United States presidential election, 1976
President Gerald Ford assumed the office of the Presidency in the midst of an extremely difficult domestic and international situation. Ford is credited with restoring dignity and trust back to the White House. This gave him an edge in the Republican nomination against popular former California Governor Ronald Reagan. He narrowly beat Reagan on the first ballot. The Democrats nominated political-unknown Jimmy Carter, Governor of Georgia. Ford campaigned on his success in his short term in the White House, while Carter campaigned based on the discontent fostered by what is known as the Vietnam syndrome and Misery index. The live televised Presidential Debates also played an important part in the election. Ford looked better in the first debate, but lost his support in the second due to some critical mistakes he made. In the final outcome, Carter narrowly beat Ford in the election.[1] [2]
| candidates | popular vote | electoral vote |
|---|---|---|
| James E. Carter | 40, 825, 248 | 297 |
| Gerald R. Ford | 39, 147, 779 | 241 |
| Eugene McCarthy | 680, 390 | 0 |
| Lester G. Maddox | 168, 264 | 0 |
References
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Presidents, Gerald Ford, by Paul P. Sipiera, Children's Press, 1989, pp. 82-83.
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Presidents, James Carter, by Linda R. Wade, Children's Press, 1989, pp. 53, 56-57.
- ↑ A Pictoral History of the U.S. Presidents, by Clare Gibson, Gramercy Books, 2001, p. 126.
