• 1976 Presidential Campaign

    The 1976 Presidential Election proved to be one of the most contentious in recent history. President Ford was one of few incumbent presidents to combat a serious primary challenge during an election year. Ronald Reagan’s challenge split the Republican Party and added difficulties to a party still recovering from Watergate. Ford’s triumph over Reagan at the Republican National Convention gave him the opportunity to focus on his Democratic Party challenger, Jimmy Carter. He campaigned aggressively throughout the country – even engaging in a whistle-stop tour of the Midwest and a riverboat tour of the Deep South. The televised debates with Jimmy Carter drew so many viewers that three of them still rank among the top ten “most viewed” debates in recent election history. Jimmy Carter won what ended up being a close election. Ford could not overcome the negative reactions to Watergate, the Nixon Pardon, and the Fall of Saigon, along with a slow economic recovery. The campaign material created during the election runs the gamut – from political buttons and signage to hats and belt buckles.

    Pin

  • Blue binder containing the fifth copy of the August 1, 1976, briefing of the Vail Strategy. The binder contains typewritten pages, along with two tabs marking “Tab I Strategy Details” and “Tab II Background Papers.” The Vail Strategy resulted from a series of meetings between President Ford and his campaign staff after the Republican National Convention. The strategy formulated focused on how to beat Jimmy Carter in the general election.
     

    Accession Number: 1981.157
    Dimensions: 10 x 11.5”
    Donation Date: 1981
    Donor: Gift of Stuart Spencer

    Speech Binder
    Speech Binder

  • Red, white, and blue campaign sticker that says, “Good Luck Jerry.” Used during Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign.

     

    Accession Number: 2008.114.30
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith
    Dimensions: 3.75 x 13”
    Donation Date: September 17, 2007

    Bumper Sticker
    Bumper Sticker

  • White campaign button from Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign. Text on the button reads, “My 2 favorite / 4-letter words / Ford / Dole.”

     

    Accession Number: 1981.224
    Dimensions: 2” diameter
    Donation Date: 1981
    Donor: Unknown

    Campaign Button
    Campaign Button

  • Red plastic Gerald R. Ford presidential campaign hat worn by his supporters during the 1976 Republican National Convention.

     

    Accession Number: 2007.360.2
    Dimensions: 5 x 10 x 12"
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith
    Donation Date: November 14, 2007

    Red Bowler Hat
    Red Bowler Hat

  • Red, white, and blue button that reads, “Jerry Ford / Kent County’s Own,” used in Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign. It features a blue shooting star design with “76” in the trail. The donor sent this to the museum in a collection of 10,083 campaign pieces from throughout the 20th century.

     

    Accession Number: 1988.1146.83
    Dimensions: 3.5” diameter
    Donation Date: December 13, 1988
    Donor: Gift of Peter C. Redebaugh

    Campaign Button
    Campaign Button

  • Black SS Natchez hat with gold thread embroidering and chinstrap. Includes a brown leather sweatband on the inside. Given to President Ford by the captain of the SS Natchez during his ‘76 campaign trip down the Mississippi River. The Natchez trip was key to Ford’s campaign strategy to garner votes in southern states.

     

    Accession Number: 1987.333.1
    Dimensions: 7 x 11 x 12”
    Donation Date: September 25, 1976
    Donor: Gift of Captain Clarke C. (“Doc”) Hawley

    Captain's Hat
    Captain's Hat

  • Elephant sculpture covered entirely with tiny, diamond-shaped mirror plates and made in India. “Ford ‘76” and “Michigan GOP” are spelled out in blue and red plastic beads on the sides.

     

    Accession Number: 1988.368
    Dimensions: 8 x 4.75 x 11”
    Donation Date: October 10, 1975
    Donor: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Profulla K. Mondol

    Elephant
    Elephant

  • Blue campaign sticker with white text that reads, “Women for President Ford.” A Bicentennial pin featuring the official Bicentennial logo is attached to the sticker. Made for Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign.

     

    Accession Number: 2010.2.39
    Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.75”
    Donation Date: December 9, 2009
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Pin
    Pin

  • Gerald R. Ford 1976 presidential campaign wristwatch featuring an image of Ford surrounded by text that reads, “Experience Counts elect Gerald R. Ford in '76.” Attached to a leather band.

     

    Accession Number: 2008.114.33
    Dimensions: 9 x 1.5”
    Donation Date: September 17, 2007
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Wristwatch
    Wristwatch

  • Twenty-five white 1976 Gerald R. Ford presidential campaign buttons in a wooden frame. Each button focuses on a specific ethnicity "for / Ford." The buttons are placed alphabetically and  are mounted on a blue piece of felt backing.

     

    Accession Number: 2011.81
    Dimensions: 12 x 19 x 1.25”
    Donation Date: November 10, 2011
    Donor: Gift of George A. Ramonas

    Framed Campaign Buttons
    Framed Campaign Buttons

  • White campaign Frisbee with a stars and stripes design at center that reads, “I Flipped my Frisbee over… Ford.” One of 100 identical Frisbees given by the donor to President Gerald R. Ford at the 1976 Republican National Convention.

     

    Accession Number: 1989.348.1
    Dimensions: 9.25” diameter
    Donation Date: August 1976
    Donor: Gift of Peter E. Nowinson

    Frisbee
    Frisbee

  • Blue and white gingham covered, stuffed elephant with “vote” embroidered in red across the front pocket. Two buttons from Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign are attached, along with a small American flag.

     

    Accession Number: 1988.206
    Dimensions: 21 x 12 x 10.5”
    Donation Date: October 30, 1976
    Donor: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Morris

    Stuffed Animal
    Stuffed Animal

  • Sunglasses designed and manufactured by A. Dean Watkins Co. for Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign. The glasses feature a stars and stripes motif frame and circular pendants suspended from chains depicting a portrait of Ford.

     

    Accession Number: 1981.281
    Dimensions: 9.5 x 6”
    Donation Date: 1981
    Donor: Gift of A. Dean Watkins

    Sunglasses
    Sunglasses

  • White button with blue lettering, depicting a man in a burglar outfit trying to hack into a safe with a hammer and chisel. The safe is labeled "Watergate" and further text on the button reads, “Pardon me! Gerald…” One of a variety of anti-Ford buttons generated during the 1976 presidential election.

     

    Accession Number: 2012.3.4
    Dimensions: 1.75” diameter
    Donation Date: March 30, 2012
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Campaign Button
    Campaign Button

  • Oversized circular logo mounted on foam used for the 1976 Republican National Convention. The logo includes a "76" surrounded by stars in white on blue with "Republican National Convention" in white on red around the edge. This disk was suspended on the background behind the main podium at the convention.

     

    Accession Number: 2010.16.2
    Dimensions: 47.5” diameter
    Donation Date: August 10, 2010
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Round Sign
    Round Sign

  • Description: White campaign button with image of Gerald R. Ford as the Fonz (wearing a WIN button) with accompanying text in red, “HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN / FORDZIE.” Made for Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign.

     

    Accession Number: 2007.381.33
    Dimensions: 3.25” diameter
    Donation Date: January 4, 2008
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Campaign Button
    Campaign Button

  • Foam, campaign top hat featuring a stars and stripes design and text, “President Ford ’76.” Smaller text reads, “Paid for by President Ford Committee, Rogers C. B. Morton, Chairman, Robert C. Moot, Treasurer.” Worn by Gerald R. Ford’s delegates during the 1976 Republican National Convention.

     

    Accession Number: 2006.16.45
    Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 13”
    Donation Date: December 29, 2005
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Hat
    Hat

  • Green and white, baseball cap from Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign. It reads “Ford for President” across the front. One of 27 different colored caps mailed by the donor to First Lady Betty Ford. Mrs. Ford wore one just like this while vacationing in Vail, Colorado, after the 1976 Republican National Convention. Official White House photos show her playing flag football while wearing this hat or one just like it.

     

    Accession Number: 1988.224
    Dimensions: 4.5 x 6.5 x 9”
    Donation Date: September 7, 1976
    Donor: Gift of Irving Joel, President, A.J.D. Corporation

    Baseball Cap
    Baseball Cap

  • Ornament handmade with plastic cooking crystals. One of 18 handmade GOP-themed objects mailed by the donor to President Gerald R. Ford for his 1976 presidential campaign. This particular ornament features a red, white, and blue GOP elephant on a white background. “1976” and “Maggie Hoffman” engraved on the back.

     

    Accession Number: 1987.58.1 b
    Dimensions: 3” diameter
    Donation Date: September 30, 1976
    Donor: Gift of Mrs. Carl (“Maggie”) Hoffman

    Ornament
    Ornament

  • Shadow box containing one peanut-shaped Carter belt buckle and one oval-shaped Ford belt buckle. A blue and white patriotic-themed background reads, "Let the candidate of your choice support you for change. / Sure to become collectors' items!" It appears to be a 1976 presidential election collectors' piece or advertisement.

     

    Accession Number: 2010.16.1
    Dimensions: 11 x 15 x 2”
    Donation Date: August 10, 2010
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Framed Poster
    Framed Poster

  • Red ski hat with “Jerry in 76” stitched in white. It also features a patch depicting an elephant’s head wearing an old, leather football helmet crushing a peanut in its trunk. Worn during Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign.

     

    Accession Number: 2008.117.2
    Dimensions: 8.25 x 10”
    Donation Date: November 2007
    Donor: Gift of Susan Ford Bales

    Ski Hat
    Ski Hat

  • Oversized campaign button from the 1976 Republican National Convention. The button depicts caricatures of Gerald R. Ford and Ronald Reagan as cowboys and includes text in black, “Shoot Out / at / Kansas City,” and red, “I was there / 1976 / Republican National Convention.”

     

    Accession Number: 2008.114.26
    Dimensions: 9” diameter
    Donation Date: September 17, 2007
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Campaign Button
    Campaign Button

  • "Peanut Crusher" poster from the 1976 Republican National Convention. The elephant represents Gerald Ford crushing a peanut representing Jimmy Carter. The elephant is also trampling a sign that reads, "Plains," referring to Carter's campaign headquarters in Plains, Georgia.

     

    Accession Number: 2006.43.43
    Dimensions: 23 x 18"
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith
    Donation Date: August 8, 2006

    Poster
    Poster

  • White campaign button with red and blue text that reads, “A USED FORD IS BETTER THAN A NEW CARTER.” Used during Gerald R. Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign.

     

    Accession Number: 2007.381.32
    Dimensions: 3” diameter
    Donation Date: January 4, 2008
    Donor: Gift of Dr. Mark D. Griffith

    Campaign Button
    Campaign Button
  • Pin
    • Speech Binder
    Bumper Sticker
    Campaign Button
    Red Bowler Hat
    Campaign Button
    Captain's Hat
    Elephant
    Pin
    Wristwatch
    Framed Campaign Buttons
    Frisbee
    Stuffed Animal
    Sunglasses
    Campaign Button
    Round Sign
    Campaign Button
    Hat
    Baseball Cap
    Ornament
    Framed Poster
    Ski Hat
    Campaign Button
    Poster
    Campaign Button
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