Nancy Reagan Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Role in 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns == {{Main|1976 United States presidential election|1980 United States presidential election}} Governor Reagan's gubernatorial time in office ended in 1975, and he did not run for a third term; instead, he met with advisors to discuss a possible bid for the [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]] presidency, challenging incumbent President [[Gerald Ford]]. Ronald still needed to convince a reluctant Nancy before running, however.<ref>Benze, James G. (2005), p. 32.</ref> She feared for her husband's health and his career as a whole, though she felt that he was the right man for the job and eventually approved.<ref name="lpm64">Loizeau, P.M. (2004), p. 64.</ref> Nancy took on a traditional role in the campaign, holding coffees, luncheons, and talks.<ref name="lpm64" /> She also oversaw personnel, monitored her husband's schedule, and occasionally provided press conferences.<ref name="Benze, James G., Jr. (2005), p. 33" /> The 1976 campaign included the so-called "battle of the queens", contrasting Nancy with First Lady [[Betty Ford]]. They both spoke out over the course of the campaign on similar issues, but with different approaches.<ref>Loizeau, P.M. (2004), p. 65.</ref> Nancy was upset by the warmonger image that the Ford campaign had drawn of her husband.<ref name="lpm64" /> Though he lost the 1976 Republican nomination, Ronald Reagan ran for the presidency a second time in [[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]. He succeeded in winning the nomination and defeated incumbent rival [[Jimmy Carter]] in a landslide. During this second campaign, Nancy played a prominent role, and her management of staff became more apparent.<ref name="Benze, James G., Jr. (2005), p. 33">Benze, James G., Jr. (2005), p. 33.</ref> She organized a meeting among feuding campaign managers [[John Sears (political strategist)|John Sears]] and [[Michael Deaver]] and her husband, which resulted in Deaver leaving the campaign and Sears being given full control. After the Reagan camp lost the [[Iowa caucuses|Iowa Caucus]] and fell behind in [[New Hampshire primary|New Hampshire]] polls, Nancy organized a second meeting and decided it was time to fire Sears and his associates; she gave Sears a copy of the press release announcing his dismissal.<ref name="Benze, James G., Jr. (2005), p. 33" /> Her influence on her husband became particularly notable; her presence at rallies, luncheons, and receptions increased his confidence.<ref>Loizeau, P.M. (2004), p. 69.</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page