The 1980 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, from July 14 to July 17, 1980. The 32nd Republican National Convention nominated former Governor Ronald W. Reagan of California for President and former congressman George H. W. Bush of Texas for Vice President. Reagan, running on the theme "Make America Great Again," stayed in Detroit's Renaissance Center, at the time the world's tallest hotel, and delivered his acceptance speech at Joe Louis Arena.
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Former Governor Ronald Reagan of California
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Former CIA director George H. W. Bush of Texas
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Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee
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Representative Phil Crane of Illinois
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Former Governor John Connally of Texas
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Former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen
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Senator Bob Dole of Kansas
During the convention, the possibility of choosing former president Gerald Ford as the vice-presidential nominee was given at least some consideration. Ford asked for certain powers and prerogatives that has been described as making Ford a co-president. This included the return of Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State and the appointment of Alan Greenspan as Secretary of the Treasury in a "package deal". The two sides could not come to an agreement, and ultimately George Bush was chosen less than 24 hours before the ticket was announced.
The Reagan-Bush ticket went on to win the 1980 presidential election by a landslide victory.
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—Katharine Fullerton Gerould (1879–1944)