RACE". The Greenwood Commonwealth. Greenwood, Mississippi. June 4, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
65. ^ "TED'S FORCES HAIL JERSEY VOTE MARGIN". The Jersey Journal. Jersey City, New Jersey. June 5, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
66. "KENNEDY BACKERS IN N.M. JUBILANT". The Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. June 4, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
67. "CARTER WINS OHIO DESPITE STRONG SHOWING BY KENNEDY". The Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. June 4, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
68. "NOVEMBER IN SIGHT". Lead Daily Call. Lead, South Dakota. June 4, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
69. "DEAL FALTERS, GOP DELEGATES SPLIT". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. June 7, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
70. ^ "GOV. RAY TO HEAD DELEGATION TO DETROIT". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. June 8, 1980. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
71. "REAGAN: 34 DELEGATES". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. June 29, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
72. "STATE DELEGATES BACK REAGAN BUT UNDECIDED ON RUNNING MATE". The Daily Sentinel. Grand Junction, Colorado. June 8, 1980. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
73. "STATES GOP DELEGATES ACHIEVE UNITY WITH REAGAN". The Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. June 9, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
74. "IDAHO GOP FAVORS TAX CHANGES". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. June 29, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
75. "GOP NOMINATES WRIGHT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. June 29, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

v t e Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States (1981–1989) 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975)
Life and politics	Birthplace Pitney Store Boyhood home Rancho del Cielo Filmography Political positions Governorship of California Presidential Library and Museum Reagan Era Death and state funeral
Presidency	Transition First inauguration Second inauguration Domestic policy Economic policy Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 Tax Reform Act of 1986 Assassination attempt Strategic Defense Initiative Foreign policy Reagan Doctrine Cold War 1st term 2nd term Soviet Union summits Geneva Reykjavík Washington INF Treaty Moscow Governors Island Constructive engagement Invasion of Grenada Iran–Contra affair Libya bombing Cannabis policy International trips The Grace Commission Cabinet Judicial appointments Supreme Court controversies Administration scandals "We begin bombing in five minutes" Impeachment efforts Executive orders Presidential proclamations Bush transition
Speeches	Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine (1961) "A Time for Choosing" (1964) Neshoba County Fair "states' rights" speech (1980) First inaugural address (1981) Joint session of Congress (1981) "Ash heap of history" (1982) "Evil empire" (1983) Second inaugural address (1985) "Tear down this wall!" (1987) State of the Union 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
Books	An American Life The Reagan Diaries
Elections	1966 California gubernatorial election 11th commandment 1970 California gubernatorial election Republican presidential primaries (1968 1976 1980 1984) Republican National Convention (1968 1976 1980 1984) 1976 presidential campaign 1980 presidential campaign "There you go again" "Let's make America great again" 1984 presidential campaign "Morning in America" "Bear in the woods" United States presidential election (1976 1980 1984)
Cultural depictions	Bibliography In music Let Them Eat Jellybeans! (1981) U.S. Postage stamps Rap Master Ronnie Ed the Happy Clown (1983 comic series) Spitting Image (TV series) (1984) A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985 game) The Dark Knight Returns (1986) film adaptation Pizza Man (1991 film) The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001 film) Reagan's War (2002 book) The Reagans (2003 film) Reagan (2011 documentary) The Butler (2013 film) Killing Reagan (2015 book) Killing Reagan (2016 film) Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020 game) The Reagans (2020 miniseries) Reagan (2023 film) "What would Reagan do?" Reykjavik (TBA)
Memorials	U.S. Capitol statue USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) Namesakes and memorials Ronald Reagan Day Reagan Day Dinner
Family	Jane Wyman (first wife) Nancy Reagan (second wife) Maureen Reagan (daughter) Michael Reagan (adopted son) Patti Davis (daughter) Ron Reagan (son) Jack Reagan (father) Nelle Wilson Reagan (mother) Neil Reagan (brother) Rex (dog)
← Jimmy Carter George H. W. Bush → Category

v t e George H. W. Bush
41st President of the United States (1989–1993) 43rd Vice President of the United States (1981–1989) Director of Central Intelligence (1976–1977) UN Ambassador (1971–1973) U.S. Representative for TX–7 (1967–1971)
Presidency	Transition Inauguration Timeline 1989 1990 1991 1992 January 1993 Environmental policy Soviet Union summits Malta Helsinki Invasion of Panama Chemical Weapons Accord Gulf War 1991 Madrid Conference National Space Council New world order Somali Civil War Unified Task Force Negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement Cannabis policy Vomiting incident Broccoli comments White House horseshoe pit Presidential pardons International trips Oval Office desk Cabinet Judicial appointments Thomas Supreme Court candidates controversies Executive orders Presidential proclamations
Life	Presidential Library Bush School of Government and Public Service Walker's Point Estate Post-presidency Death and state funeral
Speeches	Joint session of Congress (1989) State of the Union addresses 1990 1991 1992 Chicken Kiev
Elections	U.S. Senate 1964 1970 U.S. House 1966 1968 Vice Presidential 1980 campaign selection convention election transition 1984 campaign convention election Presidential 1980 campaign primaries 1988 campaign primaries running mate selection convention "a thousand points of light" "Read my lips: no new taxes" debates election 1992 campaign primaries convention debates election Clinton transition
Public image	Saturday Night Live parodies The X-Presidents Presidential Reunion (2010 short film) The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) What It Takes: The Way to the White House (1993) The Silence of the Hams (1994) George Bush: The Life of a Lone Star Yankee (1997) The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty (2004) George H.W. Bush (2008) Bad for Democracy (2008) Family of Secrets (2009) 41: A Portrait of My Father (2014 book) Destiny and Power (2015 book)
Books	A World Transformed (1998) All the Best (1999)
Legacy	Bibliography Presidential Library Medal of Freedom Bush School of Government Reagan Award George Bush Intercontinental Airport USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
Family	Barbara Bush (wife) George W. Bush (son presidency) Pauline Robinson Bush (daughter) Jeb Bush (son) Neil Bush (son) Marvin Bush (son) Dorothy Bush Koch (daughter) Barbara Bush Coyne (granddaughter) Jenna Bush Hager (granddaughter) George P. Bush (grandson) Lauren Bush (granddaughter) Pierce Bush (grandson) Prescott Bush (father) Dorothy Walker Bush (mother) Nancy Walker Bush Ellis (sister) Jonathan Bush (brother) William H. T. Bush (brother) Samuel P. Bush (grandfather) George Herbert Walker (grandfather) James Smith Bush (great-grandfather) Obadiah Bush (great-great-grandfather) Millie (family dog) Sully (service dog)
← Ronald Reagan Bill Clinton → ← Walter Mondale Dan Quayle → Category

v t e Gerald Ford
38th President of the United States (1974–1977) 40th Vice President of the United States (1973–1974) U.S. Representative for MI–5 (1949–1973)
Presidency (timeline)	Inauguration Timeline Foreign policy Federal-Aid Highway Amendments of 1974 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Safe Drinking Water Act Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 Equal Credit Opportunity Act Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Education for All Handicapped Children Act Vladivostok Summit Meeting on Arms Control Helsinki Accords National Security Study Memorandum 200 Nixon pardon Whip inflation now Cannabis policy Wilson desk Assassination attempts Sacramento San Francisco State of the Union Addresses 1975 1976 1977 Judicial appointments Supreme Court candidates controversies Executive Orders Presidential Proclamations
Life	Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens President Gerald R. Ford Jr. Boyhood Home Gerald R. Ford Jr. House Warren Commission Confirmation as Vice President AEI World Forum Death and state funeral Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Elections	United States House of Representatives elections 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1976 presidential election Carter transition Republican Party presidential primaries 1976 1980 1976 Republican National Convention 1976 1980
Cultural depictions	The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (1978) Dynasty (1981) The Betty Ford Story (1987) Assassins (1990) "Two Bad Neighbors" (1996) Saturday Night Live parodies The X-Presidents (1997) Presidential Reunion (2010) The Political Machine (2004) The Butler (2013) The First Lady (2022)
Legacy	Gerald R. Ford International Airport Gerald R. Ford Award Ford School of Public Policy Ford House Office Building USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) Gerald R. Ford Freeway U.S. Postage stamps Statue
Family	Charles Henry King (grandfather) Leslie Lynch King Sr. (father) Dorothy Gardner Ford (mother) Gerald Rudolff Ford (stepfather) Thomas Gardner Ford (half-brother) Betty Ford (wife) Michael Gerald Ford (son) John Gardner Ford (son) Steven Meigs Ford (son) Susan Ford Bales (daughter) Liberty (family dog)
← Richard Nixon Jimmy Carter → ← Spiro Agnew Nelson Rockefeller → Category

• 1980 United States Republican presidential primaries
• Ronald Reagan
• George H. W. Bush
• Bob Dole