1978 U.S. Presidential Election (Nixon's Early Resignation)

In the 1978 U.S. U.S. Presidential Election Vice President Ronald Reagan was elected President to succed incumbent president Gerald Ford who decided to retire at the end of his first term.

Republican Nomination
Republican candidates


 * John Anderson, U.S. representative from Illinois
 * Howard Baker, Senate Minority Leader from Tennessee
 * Ben Fernandez, businessman from Michigan
 * Jack Kemp, U.S. representative from New York
 * Ronald Reagan, Vice President from California
 * Harold Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota
 * Lowell Weicker, U.S. Senator from Connecticut

The Republican primary was lackluster affair, with Vice President Reagan being the front-runner from the beginning. Reagan's lead was shaking when Howard Baker won the Iowa caucus by 2%. But Reagan made a comeback, winning the New Hampshire primary with 51%. By late-May, Reagan had a lock on the nomination having won 26 primaries to Baker's 6.

When it came to picking a running-mate, many expected Reagan to pick Baker. Reagan however, chose a dark-horse running mate: Illinois Congressman Phil Crane.