Reagan's Impromptu Speech at 1976 GOP Convention

In 1976, the GOP had just nominated Gerald Ford for the Presidency. The GOP delegates enthusiastically chanted until Ronald Reagan (who had just narrowly lost) came to the dais and gave an impromptu speech...

I am posting this because I am getting tired of hearing all of the GOP people belly-aching about their predicament.

It's time to put things into perspective, and it's also time to man up, people!

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[Letterman0412]

How could he of thought of a speech like that so quickly?

[krb3141]

@Letterman0412 All politicians have good stump speech topics honed down. Remember, this convention was at the end of a brutal primary between Gerald Ford and himself.

[Chris6134]

@phoenixbornagain Yeaugh, should be more like 0 % will vote for Obama and 100 percent will definitely not. ^_^

[Chris6134]

@phoenixbornagain thank God ! I never go to these networks but I certainly believe that ! This SOB needs to be impeached and imprisoned well before 2012.

"Most americans think Barack Obama will not be reelected in 2012"

[Saebeck32]

Impromptu my ass. Reagan was an actor, skilled in memorizing lines.

[DalonCole]

Thank God Obama wants to be just like Reagan!

LOL

And the GOP establishment keeps throwing squishes like Romney, Dole, McCain, etc....

[MyName42]

This is only a small piece of the speech. He actually spoke for about five minutes, and it's far more electrifying in its entirety. There's a couple other videos with the whole thing on the sidebar--try "Reagan Concedes Defeat '76". He's gracious, stirring, beautifully descriptive, and he has the strength of true leadership. It's pretty amazing.

[stabbed22]

@Aloishinternberger Probably took a break from mass murdering

[michaeld5]

@Letterman0412 - the speech is impressive for sure; watch the entire thing, it runs about five minutes and it's on youtube. Probably one of his greatest....without notes or TelePromter.

[Aloishinternberger]

Wasn't that guy sitting in the audience, Henry Kissinger?

[donde2k]

Ron Reagan gives a fascinating recollection of this evening in his book Reagan at 100.

**Where have you gone, Ronald Reagan ? America turns its lonely eyes to you.**

[NovitasMaximus]

@krb3141 Although the one speech they don't have honed down is the concession speech. As I recall, Reagan's supporters had just finished a very long demonstration and Ford's people were eager not to offend them. Ford decided inpromptu to invite Reagan to make a few remarks to the convention. Reagan would later recall that he thought of the time capsule as he was walking to the podium. The record seems to bear this out since nothing similar was apparently said by him during the campaign.