Remembering The 1976 Bicentennial Year

 

It is hard to believe that we are celebrating the 250 birthday of America. Officially, it is called the Semiquincentennial. 

It was only 50 years ago that we celebrated the Bicentennial (the above image was the official logo). I was at the "ripe old age" of 26 at the time.

My parents and I spent the 1976 July 4th weekend (July 4 fell on a Sunday) in Las Vegas, Nevada with my aunt, uncle and two cousins. On July 3, we went to the Stardust Hotel to see Lido de Paris.

According to Google's A.I. overview:

The Lido de Paris was a legendary French topless revue that ran for 32 years at the Stardust Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, debuting on the resort's opening day in 1958 and running until 1991. Produced by Donn Arden, it was a massive, high-tech production that helped cement the "showgirl" as an enduring icon of Las Vegas culture. 

It seemed a little odd (to me) at the time that I should be attending a topless show with my parents and relatives. But it was a good and entertaining show. 

On Sunday, July 4, we drove home from during the evening hours and we took in the fireworks displays of the desert towns and the suburbs of Los Angeles along the way during the drive. 

Above, Nancy and Ronald Reagan arrive at the Hilton Plaza Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following month, I was in Kansas City, Missouri for the 1976 Republican National Convention. I was a Ronald Reagan delegate for California. The convention was held at the Kemper Arena. This was the convention in which President Gerald Ford won the GOP nomination over Reagan. 

Above, Kemper Arena, the venue of the 1976 GOP National Convention in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The California Delegation were housed at the Hilton Plaza Hotel. One day during convention week, I managed to take a snapshot of the Reagans arriving at the hotel for a meeting (above photo). 

It is amazing that I still vividly remember things from 50 years ago.

Ronald Reagan's March 31, 1976 Televised Address

Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan during the 1976 Republican National Convention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1976 presidential primary campaign, former Governor Ronald Reagan challenged President Gerald Ford for the Republican nomination for president.

During the campaign, the Reagan campaign floundered as it had not won a single primary until the North Carolina primary in March.

Following that win, Citizens for Reagan purchased a half hour of airtime for Reagan to address the American people on March 31, 1976. The North Carolina primary win and the address of March 31 gave the Reagan campaign a much-needed shot-in-the-arm and he went on to win most of the state primaries thereafter.

At the 1976 Republican National Convention at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, I was a California Reagan delegate. During the balloting,  Ford won with 1187 votes to 1070 votes for Reagan. He later lost to Jimmy Carter during the general election. 

Above, Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I came upon Reagan's March 31 televised address on YouTube. This was the first time I watched it since 1976, even though I did make an audio recording during the broadcast.

The address by Reagan in many respects applies today with what we're going through with Biden and the Democrats, especially with current problems with Russia, energy and the economy.

Here is the video of that address:

Kemper Arena Now

Above, Kemper Arena today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 1976, I was a California Delegate for former Governor Ronald Reagan at the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The contenders for the Republican presidential nomination were President Gerald R. Ford and Reagan.

Above, the Reagans arrive at the Hilton Plaza Inn during the
1976 Republican National Convention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The convention was held at Kemper Arena. This was the first GOP national convention I attended as a member of the California Delegation. I later attended the 1980 and 1984 GOP national conventions as a member of the California Delegation.

Ultimately, President Ford won the nomination against Reagan, but went on to lose the general election against Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.

During my return trip from Metropolis, Illinois this month, the route I took had me in Kansas City, Missouri. While there, I decided to stop and take a look at Kemper Arena. This was my first visit to Kansas City, Missouri since 1976.

1979, the arena's roof collapsed due to a design flaw and structural failure. The arena was repaired and reopened within a year. Fortunately, nobody was killed. Recently, it was proposed to tear down the underused arena, but those plans have been withdrawn.

The arena still looks the same to me, 40 years later and after the 1979 roof collapse.

An Inconvenience

Above, The Beast at Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little mishap occurred yesterday in St. Louis.

After I had gotten off the freeway downtown, I had to swerve a to the left. In my way was a traffic island. Normally, curbs are rounded, but this one had a sharp corner.

Well, that sharp corner sliced my driver's side front tire and rear driver's side outside tire. Both were torn up beyond repair. I had to get new tires.

I contacted Auto Club for a tow, but my premium RV coverage covers tows on a reimbursement basis. Plus, I would have had to pay an additional $130/hour (for 3 hours they said) for a shop-to-shop tow.

Luckily, I found a local tire dealer who does remote tire repair/replacement for RVs. The tires and all cost me almost $500. That put a major crimp in my pocket money and checking account. That left me with a bit over $350. Well, it could have been worse. As it was, it was just tires.

So, I contacted my bank and asked for an emergency money transfer from my investment account to my checking account. At first, they said the earliest I would have the money is Tuesday. Then "maybe" Monday. Then, I was contacted by the main customer service department and arrangments are being made for a transfer to be completed, hopefully, today. Until it does, I don't have enough money on hand for fuel to get home. So, I am sitting tight in Kansas.

Luckily, I have enough food provisions to last me a week. I went shopping in Springfield, Illinois and stocked up on food. I spent last night in a rest area to save some cash. But, I still need to be able to fill up my water tank other things. I found a nice RV park in Topeka, Kansas, the Deer Creek Valley RV Park. With my AAA or Good Sam discount, the night's stay is only $39.60. If necessary, I can stay here to Monday.

Soon after I registered, I made use of their hot showers.

This is just an inconvenience and the net effect is that my vacation will just be extended a few more days before I can begin heading into Colorado and, later, Arizona and have fun again.

Above, Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missiouri. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before heading to Topeka, I took a drive to Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, the site of the 1976 Republican National Convention, the first convention I attended. That was the contest between President Gerald Ford and Gov. Ronald Reagan. I was a California Reagan Delegate. The place looked pretty much the same.


UPDATE: I heard from the bank and the earliest I can get the transfer completed is on Monday. It is because today is the Veteran's Day holiday. That's okay, I am comfortable where I'm at.