The Republican National Convention will be held next week (Monday-Thursday) in Tampa, Florida.
It appears that the tropical storm/hurricane will just skirt Tampa. So things should go well, one hopes.
Each time the GOP National Convention is held, it reminds me of the times I was a California Delegate for Ronald Reagan. Do I miss going? You bet!
My first was in 1976 in Kansas City, Missouri when Reagan challenged President Gerald R. Ford for the nomination. Reagan barely lost, but it was a memorable convention (it was probably the last time a presidential nomination came down to the wire at a national convention).
My next national convention was in 1980 in Detroit, Michigan. Reagan won the nomination before the convention, so all there was to do is go through the formalities and nominate a vice-presidential candidate. Reagan decided on George Herbert Walker Bush.
As we were just across the Detroit River from Windsor, Canada, we rented a car and drove under the river into Windsor. We toured Fort Malden while there.
We also toured the General Motors X-car assembly plant. What I saw there made me decide not to buy an American car. Two weeks later, I bought a Toyota pick-up truck.
My last national convention (as a member of the California Delegation) was in Dallas, Texas in 1984. This was to re-nominate Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. While there, I attended a bar-b-que at the H. L. Hunt Estate (in 112 degree heat) and went over to Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
My daughter Amber and I did go to San Diego for the 1996 Republican National Convention. We didn't get any passes for the convention itself, but managed to get some souvenir campaign buttons.
Next week's GOP National Convention will be Florida's first since the 1972 Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Miami.
It will be fun to watch.
It appears that the tropical storm/hurricane will just skirt Tampa. So things should go well, one hopes.
 |
| Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan arrive at the Hilton Plaza Inn during the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Each time the GOP National Convention is held, it reminds me of the times I was a California Delegate for Ronald Reagan. Do I miss going? You bet!
My first was in 1976 in Kansas City, Missouri when Reagan challenged President Gerald R. Ford for the nomination. Reagan barely lost, but it was a memorable convention (it was probably the last time a presidential nomination came down to the wire at a national convention).
My next national convention was in 1980 in Detroit, Michigan. Reagan won the nomination before the convention, so all there was to do is go through the formalities and nominate a vice-presidential candidate. Reagan decided on George Herbert Walker Bush.
 |
| Above, a welcome home rally after the 1980 GOP National Convention at LAX for the Reagans. Flanking them are Johnny Grant and Hugh O'Brien. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
As we were just across the Detroit River from Windsor, Canada, we rented a car and drove under the river into Windsor. We toured Fort Malden while there.
We also toured the General Motors X-car assembly plant. What I saw there made me decide not to buy an American car. Two weeks later, I bought a Toyota pick-up truck.
My last national convention (as a member of the California Delegation) was in Dallas, Texas in 1984. This was to re-nominate Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. While there, I attended a bar-b-que at the H. L. Hunt Estate (in 112 degree heat) and went over to Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
My daughter Amber and I did go to San Diego for the 1996 Republican National Convention. We didn't get any passes for the convention itself, but managed to get some souvenir campaign buttons.
Next week's GOP National Convention will be Florida's first since the 1972 Democratic and Republican National Conventions in Miami.
It will be fun to watch.
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