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1976, Part 5: Ford vs. Reagan and the battle for the Republican Party
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Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! In this episode, the Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan's showdown for the Republican nomination in 1976 became one of the most consequential intraparty battles in modern political history.
What began as a challenge from the right quickly evolved into a full-scale fight for the identity and direction of the GOP, pitting Ford's pragmatic, incumbent leadership against Reagan's insurgent conservative vision.
We trace how Reagan transformed from a long-shot challenger into a serious threat, energizing grassroots activists and reshaping the party's ideological center.
We also explore the broader stakes of the contest—how debates over government size, economic policy, and America's role in the world divided Republicans, and why this clash marked a turning point for modern conservatism.
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