Reagan Schweizer in '76

Side by side photographs of Ronald Reagan and Richard Schweiker on a white background.  White text on half-red half-blue outer border of button.

In 1976 Ronald Reagan and Richard Schweiker ran for the Presidential and Vice Presidential Republican Party nominations respectively. Before the opening of the Republican National Convention, Reagan named Richard Schweiker as his candidate for Vice President in an attempt to attract liberals and centrists. When Reagan named Schweiker as his running mate it came as a surprise to Schweiker as the two did not known each other personally. Many conservatives were upset with Reagan’s choice of the liberal Schweiker and only a few moderate delegates switched to Reagan. Reagan and Schweiker lost the Presidential and Vice Presidential nominations to Gerald Ford and Bob Dole.