Ford needed a win. He was in a dismal third, far behind two challengers - this was obviously quite an issue for him, seeing as primary challengers didn’t tend to do this well. After Jesse Helms’ endorsement, North Carolina was a shoo-in for Reagan, so Ford and then-Chief of Staff Dick Cheney focused his campaign efforts on Wisconsin in a bid to revive the dying campaign.



A NEW PATH FOR AMERICA: The Creation of the Sixth Party System, published in 2009





Look, it may seem appealing to vote for one of these thunderous ideologues. I get it, I really do. It’s exciting. However, do they honestly have the experience to run this country? I’ve been president, I know the toll this office takes. I know the difficult decisions it forces you to make. Neither of them can say to know that. Only a select few can. I can bring stability in these uncertain times. This nation has been through a major ordeal in the past few years, one that requires extensive healing - healing I don’t believe Reagan or Mathias could bring.



President Gerald Ford at a rally in Milwaukee, April 4th, 1976





PRESIDENT FORD WINS WISCONSIN



THE AP, April 7th, 1976





LATE ENTRY JOHN CONNALLY WINS TEXAS



"Connally, largely believed to be standing as a favorite son, has claimed the delegates from his home state of Texas tonight. While this was expected, his win was by a far narrower margin than expected, with Governor Reagan in a close second."



THE AP, May 2nd, 1976





REAGAN CLAIMS GEORGIA AND INDIANA



"...John Connally was expected to perform well in these states after his late entry, but this has not come to pass for the Texan."



THE AP, May 5th, 1976







Dan Rather: Some say that Wisconsin was a turning point in the primaries. Do you agree?

Lawrence Hogan: Those people are somewhat correct. Not only did it revive the Ford campaign, but it showed that Ford could win the battleground states for the general election. Jimmy Carter, who by then had all but run away with the nomination, wasn’t winning resoundingly in the Midwest. As a southern evangelical, he didn’t have a receptive base in states like Wisconsin. Ford winning there proved that he might have a shot after all. His next win in Pennsylvania only cemented this.

DR: And what of John Connally?

LH: He's just an opportunist. He truly was running for Vice President, as he entered in Texas. All he did was provide a thorn in Reagan's side in the south, but outside of Texas, he wasn't anywhere near enough to harm Reagan's momentum.

DR: Of course, this changed very little in the standings, as Reagan kept winning despite Ford's resurgence and Connally's entry. However, Mathias would win Maryland and Ford Michigan on May 18th. The battle was still very much between three candidates, with Reagan narrowly on top.

LH: Yes. That’s when President Ford decided to call us...



60 Minutes interview with Fmr. Mathias Campaign Chairman Lawrence Hogan, 1987





Gerald Ford: Senator. I need to talk with you about this primary campaign.

Charles Mathias: Alright, go ahead.

GF: Well, the thing is, you may be handing this whole thing to Reagan. Our guys ran the numbers and found that I would’ve won Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, and narrowly Florida if it was a two-man contest. You hate the rise of hardline conservatism as much as anyone, but your campaign is enabling it.

CM: ...with all due respect, Mr. President, I don’t trust your numbers, and I especially don’t trust this. You’re asking me to drop out, to subvert the will of the people, just to stop Ronald Reagan? It’s not like my supporters will instantaneously vote for you.

GF: I know. Look, Nelson doesn’t want another term as Vice President. I’m willing to put you on the ticket. Will that work if it means we can get rid of Reagan?

CM: I’m beginning to feel uncomfortably like the protagonist of a Greek tragedy. Frankly, I will not sell my soul for the sake of power, and I will not drop out so long as there’s a single person in this party who wants to hear my message.

GF: ...good talking to you, Mac.

CM: [HANGS UP]

GF: to Chief of Staff Cheney I’m going to whip his ass, Dick.



Excerpt from a call between President Gerald Ford and Senator Charles Mathias, May 20th, 1976





FORD ATTACKS MATHIAS’ “RECKLESS” PLANS



In an apparent shift in strategy, President Ford honed in on Senator Mathias in his most recent speech. The President slammed the Senator’s approach in various realms as “forcing busing on communities that may not even want such a disruptive act” and “denying the realities of our foreign policy. Sure, if you waved a magic wand we could’ve ignored Vietnam, but that’s just not the case.” Senator Mathias has not yet responded for comment.



THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 23rd, 1976





I’ll be honest, and don’t y’all quote me on this - Ford’s attacks on Mathias were absolutely asinine. Reagan was the elephant in the room at the time, and by focusing on an annoyance to his left that would’ve fizzled without any intervention, he caused three things. First, he gave Mathias’ anti-establishment message credibility. Second, he dragged himself to the right attacking Mathias, which helped kill his support with moderates as Mathias was suddenly the best of a few bad options. Third, he kept both himself and Mathias low enough to let Reagan keep winning. Really, I don’t know how Ford, that damn fool, ever ended up in the Oval Office with his lack of political instincts.

Comments made by Lee Atwater to Michael Wolff in 1982, later published by Wolff in "Three Days in the Lion's Den" in 2015 following Atwater's death

PRESIDENT REAGAN? THE GIPPER SWEEPS MAY 25TH PRIMARIES



"Ronald Reagan has claimed four states tonight, winning Arkansas, Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho with clear majorities of the vote. The other two contests, Kentucky and Tennessee, went to President Ford. Reagan is just shy of a majority of delegates, and it all comes down to his home state of California..."



THE AP, May 26th, 1976

Above: Fmr. Gov. Ronald Reagan (R-CA) celebrating his primary victories.