Political conventions used to be a source of high drama and excitement in American politics. While political conventions over the last decade have had some drama, the 1976 Republican convention featuring Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan was perhaps the last great example of Machiavellian political maneuvering to earn a party nomination. 

The perception of Gerald Ford was that he was a very good and decent man, but the Ford campaign used bare-knuckle political tactics that were the antithesis of Midwest nice. As a native Michigander, I was surprised and proud of the Ford campaign for capturing the nomination. As a child of the 1980s, I grew up with Ronald Reagan as president, so it was interesting to watch his ascent to the White House and how he used the 1976 Republican Convention as a launching pad for his 1980 campaign. 

Did you know that Ronald Reagan was negotiating with Gerald Ford during the 1980 Republican convention (in Detroit – it always comes back to my home state) about serving as Reagan’s running mate? Maybe that can be the source for a future Retro Report video. We can only hope.

I remember watching the 2004 Democratic convention and being blown away by the keynote address delivered by Barack Obama, then a U.S. Senate candidate from Illinois. His keynote address was so well received, I remember people were wondering if the Democratic Party could drop Senator John Kerry as the 2004 presidential nominee in his favor. Needless to say, Obama’s keynote speech served as a springboard to his own candidacy for president in 2008. The lesson plan I created for the 2004 convention film examines the importance of oratory in American politics, and how great speeches can push the country forward or help us heal from tragedy. 

RYAN WERENKA teaches Social Studies at Troy High School in Troy, Mich., and is a member of the Retro Report Council of Educators.

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