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This file contains working materials and drafts of a memorandum by Foster Chanock comparing the chances of President Ford or Ronald Reagan to defeat Jimmy Carter in the general election.

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1112981
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Ford Electability Memorandum
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1112981
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Ford Electability Memorandum
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This file contains working materials and drafts of a memorandum by Foster Chanock comparing the chances of President Ford or Ronald Reagan to defeat Jimmy Carter in the general election.
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Foster Chanock Files
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 1, folder "Ford Electability Memorandum" of the Foster Chanock Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to these materials. [June 1976?] NYT /CBS New Hampshine NYT 2/25/76 NYT 1. Issues - thosenwhe took conservative positions on GOP smokers 2/26 the issues (defente pollution /enerzy frade off, security invertment, help for minorities) went social spending Coderal/local social 40-60 to Reagan the GOP moderate 2. Times Andysis - 2/25/76 liberal vote went 5-4 for the president. "Most of the conservative Republicans a NYT/ CBS poll showed of 1235 veters across He state showed, chose Ronall Roagan, former Govemor President Ford, with the moderates divided of Celifornia, and most of the liberals close (43 conserv Reagan 43 librab Ford meds divided for Ford). Reagan streng H. outside consensation was with lower status veters. Reagen Nan better in small town + Manchester area. LIONAN NYT Mass 3/4/76 But the challengers [Reager] discription in and did not even set the hand-core Republican showing - he was beaten by about 2-1 base in Massachweetts there, was one additional bit of gloom for the Californian in the data from the Times/CBS poll. Mr. Ford nan powerfully here among older voters, a highly alsetorate in Flerida subject element of the Republican Mass Dems split - foreign minorites policy jobstee see Jenv pollution big ant buy. power 6090 L 49000 6020 M 147 ...0 588 64680 Lt in = 82" 39129 48.19 a 124 oor 229320 M + 17 = 246 137000 C 241080/417 = =258 NYT less Flavida 3/4/76 Fond news first among tiberah conservation + Democrat Ren strongly among older people, Reagan got latin vote 1. Reagn Ford split defent antis - Ford won of pro (60-40) 2. Maj saw economic upswerg 2-1 Ford " down 21 Regan Illinois NYT/CBS 3/17/76 sales + detente Ford gets may. of both sides of goin 809. of the issue 4im 10 who saw integrity as creial chase Ford 75% of 5'm to who saw ccon, improving Wisconsin 21% GOP=Wallace (Dam primary) Rep. puriory vaters Moderate Liberal > 1/4 Ford Reasan get 2/3 of Dem Conse Rvative Apg Began crossbrer to 13112 Got vote Reagan latter he; the collant lower che, (total 1190 of vot) food better i young + old NYT Carter efter Pa Carly/HHH Goio Jack HHH 5090 Udabl= = Protestants - Cath / Jens 4020 Carton = Younger older split Heavy union soe.sexv trade no J.S. trade smaller sant lyer gant. SNaH foll couly beb 1stweek Nett poll 2nd week April May 5/L NYT 2/13/1615500 Job ste 70 Yes Alrition 26 No C7 Yes 4 OK 26 No Defente No 43 to 7 OK Yes Kzg 33 Crt Defense DK 17 Yes 37 No 52 DK 11 Poll/every trade 45 Y 43 N 11 DK Busing Yes 20 No 71 DK 7 Fed / local local 63 Fed 24 GERALD FORD DK 13 of total NYT May 6 NYT/CBS GOP votes 1/3 of Wallace 172 voters voted GOP - 311 Reagan moderates 50 conserv 50 3:2 Ford 3:2 Reagan Kissinga Bad 70/30 Reagon same/ Good 70 30 Ford economy same on worse 2:1 Reagan in splet race! welfare, 40% better 2:1 ford NYT 4/21/76 Carter voters more likely RMN More tikely to desert if Cater obesat get - economic issues 4090 too much for. fort sing help to Carter : winer foutsider Nichigan defection 1/2 hell Wallace 1/2 voters conserv dams went those cop-hastly who stayed Reagan Dem went FORD of 079339 LIBRARY mostly for Carter blad {- - Ford defections 1/3 world go Carter in Conter 1 Reason Walace - Reagan defectors realy 402 - would so TG Carter in Ford Carter [June 1976] Electability Holding me Center Carter as Foil 1) states Electoral 2) Polls 3) Elements of Winning Constituency 4) key Issues Gvc- 5) Personality LIBRERA GERALD : FORD Arguements as winner 1) Regional 1 NO 2) states wiR Crossorers ?-NO 3) Popular Vates - NO 4) Polls - Yes Indeps + Derus 5) 3 tates needed to win general - YES Border states + California Reagan strength wrong places and/or not enough Comptoring the Center - CAV Turnout low Wallace looters detect Regan Regan Record of Party in Calif People on ticket better off with Ford Young strength Sig section of independents Pealing of Democ. Coalitican 68 - Wallace + Humphrey vs RN. LIBRARY GERALD FORD Raising specter of '64 knocking off incumbert President - lame duck Ford as Winner I. Use of Argument A Public News B Advocates Public Conventions C PFC D Party Pros t Delegates Elected Officials IX. Types of Aguements A Empirical Endence Polling - Public National/State by state Uoting - Primaries + Past B conventional Wisdom C Electoral strategy D sophistication Strongths - Weaknesses III. Carter - ABC Democrat Ford as winner Reagan as loser GERALD B. FORD [Vune 1976? FORD/REAGAN IMPACT ON NORMAL DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENCY: A COMPARISON In the race against Carter, the GOP nominee will probably be significantly less able to draw the votes of former sup- porters of Wallace away from the Democrats. Thus it becomes of critical importance that the GOP candidate attract votes from other elements of the normal Democratic constituency. The President can do this, but with some exceptions, Reagan cannot. Following is an element by element comparison of the predicted Ford/Reagan performance among normally Democratic constituences. FORD is LIBRARY BERALD I. JEWISH VOTERS American Jews represent only 3-4% of the American population, but two factors combine to give them an importance far out of proportion to their numbers. The first is that they are concentrated in a relatively small number of very large states -- NY, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and Florida (156 electoral votes) where a shift in their voting patterns can be decisive. The second is that they have the highest percentage of voters of any identifiable group in the population. They votes solidly Democratic until 1972. While Jews apparently dislike Carter, this clearly does not mean that any GOP candidate will receive their support. Rather, if Carter takes positions on certain issues acceptable to the Jewish community, the critical question will be how much of their vote the GOP candidate will draw away. Ford will clearly draw more of their vote than will Reagan. The reasons for this are: 1. Jewish economic liberals are less likely to be alienated by (indeed many of them support) the President's economic reform proposals such as deregulation, antitrust reform, and so on than they will be by Reagan's insistence that government leave the marketplace altogether. 2. Jewish social liberals are less likely to be alienated by the President's plan to minimize busing than by Reagan's proposal for a total ban on busing. 3. Administration foreign policy toward Israel in the U.N. has been supported by the Jewish community, so Reagan would do no better on this front. 4. A Reagan candidacy will clearly be less acceptable to Jews from a religious point of view. Reagan takes a religious tac similar to Carter's, an approach which has clearly alienated Jewish voters. Reagan's attack on the school prayer decisions is also likely to cause severe losses among Jewish voters. CONCLUSION: A Carter candidacy will probably mean a sub- stantial vote for the GOP nominee if the nominee is President Ford. : FORD GERALD LIBRARY II. BLACK VOTERS Blacks contribute from 15-20% of total Democratic support. While they have apparently Voted fairly heavily for Carter in the early Democratic primaries, poll data shows that their loyalty to him, a compared to other Democratic candidates is not that strong. This suggests that their 90+% loyalty rate to Johnson and Humphrey may return to earlier 70% levels if Carter is the candidate. This will be far more likely to happen, however, if Ford rather than Reagan is the GOP candidate. The reasons for this are as follows: 1. African Policy -- Even the most superficial analysis of the positions taken by the Ford Administration as cmpared to those taken by Reagan suggests that Reagan has very probably alienated many black voters, while the Ford policies are seen as at least steps in the right direction. 2. Busing -- Again, Reagan's views are almost calcu- lated to alienate many blacks. 3. Economic Policy -- President Ford will be running on a strong record of economic recovery, while Reagan has no record in this area and his views on the economic role of government are, as poll data clearly indicates, anathema to blacks. aND 4. Ford has appointed a number of prominent visible blacks. CONCLUSION: In general, a Ford candidacy seems likely to produce at least some black support, while a Reagan candi- dacy would mean this vote would go completely to the Democrats. FORD is GERALD LIBRARY III. CATHOLICS Catholics and Jews taken together have consistently contributed approximately 40% of n Democratic vote. Governor Reagan and the President would probably do about equally well among Catholic voters who vote Republican if Carter is the Democratic candidate. Catholic voters tend to be economic liberals, but social conservatives. Thus Reagan's slight edge among Catholic voters based on his social issue stands (abortion, busing, to a lesser extent school prayer) would probably be offset by losses of potential GOP Catholic voters as a result of his economic views. The probability that this is the case is strengthened by the fact that the President has far stronger support among younger voters, of whom many are Catholic. CONCLUSION: The social issue stands of significance to these voters would probably be abortion, busing and to a significantly less extent, school prayer. FORD & LIBRARY 9ERVLD IV. UNION MEMBERS Union members generally contribute a high proportion of Democratic support. Union members have rarely been overwhelming loyal to the Democrats, and a Carter candi- dacy seems likely to leave open the possibility that the GOP candidate will receive a higher than average number of union member votes. While neither candidate has a record which suggests that it would naturally draw large numbers of union votes, the President's position with union members would probably be stronger than that of Reagan. The President has a strong proven track record on economic issues and has been considerably less critical of labor in general than has Reagan. The common situs veto would cirtainly be a neutral factor between Ford and Reagan because Reagan probably wouldn't have signed it either. FORD is QERVID LIBRARY 6 GERATO sto FORD Key Issue Differences between President Ford and Governor Reagen and their impact on the Electorate Both President Ford and Governor Reagen are conservative men, a fact which the GOP primaries hold this year have tended to obscure. Bath Men agree that the United States need to maintain a strong national defence, posture, and that the Federal government in thould n otherwise play, a much smaller role in our national life then it the candidates have taken tomouhat different Now does. But on a number of issues positions, them making probablefhat they will In general, Governor Reagan in shightly more likely general election. the trouble is that appeal to different confitencies in the appeal otherwise to have appeal to the deep Jonth than is the President and comiderably less likely to appeal to Northern voters, if the It is also GOP primaries are any indication of the likely clean that pattern of voting in the Fall. This Governor Reagon has means that unless & Reagan can defect alip taken Carter in his home territory, he is likely to lose very badly. providentl certain the in this Foreign Policy - TROOPS Based V. an his NEGOTIATION recent public statemputs, Reagan is comidinably More willing to commit the United States to foreign land wars than is the President. while this position charly has same appeal in the Santh and to 3 per haps in the West, it seem unlikely to 7 postune are likely to blunt & Reason, attacks and his consistent support far a strom befere treased Carter's military backs round the effectives of On the South. with clearly cost Reigan votes cost Carter significant numbers of votes in the ofher hand, everywhere else in the country. President Fond's attempts to regotiate much settlements of various position will Reagons unlernational disputes seem ^ more likely to have broad popular appeal. una this fact inticat conclusion is n by Jackson's loss to Carter in Florida and the collapee of this Jackson's campaign nationally. Recent Galhip po u data whom Kissinger, has (WP, June 6) indicates that secret any / Israel - Reagans attacks on the Ford policy paga of allached, toward Israel were insigned, and are unlikely, for reasons discussed check to draw is a asset to him. significant numbers of Jewish voters to the menistration of Domestic Policy which the Ford policy might Adminis iv area. nuall gurner for the Got. Busing - Discossed elsewhere are The impac to of R the Admin, substantial can paint to Earn Pl. Delegulation R/form Laissez fa ive the Reagan busing position on various Democratic progresh in support groups has been dis cussed elsewhere. this area As was. shown there, the Reagan busing ching the position is likely to mean the loss patential/votas from various Democrabic Fanthermore, the President will groups. On the has the more successful than the Presidents position in that the Reasan position other hand, there is little prifence alvanting of his experience and of has from Carter. Carters anti- fored busing position drawing the notes of former Wallace supporters away M position incumbent. as seem likely to satily those who would otherwise be miclined to support him 8 Economic Policy General - The major diff erence between the ,while President and Reagan on matters of economic policy seems to have been that the b President leagan not does has recognized the fact that to effect rtubs tantial of government will By bequire some time, change in economic policy the economic role members and may not be as thorough-gaing as that reform they of some laissez- faire school of might like, thought 1. the President signed a budget which contained provision for some deficit spending because he felt that it was a worhable comptomise effect Reagan apposed this budget and if would have generally beneficial and because the signing the because if contained a deficit, the President appear do have decided conectly because the took steam much ant of 5. economic picture has steadily improved, 2. the Dem. industry. Reagon proposed the sale of the TVA to private tach on This proposal ahemated a Admin policy. ec. even the conservative voters who would the pults in otherwise favor Gavernar Reagan, as the TN/KY primary 3. Reagan proposed that the social security showed. trust fund be invested in exemity securities of private companies This would the elec for tion 11 R.FORD LIBRARY major enterrise private investor in private have turned the government into a this was clearly an underviable result, and them comex vatines propert appoaed this proposal. At the same time security payments to ease the burdens of infleting the President has proposed increases in social on SR. citying who which represent a powerful votime block in 9 4. Ford proposal for deregulation and strengthed antitant enforcement have been extremely well received. annroached the fact that the basis + President has heady the proper problem propost aller n a cafe by case proposing study across the rather only the than simply because he careful study given maximum play, has had 2 important the free market system should always be offects: first, it makes Adminis that in among groups who natimally strongly appose deregulation proposals for more credible such actions and secondly it makes Administration apposition to certain Democrabic proposals much more believer and Mre likely to succeed. this is an area where, f potential non Republican voters are not to be alienated, chame must be, caufully shaped. The Ford, must be juadual and public consensers P.U data Administration has shown if can olevelop this consensus. It teems clears that Suggeots to drive those potential voters Ewar. Reagan's positions would for for more likely to take just ane concrete example, Illingis t Unsionsin Jumary voting results tuggest subs trutial poomises to has largely eliminate government invo wement support for admin. FARM policy which in the agricultural techn of the economy. (over) GERMAN TORD LIBRANT Conclusion General - In general, Reagan economic policy the support of large wombers of voters seem for more likely to cost the party who an social conservatives but economic moderates or liberal By. The Ford policies, on the other hand, male if likely that this tantial change will in fact occur., At and the sametime n Ford the to anattack which many economic 3 mornates will economic record js unlikely to be vylnerable agree with. 10 Bureaucracy - Governor Reagan attachs on the federal government will be deprived of a is the Democrabic candidat. While Razon large pat of their effectiveness if Carter on this issue, Carter can point to his can point to his mixed record in California in Georgia, and he has clearly been able to run will with this issue. Nor will the President le mulnerable to Carter point to his record of nebses his consickul or this Seare. The President carp appointion to the creation of was if ven prozrams, and his plans to maly some of the agencies policies dereg latin, anfi bring, and heremic-sharing significantly less intrusive they through his 11 w the stylet Personalities of President Ford and Governor Reajan and then impact an the fall Election- A Comparison Survey data consistenth domonstrates that elgctions in which both candidates are teen as moderatos an the issues are decided at least in substantial, part an personality, while elections in which either are an both candidates are vaived as extremists are like to be based somewhat more on issue votim. of the If Carter is the Democratic nominee, and if hoth GOP candidates are perceived as moderates by the electorate, President Fand's personality would compare murh more Lavorath with Carter's than would that of Governor style Reagan Not only would Governor Reagan parmality have wauld fend to rein orce Many negative steventypes negative associations Lar Many noters, it of the GOP held by large numbers of American voters. 1. Style - Govemer Reagan is some what more articulate than in the President as his ability to get However, are usually patibay enthosiastic responses from his audines shows audien,ces, and Reagans anticulateness has stoong negative associations for voters other than Rengan partisons Reagon is often thought of as often cambined with the following too "shick" - and this perception is FORD 070839 LIBRARY association 1 indiffact or uncaring superficial, puchaps dishourst, a "politician." 12 while they have had the to it is important to note that these wating effect to ther regation stereotyn of the Republican party - associations are very timilar to widely held that the GOP is uncaring and in dishonert. deal wealthin than the President He is Furthermore, Reagn is personally a good therefore much more likely to be mind as a friend of Big Buziness, less sny mpathefic to the needs of the poor and the middle class (groups in which many of the Wallace voters are exucentrated. Again, these associations reinforce artain widely held, and very arganing concerning the Republican party. Since (atter is alsol personally onto wealth and Fond is much More used to be able to capitaling on this than is Reagan, made statements or hanguing the drug of their compaigns. - Both Reagon and Carter have been susceptible to antbpeaks of anger. at moments. the Indead, Jackson this as q basis for his attachs an Carlos in Pennsy Wania the Prident is widely perceived as more trained and judicious in his choice of words and actions. this difference could prove to be of tremomlaus importance in a make when personalities are a significant issue since this tyou of res train t appearsuato be an essential attinbute of a President toth public in a meleor age. in the public mind. GERALD R. FORD 13 Sincerely - Roft Ford and Reagan will project equally well on this dimension against Carter. Decisiveness - As President, Ford will obvious be in a much better position to demonstrate his decisiveness while the President will be vulnerable to with regard attachs based fo, on shifts in Administration policy, there is no reason to believe Reagon will face better on this Score. Infeed, Karin < had been severely damaged by his ebandonment Phillips recently noted that Reagans aedibility during the primaries, of several positions than making him More vuluerable in the general election (Phillips, Openness - the ) Democratic Party is perceived by voters as much more open than the GOP to change in all respects, President Ford is much more likely to be perceived as open than is Reagan. Bett Ford will clearly be 9 fremendous ascet to the Resident in this respect, Religionity - Ford against probably stronger on cartey this dimension than Reagan he brings this will be on abset for him with more less "Immelical ferver to what he does. moderate Pretestant (+ Catholic ?) denominations members. Any drawing power Reagan wight have on this dimension space would per bably be offset by other Carter associations. DERALO FORD LIBRARY 14 General Electric Turnout and its Effect on Ford/ Roagan Candidacies: A Comparison suggest that the election this year will be the result of this years primames strongly characteryl by relatively low voter fusnout the willance MAN the primaries so for is that the substantial decrease in primary furnout on the Demodrabic side, to the extent that is not simply a soflection of an overall decline is a woult of the fact that many of Wallaces former voters have stayed at home. Since the Reagan constituency, if include large numbers of these voters, this suggests Reason is to win the general election, most that, when combined will other factors discussed below, a Reagen candidor would be wechen than might be indicated by poll results tahen alone. In a Low turnant election: Groups whose HistoricpHigh ally, Relative Groups whose Historically Turninet Importance Gives them Exaggerated dow A Turnout Given them less importance tp, Jews Union members ATS Republicans Blacks Catholics Santherners LIBRARY SERALD $ 1020 286 Young Veters $ 4 This table reinforces the impression that Since MANY Wallace votes which Realgn must depend on make of Wallacessom heavily them the President will play & much are but less important vole in this election than they union From Newbers. they have previousty. On the other hand, the President will do be the than Reagen from V tor FOR of st if tom your Hand 11% O to Affrr prong promy the to from myll 10-10-1 Y arring 1020 my my = to crosting from Emer tofoo impany poogh mont grown and www 1 form 1°CC the Hy Iff x At hue Information 19) fome fobrynome Block? mill per parting fine from crottengy R prombe more regist ,E19 hi L29 and In of few parsont spootrax: from milto F $98 roundf our OLS Min to forev ingryon mayo X maps 16t you Compling 46 Purpase t most s) I's surgings fairl of from refore 16: tranking tran It in to mosel its Naws f Mollarno famina for storrby yours to from of shing E f amay yours 2- of of to 16.7 too Ergo to to irport 16 t 12 not H imgines X 90 your 16°F t6 prossnt M. In 3 and 1000 r 1 soft 16th to to In A Nebra the X T st A of pay any if Nit N 15 among Junih voters and would mm a bant eventy among Catholics Both there groups will be even more significant than they usually are in the 1976 election. FORD is 018830 LIBRARY If the split had been Democratic, WHH would have won by inther or 16 votes. 27) 1968 Election Results - Assuming 55-45 Wallace Vote Split 1968 Margin WINNER if Winwer State WiNNeR Electoral Vote (1972) Wallace 90 Splitto if SplittoR Wash HHH 9 2.1 7.4 HHH MN HHH 10 12.5 4 HHH HHH Texas HHH 26 1.2 19.0 HHH RMN W. VA. HMH 6 8.8 9.6 HHH HHH MD HHH 10 1.7 14.5 HHH RMN PeNN. HHH 27 3.6 8.0 HHH HHH New York HHH 41 5.5 5.3 HHH HHH CONN HHH 8 5,2 6.1 HHH HHH D.C. HHH 3 63 - HHH HHH Hawaii HHH 4 22 1.5 HHH HHH Rhad Isl. HH H 4 32.2 4.1 HHH HHH Maine HHH 4 12.2 1.6 HHH HHH Mass, WHH 14 30.1 3.7 HHH HHH 25.05 Ark GCW 6 N/A 38.8 HHH RMN LA. GQW 10 N/A 48.3 HHH RMN Aliss. GCW 7 N/A 63.5 HHH HHH Ala- GCW 10 N/A 67.2 HHH as-as RMN GA. GCW 12 N/A 43.8 HHH RMN IOWA RMN 8 12.2 5.7 RMN RMN Ks RMN 7 20 10 " " FORD Ky RMN 6 11 11 9 18.3 Mo RMN 12 1.2 11.4 LIBRARY ? RMV Mont RMN 4 9 7.3 RMN RMN Neb. RMN 5 28 8.4 RMN RMN Neva, RMN 3 8.2 13.3 RMN RMN NH RMN 4 f.z 11 3.8 " RMN 2.1 9.1 " NJ 17 11 NM RMN 4 " ./ 12.1 7.9 1968 Election 55-45 Wallace split Winnerit Wino state 1965 Winer Elect, Vote (1972) Margin Wallace E Split D Splits if NC RMD 13 16.3 31.3 RMN QMN ND 3 17.7 5.8 11 11 RMN " " OH 25 2.Z 11.8 Okla 11 8 15.7 20.3 if 6 6.1 11 11 Oreg. 6 11 " SC 8 8.5 32.3 4 11 11 SD 11.3 4,8 11 " TN 10 9.8 34 " " Utal 4 19.4 6.4 3 9.3 " " Vt. 3.2 Va. 11 10,9 " 11 23.6 7,6 " " Wisc. 11 3.6 " " Wyo. 3 20.3 8.7 Alaska " " 3 2.6 12.1 Ariz. 6 9.6 11 " 19.8 " Calif. 45 il 3 6.7 Colo or " 7 9.2 7.5 Del. " 3 3.5 d 13.3 Fla. " 17 9.6 28.5 " " 4 12 IDAH. 26.1 12.6 Ill. 26 2.9 8.5 " 11 IND. 12.3 11.5 " " 13 FORD States HHH won which go GOP w/ 55-45 GOP split: LIBRARY (Total Elect. notes) : 36 States Wallace won which go GOP w/ 55-45 GOP split: (Total Elect. voter) ; 38 States Wallace won which go DEM w/ 55-45 Dem Split: Total Elect votes : 45 States RMN won which go DEM w/ 55-45 DEM split: Total Elect votes : 0 OR 12 (Missouri). [June 1976] Electability Primary Results Nat'l Polls Electoral strates, state Polls 1964 incombert President RR margin schind Positioning - RR extreme RR Arguements Anti- Washington Wallace+ + Republicans Strong in Right Places FORDO is DERALD LIBRARY [June 1976] President Ford The Winner in November I Gerald Food has a stoong record as President A. under his leadership, intlation her been cut in half and Rure are 1.3 million new jobs. B. President Ford is the first in urmbent since Eisenhow who can caropaign with R nation at peace C. President Ford has restored trust and writence in government. II President Ford runs aread of Reagan against Carter in every national poll Ford Carter Undec Reason Caster under Harris 40 53 7 35 58 7 Gallup 39 53 8 35 58 Y Time? Wash 2 34 48 3250 NBC III Resident Ford has a national appeal A. He is the national choice of Republicans Ford Regan undecided Harris 60 30 10 NBC 60 30 10 QERALD 8. FORD. LIBRARY Gallup 51 41 8 B. He is R national boice of independents Gallup Ford Rengan Underided 52 33 13 ineiPer pasty C. President Ford is the only candidate to win primaries in all octions of The country NH 4 Vt. 3 Mass 14 F/o. 17 Ill 26 Wisc 11 NY 41 Pena. 27 DC 3 W.Va. 6 Md. 10 Mich 21 Ky 9 Tenn 10 Ore. 5 RT 4 FORDO & 07/839 LIBRARY NJ 17 QUIO 25 253 Reagan has when only one primary ontside Re Sunselt. The total electoral vote strong of his privacy vidories is 141, Ear short of R 270 needed to nominate [June 1976] /. Ford has a strong record as President Peace Presperity + Trust 2. Food runs ahead of Regan ingainst United in every national poll. 3. Ford has a national appeal to Republicans Independents Primary Victories Electoral Votes 4. Reagan risks another 1964 23 points behind (no one else like Ret since Stereasin) Reagan's strength is in wrons places won't get Wallace voto Too Exteme FORD is LIBRARY 938839 AFTER THE PRIMARIES: SOME STATISTICS WHICH [Jane 1976] SHOW RELATIVE STRENGTHS OF REAGAN, FORD, AND CARTER All regions are PFC regions. All percentages are based on the Ford and Reagan vote. REGION FORD % REAGAN % ELECTORAL VOTE Northeast 77 23 165 South 47.3 52.7 100 Great Plains 46 54 49 Southwest 33 67 40 Northwest 36 64 70 Rocky Mountain 29 71 18 Midwest 58 42 96 Using these figures as showing regional leads, : Ford leads 63-37 in regions containing 261 electoral votes (MW+NE) Reagan leads 60-40 in regions containing 277 electoral votes (w,S,GPAL BUT: When the Northeast, South, and Midwest are combined (361 electoral votes), Ford leads Reagan 60-40. When the Northeast, South, Midwest, and Great Plains regions are combined (410 electoral votes), Ford leads Reagan 59x4k. 59. 5-40.5 2. Reagan leads Ford in regions containing 177 electoral votes: Great Plains, Southwest, Northwest, Rocky Mountains: 64-36; but in those regions, Democratic primary voters cast 62% more votes than GOP primary voters. 3. In the Northeast, South, and Midwest, regions containing 361 electoral votes, Carter received nearly 100% more votes than Reagan, but in these same regions, Ford outra Reagan by 20% (50% more votes) and got nearly 80% of Carter's vote. LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD N poll rel. 6/14 shows 1 pt. diff. betw. Canter/Ford + Carter/Reager So. in Page 2 4. When the home states of both Ford and Reagan are omitted (to compensate for home state advantage), Ford led Reagan 56 to 44 in all of the rest of the primary states. 6. Ford led Reagan 55-45 when the South and Midwest are combined. (265 electoral votes) 7. In the Midwest and Northeast, with a total of 261 electoral votes, : Ford: 3461579 Carter: 3472171 Reagan: 2025307 Thus, Carter received 71% more votes in the Midwest and Northeast than Reagan, but only 3% more than Ford. 8. When the South, Midwest, Southwest and Northwest are combined: (306 electoral votes) Ford: 4010333 or 49. 7% Reagan: 4057107 or 50.3% 9. When the South, West, and Northeast are combined: (375EV) Ford: 2919000 or 48.8 Reagan: 3061000 or 51.2 10. When the West, Midwest, and Northeast are combined (371 EV): Ford: 4573 or 53 Reagan: 4035 47 BERALD B. FORD RART 11. Reagan won only I primary outside of the South + West, and by a 51-49 marzin Survey data NY T 5/6 ofic shows he would have lost crossomers he would not have gotten Indiana without the benefit of wallace in 1964. June 9, 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR: JOHN DEERDOURFF FROM: FOSTER CHANOCK SUBJECT: Missouri Convention Handout 1. Ford-Reagan among Republicans. GALLUP HARRIS Ford Reagan Undecided Ford Reagan Undecided May 60 35 5 60 30 10 April 56 32 12 59 30 11 March 51 41 8 60 30 10 February 55 35 10 51 34 15 2. No Republican can be elected without Independents. GALLUP Ford Reagan Undecided May 52 33 15 April 50 32 18 March 49 37 14 FORD is LIBRARY February 44 31 25 -2- 3. No Republican can win the Presidency without carrying a majority of the following states' electoral votes. * Pennsylvania (27) Missouri (12) * Illinois (26) * Wisconsin (11) * Michigan (21) * Maryland (10) * Ohio (25) * Florida (17) * New Jersey (17) * Kentucky (9) California (45) * Tennessee (10) Texas (26) ( * States won by President in the primaries. ) 4. Ford is a stronger national candidate than Reagan. GALLUP Ford/Carter Ford/Humphrey June 1976 40 / 52 45 / 46 I Reagan/Carter Reagan/Humphrey 37 / 55 42 / 52 HARRIS May 1976 43 / 47 I 35 / 53 June 40/53 35/50 FORD is LIBRARY THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 3, 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR: FOSTER CHANOCK FROM: DAVE GERGEN SUBJECT: Voting in Primaries Judy Muhlberg has just pulled together results from all of the primaries held so far. With three big ones left, here's how things stand: -- The President has a margin of a little better than 52-48% over Reagan in all of the votes in Republican primaries. The actual vote margin is about 340,000 in the President's favor. -- Breaking the vote into regions (the same regional definitions used by the PFC), the President has more votes than Reagan in the Midwest and Northeast and is about even in the North West. Reagan is leading in the South, the Plains, and the Rocky Mountain states. --- On the Democratic side, Carter has collected about 42% of the total Democratic votes cast so far. -- Overall, about twice as many voters have pulled the Democratic lever in the primaries as the Republican one. Note that the Democratic total is inflated by over a million votes because there were no GOP votes in Pennsylvania and D.C. Nonetheless, the Democratic margin is still about 2-1. --- Total GOP votes have exceeded total Democratic votes in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain areas and have been almost equal in the Midwest. -- Total Democratic votes have exceeded total GOP votes by a margin of 3-1 in the South, 3-1 in the South- west, and 2-1 in the North East. FORD LIBRARY is GERALD - 2 - -- Total GOP votes have exceeded total Democratic votes in the following states: New Hampshire, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota and Idaho. Attachments FORD : LIBRARY 938830 PRIMARY VOTE BY REGION REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT REGION FORD REAGAN OTHER TOTAL CARTER OTHER TOTAL North East 451,807 320,880 25,887 799,071 1,074,433 2,375,017 3,479,934 Southern 621,807 691,586 3,362 1,316,755 1,925,155 1,724,705 3,910,244 Mid West 1,780,376 1,260,720 16,499 3,059,595 1,625,595 1,729,225 3,370,505 Great 129,983 154,743 288,237 90,018 133,946 231,141 Plains South West 151,032 309,936 2,052 463,020 736,161 679,429 1,544,907 North West 160,678 164,858 325,536 131,102 352,593 488,290 Rocky Mtns 37,462 91,593 129,844 21,830 105,100 127,934 TOTALS 3,333,145 2,994,316 47,800 6,382,058 5,604,294 7,100,015 13,152,955 LIBRANT GERALD FORD REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT REGION FORD REAGAN OTHER TOTAL CARTER OTHER TOTAL North East Conn Del D.C. Ford ran unopposed -- 9,281 14,079 23,360 Kent 67,868 62,567 130,435 181,291 112,423 305,566 Maine Mass 115,375 63,555 14,481 193,411 101,948 645,686 747,364 N.J. N.Y. Penn Ford ran unopposed 506,898 855,164 1,362,062 R.I. 9,329 4,406 14,232 18,141 23,357 60,400 Va. W Va 82,281 62,975 145,256 321,701 321,701 N.H. 55,156 53,569 11,155 119,880 23,373 59,008 82,381 Ver 27,014 4,892 251 32,157 16,335 22,379 38,714 Md 94,784 68,916 163,700 217,166 321,220 538,386 451,807 320,880 25,887 799,071 1,074,433 2,375,017 3,479,934 Southern Ala 19,114 35,007 / 54,121 167,804 318,430 683,000 Ark 11,449 20,209 31,658 315,553 129,091 502,151 Ga 59,801 128,671 188,472 411,616 78,941 490,557 La Miss N.C. 88,897 101,468 3,362 193,727 324,437 280,395 604,832 S.C. Okla P.R. Tenn 120,564 118,394 238,958 256,901 66,362 329,374 Vir Is Fla 321,982 287,837 609,819 448,844 851,486 1,300,330 621,807 691,586 3,362 1,316,755 1,925,155 Mid West 1,724,705 3,910,244 Ill 456,750 311,295 7,848 777,893 630,915 680,999 1,311,914 Ind 307,582 323,772 631,354 417,463 196,898 614,361 Mich 689,540 363,791 8,651 1,061,982 305,997 382,020 703,702 Ohio Wisc 326,504 261,862 588,366 271,220 469,308 740,528 1,780,376/1,260,720 16,499 3,059,595 1,625,595 1,729,225 Great Plains 3,370,505 Iowa Kans Minn Mo Neb 93,299 112,116 205,415 65,263 107,152 172,415 N.Dak S.Dak 36,684 42,627 82,822 24,755 26,794 58,726 129,983 154,743 288,237 90,018 133,946 South West 231,141 Ari N.Mex Texas 151,032 309,936 2,052 463,020 736,161 679,429 1,544,907 Utah 151,032 309,936 2,052 463,020 736,161 679,429 1,544,907 North West Alaska GERALD Guam LIBRASY Hawaii Nev 13,767 31,616 45,383 17,538 53,090 75,223 Ore 146,911 133,242 280,153 113,564 299,503 413,067 Wash Calif 160,678 164,858 325,536 131,102 352,593 Rocky Mtns 488,290 Col Idaho 22,240 66,583 88,823 8,782 62,904 72,690 Mont 15,222 25,010 41,021 13,048 42,196 55,244 Wyoming 37,462 91,593 129,844 21,830 105,100 127,934 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 17, 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR: DICK CHENEY FROM: DAVE GERGEN of SUBJECT: Voting in the Primaries Judy Muhlberg has pulled together the final results from the primaries. From this information, one can make the following observations: -- The President had a margin of 52-48% (51.5-47.8%) over Reagan in all of the votes in Republican primaries. The actual vote margin is about 388, 000 in the President's favor. -- Breaking the vote into regions (the same regional definitions used by the PFC), the President had more votes than Reagan in the Midwest and the Northeast. Reagan led in the South, the Great Plains, the Northwest, and the Rocky Mountain states. -- On the Democratic side, Carter collected about 39% of the total Democratic votes cast. Prior to the June 8th primaries, he held 42% of the total Democratic votes. -- Overall, the Democratic vote exceeded the GOP vote by about a 60-40 margin (57-43). Note that the Democratic total is inflated because there were no GOP votes in D. C. and New Jersey. Nonetheless, the Democratic margin is still about 2-1. -- Total GOP votes exceeded total Democratic votes in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain areas. -- Total Democratic votes exceeded total GOP votes by a margin of 3-1 in the South, 3-1 in the Southwest, and 4-1 in the North East (Keeping in mind, however, that there were not GOP votes in two of the contests in the North East region.) FORD is LIBRARY BERALD -- Total GOP votes exceeded total Democratic votes in the following states: New Hampshire, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Idaho. -- The President ran ahead of Carter in the Mid West, the Great Plains, the Northwest, and the Rocky Mountain states, although Carter's actual vote margin over the President is approximately 2 million votes. Attachments FORD i 078870 LIBRARY LIBRARY FORD PRIMARY VOTE BY REGION is GERALD REGION FORD REAGAN OTHER TOTAL CARTER OTHER TOTAL North East 1,185,315 361,468 26,395 1,573,177 1,278,090 2,513,748' 4,016,985 Southern 621,807 691,989 3,846 1,317,613 1,925,155 1,724,705 3,910,244 Mid West 2,276,264 1,663,839 19,050 3,960,153 2,194,081 2,252,117 4,461,883 Great 130,218 155,120 4,055 289,393 90,018 133,946 231,141 Plains South West 151,032 309,936 2,052 463,020 736,161 679,429 1,544,907 North West 961,230 1,701,279 2,365 2,664,874 821,556 2,949,958 3,852,519 Rocky Mtns. 37,462 91,593 ----- 129,844 21,830 105,100 127,934 TOTALS 5,363,328 4,975,224 57,763 10,398,074 7,066,891 10,359,003 18,145,613 REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT REGION FORD REAGAN OTHER TOTAL CARTER OTHER TOTAL North East Conn Del D.C. Ford ran unopposed -- 9,281 14,079 23,360 Kent 67,868 62,567 130,435 181,291 112,423 305,566 Maine Mass 115,375 63,555 14,481 193,411 101,948 645,686 747,364 N.J. Ford ran unopposed 203,657 138,731 537,061 N.Y. by Delegate Penn 733,472 40.514 733.986 506,898 855,164 1,362,062 R.I. 9,365 4,480 508 14,352 18,141 23,357 60,400 Va W Va 82,281 62,975 145,256 321,701 321,701 N.H. 55,156 53,569 11,155 119,880 23,373 59,008 82,381 Ver 27,014 4,892 251 32,157 16,335 22,379 38,714 Md 94,784 68,916 163,700 217,166 321,220 538,386 1,185,315 361,468 26,395 1,573,177 1,278,090 2,513,748 4,016,985 Southern Ala 19,114 35,007 / 54.121 167,804 318,430 683,000 Ark 11,449 20,612 484 32,546 / 315,553 129,091 502,151 Ga 59,801 128,671 188,472 411,616 78,941 490,557 La Miss N.C. 88,897 101,468 3,362 \ 193,727 324,437 280,395 604,832 S.C. Okla P.R. Tenn 120,564 118,394 238,958 256,901 66,362 329,374 Vir Is Fla 321,982 287,837 609,819 448,844 851,486 1,300,330 621,807 691,989 3,846 1,317,613 1,925,155 1,724,705 3,910,244 [id West Ill 456,750 311,295 7,582 \ 775,627 \ 630,915 680,999 1,311,914 Ind 307,582 323,772 631,354 417,463 196,898 614,361 Mich 689,540 363,791 8,651 1,061,982 305,997 382,020 703,702 Ohio 495,523 403,855 899,378 568,486 522,892 1,091,378 Wisc 326,869 I 262,126 2,817 591,812 271,220 469,308 740,528 2,276,264 1,663,839 19,050 3,960,153 \ 2,194,081 2,252,117 4,461,883 reat Plains Iowa Kans Minn Mo Neb 93,299, 112,116 205,415 65,263 107,152 172,415 N.Dak S.Dak 36,919 43,004 4,055 / 83,978 / 24,755 26,794 58,726 130,218 155,120 4,055 289,393 90,018 133,946 231,141 outh West Ari N.Mex Texas 151,032 309,936 2,052 463,020 736,161 679,429 1,544,907 Utah 151,032 309,936 2,052 463,020 736,161 679,429 1,544,907 orth West Alaska Guam ERALO FORD LIBRA Hawaii Nev 13,747 31,637 2,365 47,749 17,538 53,090 75,223 Ore 146,911 133,242 280,153 113,564 299,503 413,067 Wash Calif 800,572 1,536,400 2,336,972 690,454 2,597,365 3,364,229 961,230 1,701,279 2,365 2,664,874 821,556 2,949,958 3,852,519 ocky Mtns Col Idaho 22,240 66,583 88,823 8,782 62,904 72,690 Mont 15,222 25,010 41,021 13,048 42,196 55,244 Wyoming 37,462 91,593 129,844 21,830 105,100 127,934 LAW OFFICES Dent, Kirkland, Taylor & Wilson HARRY S. DENT WASHINGTON OFFICE. STANCEL E. KIRKLAND GRANBY LAW BUILDING (MR. DENT ONLY) HENRY H. TAYLOR 1700 SUNSET BOULEVARD (HWY. 378) BOX 19527 ADDISON G. WILSON WASHINGTON. D. C. 20006 DRAWER 175 (202) 785.9454 JOHN F. O'CONNOR. JR. WEST COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29169 OF COUNSEL. TELEPHONE (803) 796.9160 KENNETH M. ROBINSON June 21, 1976 Dear Fellow Delegate: As you may know, I am helping President Ford in his search for Delegate support in the South. Attached is a column by N.Y. Times writer James Reston echoing a course I have suggested we pursue in seeking to re-unite our party, hold the White House, help our other candidates, and keep our party viable. Winning in 1976 is vital for all Republicans, especially Southern Republicans. An Imperial Carter Presidency would betray the conservative tide running in America today. It would stifle our progress in building a 2-party system in Dixie. Also, it would accelerate the unionization of Southern industry, thus stalling the rapidly expanding economic and political power which has been shifting from North to South. The Democrats have agreed on a fuzzy candidate and a fuzzy platform which newsmen say are viewed as conservative by those who want the conservative approach and liberal by those who want the liberal approach. Wisely, the Democrats want no repeat of their 1972 disaster. In view of the good record our Republican President has compiled in maintaining peace, promoting prosperity, and exemplifying personal integrity and public trust, it would be unwise and unfair to dump him at our convention. His record is worthy of party and non-party support, and no one has a better, longer, or more effective record of service to our party and our Country. I have not agreed with all the President's actions. However, no one we can elect can do all we may desire because a President has to be responsive to all the people, and he has more information upon which to make the big judgments, as I learned in my service in the White House. I concede the President is not a good salesman for himself and his record. However, we can give him a running mate and others who can do a better job of selling him, and that is as it should be. Governors Reagan and Connally could do the selling job either as running mates or otherwise. The attribute of Jerry Ford that most compels me to give my best effort is the undisputed fact that he is a good and just leader who does what he believes to be right and best for America. If I can answer any questions I will be glad to try or get you the answer. With best wishes, I am, Sincerely, your is Det Harry S. Dent HSD:lwd BERÄLD FORD LIBRARY The U.S.News-Letter WASHINGTON A Private Weekly Report And Forecast From U.S. News & World Report 2300 N Street NW Washington DC 20037 Tel (202) 333-7400 Cable Address WORLDREPOR Friday, June 25, 1976 Dear Subscriber: The talk in the Oval Office at the White House is -- "team up with Reagan." Though cool to the idea, President Ford is starting to see the logic of it. He is turning it over carefully -- hearing out the proponents who come to call. Ford's a realist. He knows that Jimmy Carter is way out front in the polls and he knows too that internal discord could destroy the GOP's election hopes. Old, close advisers have been putting it to him bluntly: Join with Reagan or forget it -- "only a unified Republican Party can be successful this year." " The victory formula? Hold onto all Republican votes, then go out and get enough Democrats and independents to offset Carter's basic numerical advantage. Conversations at the White House sift some bleak probabilities: Should the GOP fail to come to terms with itself and get Ford and Reagan into the same harness there will be bitterness, defections and perhaps the worst GOP loss since 1964. Neither Ford nor Reagan can afford at this point to talk openly of a merger. They would lose face and credibility. But -- their friends can do some talking, and that is what will happen in the weeks ahead -- gradual moves toward unity, meetings that don't get in the papers, cooling down of the roughhouse rhetoric. Ford will take the initiative, because he has a narrow edge in delegates and could make the reconciliation bid in a graceful way through intermediaries. The approach will be simple: We'd make a great team. Reagan to nail down votes in the South and West -- including some conservative Democrats -- and Ford to exploit Carter's rather shaky position in the Midwest and Northeastern states. Note that Reagan -- even as No. 2 on the ticket -- would still have stature. Why so? He's made a comeback that is already one of the year's biggest stories. Now a seasoned campaigner, Reagan is persuasive and has proved he's no quitter. Some Carterites, by the way, say a Ford-Reagan team is the only fear they have. Survey Finds Ford as Strong as Reagan in the South By JAMES M. NAUGHTON Ford Widens Lead A majority of Republicans on President Ford would be at least as strong a Repub- Despite continued evidence both sides of the nominating lican Presidential nominee in the South and West as would htat Mr. Reagan was the pre- contest agreed that Mr. Ford ferred nominee of Republicans had been correct to pardon Ronald Reagan, according to the latest national survey of in the West, the survey showed former President Richard M. voter attitudes by The New that Mr. Ford had substantially Nixón, that school busing under widned a lead in popularity York Times and CBS News. among Southern Republicans in court orders should be cur- FORD VERALD LIBRART President Ford "A Winner in November" The greatest concern to all Republicans as we draw near the National Convention in Kansas City, is selecting a Presidential candidate who is most capable of leading the Party to victory against the probable Democratic nominee--Jimmy Carter. As concerned Republicans, we have to listen to every argument, because we are the ones who would feel the grass-roots effect of a Democratic sweep. So what do the non-partisan, independent pollsters have to say? MYTH #1: Ronald Reagan will run stronger than Ford against Carter in the South. TRUTH : President Ford has run consistently better than Reagan against Carter in the South. Ford Carter Reagan Carter HARRIS SURVEY 38% 55% 32% 56% May 6, 1976 N.Y. TIMES* 44% - 39% - May 28, 1976 HARRIS SURVEY @ 48% - 40% - June 4, 1976 GALLUP POLL 32% 61% 30% 65% June 21, 1976 Ford Most Electable GOPer By LEE BANDY Nationally. the latest Gallup President now is telling dele- Washington Bureau Poll also shows Ford doing gates that no one, including much better against Carter Reagan. is being ruled out as WASHINGTON If Repub- than Reagan. The President a running mate. Ford points lican Ronald Reagan has a trails the Georgian by 14 out he offered Reagan two better chance against Demo- Washington points. Reagan is much fur- Cabinet positions and that he crat Jimmy Carter in the ther behind. 23 points to be ex- would not have done so if the LIBRARY The Columbia Record PUBLISHED BY COLUMBIA NEWSPAPERS. INC. 10-A * Tuesday, June 15, 1976 LIBRARY FORD Comment & Opinion Together, Ford-Reagan May body else, but unless Ford and Rea- The Democratic leaders, if they WASHINGTON - President Ford and Ronald Reagan have got them- Win gan supporters combine against the had had their way, would probably Democrats, the Republicans will be in have done the same thing, but Carter, selves and the Republican Party into serious trouble. the new boy, knocked them over, and such a pickle in the presidential elec- Would Reagan accept second is now putting together the party or- tion that maybe their best hope now place? The chances are that, if he lost ganization, the labor union leaders and ine West and nume The U.S.News-Letter WASHINGTON A Private Weekly Report And Forecast From U.S. News & World Report 2300 N Street NW Washington DC 20037 Tel (202) 333-7400 Cable Address WORLDREPOR Friday, June 18, 1976 The Ford-Reagan race for the GOP nomination gets tighter as the hours pass. The one who wins the day at the August convention will do so by a whisker. Here's how they're now positioned: delegates for Ford, 960; for Reagan, 873, according to an Associated Press tally. Of those remaining, 170 are uncommitted, 255 will be picked in state conventions, one backs Commerce Secretary Richardson. As to those to be divvied up at state conventions, we did a nose count -- projections based on calls to sources in the states. Here is how it looks: June 18-19 June 24-26 July 8-10 July 16-17 10th /// Maxico Colorado NOTURE DELICTER / Utah Total Ford 18 17 0 6 15 2 0 10 11 35 0 114 Reagan 18 0 4 32 3 18 21 18 7 0 20 141 If our figures are right (you'll be able to check that starting tomorrow), the score as they head for Kansas City will be Ford, 1,074, to 1,014 for Reagan. They will both be within one good lunge of the 1,130 needed for nomination, and that's why the name of the game is "commit the uncommitteds." As for them, big blocs of Reagan leaners in states like Mississippi, Virginia and Wyoming give the Californian an edge, but it now appears that he still won't have enough to overcome the President's lead. That's why most forecasters are picking Ford. However there's this to consider: Some Ford support is wavering. In states like New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania there is hidden backing for Reagan. This means if he charges in the stretch and Ford trips over platform issues -- such as detente or the wheat "giveaway" Reagan has a chance to turn it around. But we still think Ford will win it, then pick Reagan as his running mate. is FORD Sorry for a sour note about the Bicentennial, but best you be forewarned. GERALD It has national birthday LIBRARY Labor Has High Hopes In '76 By LEE BANDY have been vetoed by the Presi- with their pro-labor package. come the centerpiece of the Washington Bureau dent and subsequently sus- And by then. it will be virtual- Democratic Presidential plat tained by Congress. which was ly too late for any one person form. WASHINGTON Big labor unable to obtain the necessarv or group to stop them with a CHA NNOCK June 21, 1976 MEMORANDUM TO ROGERS MORTON FROM : ROB QUARTEL RALPH STANLEY Hanley SUBJECT : "ELECTABILITY" In the last several days, Reagan has concentrated on the argument that he is "more electable" than President Ford. The attached wire story indicates that he has sent maps to .. all delegates which most certainly support his argument in a very dramatic-- if misleading--manner. This is a problem of special concern given those actions, and the seeming plausibility of his argument. Reagan's primary argument is that he has run better than the President in those areas of the country in which Car er will be of the greatest threat to the Republican nominee. That argument is superficially correct--Reagan has won more primaries--numerically--than the President in the South. The argument is blatently false upon analysis, as the following independent polling data indicate: 1. President Ford runs stronger against Carter in every region of the country in both the NY Times (May 28) and Harris Survey (May 6). 2. President Ford runs ahead of Reagan in every area of the country, except the West--despite the myth that Reagan runs better in the South, Ford beats Reagan 44 - 39% (NY Times). 3. Ford runs even with Carter in the East, and beats Carter in the West. Reagan loses against Carter in every region (Harris Survey). Several myths must be countered immediately: MYTH: Reagan runs stronger than Ford against Carter's stronghold in the South. TRUTH: Ford runs ahead of Reagan in the South. Ford enjoys a greater advantage against Carter in the South than does Reagan according to the only independent polling information available. FORD is LIBRARY Memorandum to Rogers Morton Page 2 MYTH: Reagan will dominate the West against Carter; and dominates the traditional Republican areas in the Midwest. TRUTH: Almost 75% of the voting age population in the West lives in California, accounting for the bulk --well over 60% of Reagan's total vote in the West. Ford, in fact, runs a full 11% ahead of Carter in the West, while Reagan runs 9% behind. This is bolstered by the fact that Carter picks up only 10% of the vote, versus 64% for other Democratic ic candidates, in the Wester. In the Midwest, Ford beats Reagan 2 to 1 (59% to 28%). Ford's advantage here is particularly important, since the Midwest is Carter's second strongest area. MYTH: Reagan will pick up the Independent vote. TRUTH: Reagan loses to Carter by 18% among Independents, according to the NY Times survey. Ford, on the other hand, runs even with Carter among Independents-- and better among the College educated and the business community (Reagan loses by 17% among businessmen -traditionally strong Republican sector). Finally, in the East, where Republicans will have to pick up electoral votes from states like New York and Pennsylvania, Ford draws even with Carter- but Reagan loses to Carter by almost 2 to 1. CONCLUSION: Reagan enjoys no advantages in any area of the country against Carter- and no advantages over Ford, except in his own state of California. Ford, on the other hand, does better than Reagan against Carter in the South; has at least an even chance against Carter in the critical East; and enjoys a strong advantage over Carter in the West. Ford is not only more electable than Reagan--he's more electable against the one that counts--Jimmy Carter. FORD is LIBRARY 078835 <07 DONALD LAMBRO LOS ANGELES (UPI) IN HIS RACE-TO-THE-WIRE SPRINT AGAINST PRESIDENT FORD, RONALD REAGAN IS INCREASINGLY HAMMERING AWAY AT THE ONE ISSUE HE THINKS MAY DECIDE WHO WINS AT KANSAS CITY ELECTABILITY. DESPITE EARLY RELUCTANCE TO TAG FORD RS A LOSER, REAGAN IS NOV STRIKING HARDEST ON THE CLAIM THAT HE HAS A BETTER CHANCE THAN THE PRESIDENT OF DEFEATING JIMMY CARTER IN NOVEMBER. UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES AND THOSE YET TO BE CHOSEN ARE PROVIDED BY REAGAN'S FORCES WITH MAPS SHOWING THE CALIFORNIAN HAS WON Я BROADER BASE OF SUPPORT IN MORE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY THAN FORD. MOREOVER, BEFORE CLOSED DOOR CRUCUS MEETINGS WITH IOWA DELEGATES AT THEIR WEEKEND CONVENTION, REAGAN BLUNTLY DECLARED THAT ONLY A NON-WASHINGTON CANDIDATE SUCH AS HIMSELF COULD WAGE A WINNING OFFENSIVE AGAINST CARTER'S ANTI-WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN. "ONLY AN ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE IS GOING TO HAVE i CHANCE AGRINST JIMMY CARTER," ONE GOP DELEGATE QUOTED REAGAN AS SWING. "FORD HAS BEEN PART OF THAT ESTABLISHMENT MOST OF HIS ENTIRE ADU IT T LIFE. IN APPEARANCES IN IOWA AND WASHINGTON STATE SATURDAY WHERE HE WON 48 DELEGATES TO FORD'S 26 -- REAGAN CLOSED HIS STANDARD CAMPAIGN SPEECH WITH A FERVENT PITCH ON "THE ISSUE OF ELECTABILITY IN NOVEMBER. REAGAN STRATEGISTS SAY THAT IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE BATTLE FOR DELEGATES, THE ISSUE WILL BE PRESSED EVEN HARDER. UPI 06-21 08:59 RED GERALD LIBRAR NEW YORK TIMES/CBS POLL, MAY 28, 1976 Regional Distribution of Support (in percent) for Nomination Among Republicans (Based on New York Times/CBS News national poll) Carter- Brown (Humphrey SOUTH Other Democratic dates were not in ted in their national support was too small to allow "gn licant 10 nonal breakdowns FORD is LIBRAR STANDINGS: FORD - REAGAN V. CARTER Harris, May 6, 1976 FORD REAGAN CARTER Total: 34% 53% 43% 47% East: 44 44 28 54* *Reagan's weakness in the East; not Carter's strength West: 50 39 40 49 Mid-West: 41 48 38 52 South: 36 / 55 32 56 College educated: 48 43 31 57 Business execs: 51 42 34 51 Independents: 45 45 34 52 Q: "Suppose for President next November, it were between Gerald Ford for the Republicans and Jimmy Carter for the Democrats. If you had to make up your mind right now, would you vote for Ford the the Republican or for Carter the Democrat?" same question asked re: Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter FORD is LIBRARY THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON June 25, 1976 LIBRARY GERALD $ FORD Dick: This is a first cut at the electability memo you requested. What else would you like added? Whom should I give it to for lay out and distribution? Foster Good start - me comments also - script + arguments can be varid according to - 1.) target group. north-south; liberal. commentive ; and 2.) who publishus - keep in mind we may want others to say some things. PRESIDENT FORD -- THE WINNER IN NOVEMBER I. Gerald Ford has a strong record as President. LIBRARY GERALD B. FORD A. Under his leadership, inflation has been cut in half and there are 3.6 million new jobs. B. President Ford is the first incumbent since Eisenhower who can campaign with the nation at peace. C. President Ford has restored trust and confidence in government. II. President Ford runs ahead of Reagan against Carter in every national not poll. Harris they who Ford vs. Rugen. Carter Carter Undecided Reagan Carter Undecided Harris 6/23 40 53 7 35 58 7 Gallup 6/21 39 53 8 35 58 7 NBC 6/15 37 52 11 35 58 7 AND IN STATE POLLS California 40 41 19 38 46 16 5/31 - 6/5 Minnesota 46 43 11 39 46 15 Iowa 47 46 7 41 50 9 Missouri 38 44 18 31 49 18 Michigan 36 35 29 21 48 31 we also have results from N.Dah, Minouri, - who Mo. results which show Bond & Dan fath running 7-9 pts. better w/ ?. Than w/ RR, 2 III. President Ford has a national appeal. A. He is the national choice of Republicans. Ford Reagan Undecided Harris 60 30 10 NBC 60 30 10 Gallup 51 41 8 B. He is the national choice of Independents. Ford Reagan Undecided Gallup 52 33 13 C. President Ford is the only candidate in either Party to win primaries in all sections of the country. NH 4 : NY 41 KY 9 VT 3 PA 27 TN 10 MS 14 D.C. 3 OR 6 FL 17 WV 6 RI 4 IL 26 MD 10 NJ 17 WI 11 MI 21 OH 25 ELECTORAL VOTE TOTAL 254 Reagan has won only one primary outside the Sunbelt. The 144 he win Neb. total electoral vote strength of his primary victories is far + & Indiana. short of the 270 needed to win. FORD is LIBRARY 03 3 A REAGAN CANDIDACY WOULD MEAN A REPEAT OF 1964 A Reagan candidacy in 1976 will result in a loss of landslide proportions. National polls taken in recent months show Governor Reagan from 18 to 23 points behind Carter. The two most recent polls show Reagan further behind Carter than ever before, indicating that Reagan is losing ground to Carter. More importantly, Reagan is nearly as far behind Carter now as Stevenson was behind Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 -- and Stevenson lost both elections. Reagan trails Carter by more than Humphrey ever trailed Nixon in 1968, when Humphrey lost. This evidence shows that Reagan cannot close the gap and would lose to Carter. The pattern of the inevitable Reagan defeat indicates that Republicans nationally would fare as badly as they did when Reagan was Governor of California. When Reagan became Governor in 1967, Republicans in California had: BEFORE While Reagan Governor After Reagan Governor 2 U.S. Senators None 17 of 38 Congressmen 15 of 43 Congressmen 19 of 40 State Senators 15 of 40 State Senators 38 of 80 State Assemblymen 25 of 80 State Assemblymen 5 of 6 Statewide Offices 1 of 6 Statewide Offices Said independent pollster Louis Harris: The pattern now being run by Reagan against Carter is highly reminiscent of that of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Presidential election, when he lost by a landslide to Lyndon Johnson. This pattern thus indicates that in 1976 the electorate is highly unlikely to vote for an all-out conservative for President. (Harris, 5/6/76) This estimate was confirmed by widely respected conservative political analyst Kevin Phillips. In the May 28 edition of Phillips' newsletter, American Political Report, Phillips predicted that Reagan would carry only a handful of smaller states with very few electoral votes. There are three major reasons why a Reagan loss in 1976 would be a loss of landslide proportions: FORD is LIBRARY 07V839 4 1. Governor Reagan's strength is in the wrong places; 2. Governor Reagan is far too conservative to attract the large numbers of middle-of-the-road voters any Republican must get in order to win; 3. The hidden "Wallace" or "new conservative" voters which are supposed to bring Reagan victory are not going to vote for Reagan. Governor Reagan's strengths will do him little good and his weaknesses mean a certain Democratic victory in November. Governor Reagan claims enough strength in the South and West and in traditionally Republican areas to bring him victory in November. There's just one problem with Reagan's claims -- they're not true. Look at the facts: The West -- A recent Field poll in California, the center of Reagan's Western "strength, " showed Reagan losing to Carter by a wide margin. Ford Carter Reagan Carter 40 41 38 46 A Gallup poll released on June 27 showed that Ford runs better than Reagan against Carter throughout the entire West: Ford Carter Reagan Carter 44 46 42 47 Reagan has no advantage in the South. Carter has a 30 point lead over both candidates as measured by Gallup, Harris, CBS and NBC. So Governor Reagan is strong only where Carter is stronger -- the difference between Ford and Reagan is that Ford is strong in areas where Carter is weakest -- and these are areas where political analysts are agreed that the polls and the primaries both show that Reagan has no chance of winning. Reagan is too conservative to win the votes of essential moderates. As the attached chart shows, Governor Reagan is placed by the voters at the extreme right. FORD i LIBRARI GIVENO 5 HHH JFK AS (Stevenson) FORD GOLDWATER GM (McGovern) CARTER IKE WALLACE LBJ RN REAGAN 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE GERALD ? FORD LIBRARY 6 Past Presidential elections have repeatedly shown that a candidate as extreme as Governor Reagan (or someone equally far off-center to the left) will go down in defeat by a wide margin (see attached table). The reason for this is that the middle-of-the-road voter is the center of gravity in American politics. Any candidate who doesn't get a large share of moderate votes loses badly. Reagan's position on the ideological spectrum means that he won't get those votes, and his support in the primary states shows that he won't get those votes. Another 1964 would cost the GOP dearly. In 1964, the GOP lost: 6% of its United States Senate seats (2) 20% of its United States House seats (38) 602 seats in state legislatures A repeat of that performance in 1976, combined with GOP retirements already announced, could reduce GOP House membership to just over 100 members -- the lowest sumber since 1934. This would give the Democrats complete and unchallengeable control over the Federal government for the first time since the New Deal. At the state level, substantial GOP losses in 1976 could mean that the GOP would end the year with control of only eight of the state- houses across the country. It should not be forgotten that in the 1964 debacle it was conservative Republican candidates who suffered most. Reagan is not going to get the "Wallace" vote which is an essential element of his "New Majority." Reagan has, as everyone knows, been the recipient of the largest share of crossover votes cast in the primaries by former Wallace voters. But most of the former Wallace voters this year either did not vote or voted Democratic, usually for Jimmy Carter. Kevin Phillips estimates that the Wallace vote split 4 to 1 for Carter over Reagan in the primaries (Phillips, 5/28). There is no evidence from the primaries which suggests that Reagan will get a large enough share of this vote to offset the losses that his candidacy will produce in other numerically more important parts of the voting population. In fact, the Democratic party has nominated a candidate that George Wallace feels comfortable with and has endorsed. FORD is LIBRARY GERALD [June 25, 1976] PRESIDENT FORD - -- THE WINNER IN NOVEMBER I. Gerald Ford has a strong record as President. A. Under his leadership, inflation has been cut in half and there are 3.6 million new jobs. B. President Ford is the first incumbent since Eisenhower who can campaign with the nation at peace. C. President Ford has restored trust and confidence in government. II. President Ford runs ahead of Reagan against Carter in every national poll. Ford Carter Undecided Reagan Carter Undecided Harris 6/23 40 53 7 35 58 7 Gallup 6/21 39 53 8 35 58 7 NBC 6/15 37 52 11 35 58 7 AND IN STATE POLLS California 40 41 19 38 46 16 5/31 - 6/5 Minnesota 46 43 11 39 46 15 Iowa 47 46 7 41 50 9 Missouri 38 44 18 31 49 18 Michigan FORD & LIBRARY 9ERALD 2 III. President Ford has a national appeal. A. He is the national choice of Republicans. Ford Reagan Undecided Harris 60 30 10 NBC 60 30 10 Gallup 51 41 8 B. He is the national choice of Independents. Ford Reagan Undecided Gallup 52 33 13 C. President Ford is the only candidate in either Party to win primaries in all sections of the country. NH 4 NY 41 KY 9 VT 3 PA 27 TN 10 MS 14 D.C. 3 OR 6 FL 17 WV 6 RI 4 IL 26 MD 10 NJ 17 WI 11 MI 21 OH 25 ELECTORAL VOTE TOTAL 254 Reagan has won only one primary outside the Sunbelt. The 144 total electoral vote strength of his primary victories is far short of the 270 needed to win. FORD is LIBRARY BERALD 3 A REAGAN CANDIDACY WOULD MEAN A REPEAT OF 1964 A Reagan candidacy in 1976 will result in a loss of landslide proportions. National polls taken in recent months show Governor Reagan from 18 to 23 points behind Carter. The two most recent polls show Reagan further behind Carter than ever before, indicating that Reagan is losing ground to Carter. More importantly, Reagan is nearly as far behind Carter now as Stevenson was behind Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 -- and Stevenson lost both elections. Reagan trails Carter by more than Humphrey ever trailed Nixon in 1968, when Humphrey lost. This evidence shows that Reagan cannot close the gap and would lose to Carter. The pattern of the inevitable Reagan defeat indicates that Republicans nationally would fare as badly as they did when Reagan was Governor of California. When Reagan became Governor in 1967, Republicans in California had: Before Reagan Governor After Reagan Governor 2 U.S. Senators None 17 of 38 Congressmen 15 of 43 Congressmen 19 of 40 State Senators 15 of 40 State Senators 38 of 80 State Assemblymen 25 of 80 State Assemblymen 5 of 6 Statewide Offices 1 of 6 Statewide Offices Said independent pollster Louis Harris: The pattern now being run by Reagan against Carter is highly reminiscent of that of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Presidential election, when he lost by a landslide to Lyndon Johnson. This pattern thus indicates that in 1976 the electorate is highly unlikely to vote for an all-out conservative for President. (Harris, 5/6/76) This estimate was confirmed by widely respected conservative political analyst Kevin Phillips. In the May 28 edition of Phillips' newsletter, American Political Report, Phillips predicted that Reagan would carry only a handful of smaller states with very few electoral votes. There are three major reasons why a Reagan loss in 1976 would be a loss of landslide proportions: FORD is LIBRARY 07V839 4 1. Governor Reagan's strength is in the wrong places; 2. Governor Reagan is far too conservative to attract the large numbers of middle-of-the-road voters any Republican must get in order to win; 3. The hidden "Wallace" or "new conservative" voters which are supposed to bring Reagan victory are not going to vote for Reagan. Governor Reagan's strengths will do him little good and his weaknesses mean a certain Democratic victory in November. Governor Reagan claims enough strength in the South and West and in traditionally Republican areas to bring him victory in November. There's just one problem with Reagan's claims -- they're not true. Look at the facts: The West -- A recent Field poll in California, the center of Reagan's Western "strength, " showed Reagan losing to Carter by a wide margin. Ford Carter Reagan Carter 40 41 38 46 A Gallup poll released on June 27 showed that Ford runs better than Reagan against Carter throughout the entire West: Ford Carter Reagan Carter 44 46 42 47 Reagan has no advantage in the South. Carter has a 30 point lead over both candidates as measured by Gallup, Harris, CBS and NBC. So Governor Reagan is strong only where Carter is stronger -- the difference between Ford and Reagan is that Ford is strong in areas where Carter is weakest -- and these are areas where political analysts are agreed that the polls and the primaries both show that Reagan has no chance of winning. Reagan is too conservative to win the votes of essential moderates. As the attached chart shows, Governor Reagan is placed by the voters at the extreme right. FORD is LIBRARY BERALD 5 HHH JFK AS (Stevenson) FORD GOLDWATER GM (McGovern) CARTER IKE WALLACE LBJ RN REAGAN 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE LIBRARY GERALD ? FORD 6 Past Presidential elections have repeatedly shown that a candidate as extreme as Governor Reagan (or someone equally far off-center to the left) will go down in defeat by a wide margin (see attached table). The reason for this is that the middle-of-the-road voter is the center of gravity in American politics. Any candidate who doesn't get a large share of moderate votes loses badly. Reagan's position on the ideological spectrum means that he won't get those votes, and his support in the primary states shows that he won't get those votes. Another 1964 would cost the GOP dearly. In 1964, the GOP lost: 6% of its United States Senate seats (2) 20% of its United States House seats (38) 602 seats in state legislatures A repeat of that performance in 1976, combined with GOP retirements already announced, could reduce GOP House membership to just over 100 members -- the lowest sumber since 1934. This would give the Democrats complete and unchallengeable control over the Federal government for the first time since the New Deal. At the state level, substantial GOP losses in 1976 could mean that the GOP would end the year with control of only eight of the state- houses across the country. It should not be forgotten that in the 1964 debacle it was conservative Republican candidates who suffered most. Reagan is not going to get the "Wallace" vote which is an essential element of his "New Majority." Reagan has, as everyone knows, been the recipient of the largest share of crossover votes cast in the primaries by former Wallace voters. But most of the former Wallace voters this year either did not vote or voted Democratic, usually for Jimmy Carter. Kevin Phillips estimates that the Wallace vote split 4 to 1 for Carter, over Reagan in the primaries (Phillips, 5/28). There is no evidence from the primaries which suggests that Reagan will get a large enough share of this vote to offset the losses that his candidacy will produce in other numerically more important parts of the voting population. In fact, the Democratic party has nominated a candidate that George Wallace feels comfortable with and has endorsed. FORD is GERALD LIBRARY