1976 Republican National Convention
After giving his acceptance speech, Ford asked Reagan to come and say a few words to the convention; Reagan proceeded to give an eloquent address which virtually overshadowed Ford's speech.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz waged a bitter battle for the 2016 GOP Nomination with Donald Trump, being one of the last candidates standing. He and his wife were attacked by Trump over her looks, Goldman Sachs loans, accusations that his father had ties to Lee Harvey Oswald and the Kennedy assassination. Cruz also gave as good as he got.
While many other prominent Republicans stayed home from the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio, Cruz showed up. But if Trump felt that the conservative firebrand would kiss his ring, he was badly mistaken. Cruz delivered a very lengthy speech where he encouraged people to vote their conscience, rather than vote for the GOP nominee.
Earlier that day, Trump twice used aerial vehicles (his personal plane and his helicopter) to buzz Cruz’s rally. In the aftermath of the speech, Heidi Cruz had to be escorted by Virginia delegate Ken Cuccinelli from the convention hall, ostensibly for her own safety. Ted Cruz was booed.
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It’s not too different from the 1980 Democratic National Convention in New York City. Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy waged a bitter primary fight against incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Kennedy struggled from the gate, and Carter built a powerful lead. Then Kennedy mounted a furious comeback, narrowing Carter’s lead going into the convention.
Carter desperately needed a show of unity at the DNC that year to take on popular GOP challenger Ronald Reagan. Kennedy received a prime time speaking role at the convention. But if Carter wanted a warm embrace to unify the party, he didn’t get it. Kennedy’s speech barely mentioned Carter. And the Massachusetts Senator deliberately ducked Carter, who followed him around the stage but failed to get hands raised together. Carter’s reelection chances, and the rest, were history. Carter is still bitter about that snub, blaming Kennedy for his loss.
Trump claims that it was “no big deal” at a post-speech tweet, but that same tweet also blasted Cruz for not “honoring the pledge.” Trump came out to try and pry media cameras away from the Texas Senator. New Jersey Chris Christie went on CNN to slam Cruz, calling it “political suicide.”
Trump tweeted that he saw the speech, while his campaign manager insisted there would be an endorsement. It’s the Melania Trump plagiarism all over again, where mistakes are made, lies are told afterwards about who is responsible, and the story hangs around and incredible excuses are made (like the My Little Pony), wasting an effectively partisan Mike Pence speech.
What will happen next? Ted Cruz is headed for my congressional district in West Georgia, where he will campaign for State Senator Mike Crane, backed by the Club for Growth, who is seeking an open Congressional seat in a bitter primary against West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson, favored by local GOP elected officials. It will be the first test of how Republicans will react to Cruz’s non-endorsement. We’ll find out later in November whether Cruz did the same damage that Kennedy was able to do 36 years ago.
John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.
1976 Republican National Convention
After giving his acceptance speech, Ford asked Reagan to come and say a few words to the convention; Reagan proceeded to give an eloquent address which virtually overshadowed Ford's speech.
It cost Carter the 1980 election, and might do similar damage to Trump.
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I don’t think so. Ted is so disliked by the majority of people that it may even help Trump.
So Ted Kenedy not endorsing Carter cost him the election? Nothing to do with screwing up the economy and letting a bunch of Iranian raghead make us their bitches, I suppose. Nothing to do with being the worst president in our nations history (at the time).
What a pantload. Reagan carried 44 states and won the popular vote by 8MM. Even if we assume all ten Swimmer fans stayed home but would have voted, this assertion is laughable. Carter's malaise-y attitude and the Iran-hostage deal had way more to do with his trouncing.
That was a good one.
Ted Kennedy trying to ignore Carter on the stage for the congratulatory handshake until Jimmy finally cornered him.
So awkward that even the liberal media were aghast.
No wonder liberals are so excited for Ted Cruz's speech. A choice of breaking the constitution or electing Trump, if I were a mindless liberal, I'd be trying desperately to find something else to think about too.
Ted Kennedy mentioned a Democratic victory in 1980 in his speech (not mentioning Carter) Cruz couldn’t even say republican victory.
Not even close to the same
And Monday was the 47th anniversary of Senator Kennedy’s valiant and selfless attempt to save a drowning woman from a few feet of water at Chappaquiddick.
Carter was a failed incumbent, Trump is an outsider running for the first time - there are no analogies here other than Both Kennedy and Cruz were/are losers.
Is this what passes as teaching history in schools today? Ted Kennedy not endorsing Carter at the convention cost Carter the 1980 election???
CARTER cost himself the 1980 election with the Iranian hostage crisis, just to name one.
Pffft....Carter cost himself re-election.
I don’t think this guy was even born when Carter was president.
Carter lost because he had to face Ronald Reagan.
Seen one Turd, seen ‘em all
Not really a valid comparison. Carter in 1980 was pretty much seen as a failure by many people. Polling put him ahead of Reagan but as we all learned in November those polls were pretty much fabbed BS from a media doing all it could to end Reagan. Teddy K's convention antics didn't really make that much of a difference as the Dem base was already in disarray (remember how many Dems became Reagan Dems - certainly Teddy K supporters were not moved to vote Reagan by Teddy K's speech!).
This go-round, there is contention in the GOP base, certainly, but Trump has 80+ percent support among the party, while Carter was (as it turned out) closer to 60 percent support from his party.
It is important to not alienate those (like myself) who once supported Cruz, but I think many Cruz supporters are very disappointed in his actions. In reality, Cruz' speech was pretty spot-on in many ways, but it could and should have been a rousing statement of support for Trump-Pence at the end. The fact it was not is a disappointment.
I can maybe understand the hurt feelings (on both sides) but politics is a big-boy game, and both sides should be wearing their big-boy pants and moving on from past disagreements. The fact Ted cannot yet bring himself there is a sad testament on a man that showed many admirable qualities in the past.
