passed to come to this convention to take personal charge of the discourses. perhaps the most important for him is the key battles of his nomination fight coming to a head tonight. bob schieffer reports. bob: the president spent a lot of time visiting various state allegations. he went to some of the headquarters hotels and had other dollar legation to headquarters on the 18th floor of this hotel. one of the things you come away with after talking to people here, members of the white house staff is this -- the ford people seem a lot more comfortable about their vote count. on the other hand, they are worried about this 16c thing coming up tonight to force the president to name his running

mate early. the organization conducted a poll and while it should they would win on the issue, they would probably win on a thin margin. the ford people know when you have a margin that then, anything can happen. they also know that if somehow the reagan forces push that through, there is a good chance it is going to cost mr. ford some votes. that is why they will be working very hard against it and that's why the reagan folks will be working hard. walter: this has been a crucial day for the presence challenger, ronald reagan. >> the reagan camp is operating on the premise that the actual delegate battle is much closer than most counts indicate. based on that, governor reagan was busy going from hotel to hotel, delegation to delegation, stressing two main things. first, reiterating very firmly that he would not accept a vice presidential spot on a ford ticket if the income in order be this conventions nominee. reagan said over and over he

would go back to the private life, turning out speeches and syndicated news columns, maintaining what he calls his independence to criticize government policy when he thought that was warranted. second, he has been stressing this rule 16 battle, this is a reagan proposal that would force him to name his perspective running mate in advance of running tomorrow. reagan has been arguing to delegations that since he has named his potential running mate, senator schweiker, that delegates have a right to know who mr. ford would choose. this is a point he has been making throughout the day, over and over again. the reagan people think this is a test of strength and a win on this issue would indicate

strength in this and think anyone ford would have to name in advance would offend someone and cost him some support somewhere in this convention. most observers with whom i talk think a win by the reagan people on this issue would not automatically mean a nomination for governor reagan tomorrow. they feel, however, that a loss might fatally hurt his nomination chances. the people of the reagan camp don't go that far. they have their own delegate headcounts, they are not revealing it and i are not saying whether they see a win or loss but they'd do not appear to be too worried. walter: the reason this is so critical is the balance between the ford and reagan forces when it comes to the balloting tomorrow night is so narrow. according to our delegate poll, president ford at this moment is running around 11 votes more than he needs. our delegate count indicates he has 1141.

in other words, he would win it. there are still 78 undetermined, but anything such as this rule 16 fight could overturn those delegate counts. it won't be final until the balloting is actually done. 16 c is going to be a very interesting parliamentary fight. as the matter comes up, bruce morton will be following it all the way through and will be able to tell us what is happening from the podium. you can tell us in advance what you are expecting. bruce: what we have learned our a modified market shows queens break. the ohio state chairman and chairman of the rules committee will read a report on all the rules considered. that's just take five minutes in and then there will be 30 minutes of debate on vice presidential 16 c. there will be six unnamed

speakers for the ford five. there is a vote and there are all sorts of rumors about other proposed rules changes. those would supposedly get five minutes debate per side each. we will see how it goes. walter: our floor correspondents will be following all of these intricate maneuverings tonight. they can tell us what they expect at the floor. first, roger mudd. roger: president ford's agents have been working the floor and they are nervously confident. they say they think they will win by 25 even though it earlier report says they thought it would be about by 10. the biggest argument against

rule 16 c as the reagan bandwagon slows down means the door would be left open for a reagan vice presidency and that is the argument you hear in this section of the floor. he says if we lose it, it would heighten the anticipation for tomorrow morning. one member of the ford staff said president ford should never revealed his selection except in his will. now to mike wallace. mike: there are two vital delegations here on this part of the floor -- new jersey and mississippi. both of them caucus on this item and neither one of them gave the reagan people the support they wanted. in new jersey, 67 votes, 61 according to our understanding against the reagan 16 c amendment. four our for it, to abstention. all along they have said in new jersey there are hidden votes.

that is what we are going to see here this evening. 61 out of the 67 against 16 c. the big one was mississippi. they held a caucus this afternoon and voted 31 to 28 against 16 c. some people say that is ford's strength. some people say the reagan people went along because they did not want gerald ford to nominate ronald reagan for his vice presidential running mate before this came to its climax tomorrow. the fact remains that they voted as a unit and there will be 30 votes cast against ronald reagan.

now to dan rather. dan: i've been talking to delegates and its difficult to find a delegate on either side trying to force president ford to name his selection before the nomination. it's very difficult to find anyone on either side of that who believes if the president is forced to do that that he will not name howard baker of tennessee. if 16 c chances, baker's chances jump considerably. that is the speculation that runs fairly heavily down here. the big delegation to watch is pennsylvania. it is one where if the reagan forces are going to get what they want tonight on this issue of forcing president ford to name his vice presidential nomination. it indicates they will not be able to do that. we have a rough vote of 85 against the proposal if that holds, the reagan forces can win. the nixon people -- slip of the tongue, sorry to say -- the ford people were out here early

checking out all of their communications equipment. they still have an organizational set up that is much better anything be reagan people have put out. have walkie-talkie and telephone to medication and a lot of experienced convention people. the reagan people have a far less efficient telephone system. as far as i know, they don't have any walkie-talkie system at all. the chairman who figures he can deliver all of his 100 delegate votes for the reagan side on the vice presidential matter was telling his delegates that the session may last well past midnight.

he told them to stick it out and snore in place if you have two but do not let your body depart. >> at the risk of restating the obvious, this issue does create a face-off situation between mr. reagan and mr. ford, but it is not quite just that. there are a couple of things happening that could muddy the entire outcome on this vote on 16 c. some ford people say they are going to vote against president ford. they seem to be thinking while they want to buy ford, they want to sue the accessories look like before they finish the purchase. and we have heard from some reagan delegates who say they are going to vote against reagan on this amendment because they think it is unfair and is an example of the kind of intense pressure and battle being waged on every, if not every seat in this hall is this little piece of paper handed out by the ford committee that says vote no on 16 c.

it says you should oppose the amendment because it prevents a ford-reagan ticket since governor reagan could not consent to the president's vice president as required by the amendment. point number 2 -- it eliminates a consultation with governor reagan for the vice president hostile nation. in other words, the ford people are saying reagan is not going to win this presidential nomination. unless you vote against 16 c, reagan is not going to be considered for vice president, nor will he have a say in the vice presidential nominee. walter: there are other subtleties in the matter as suggested by dan rather and that is if 16 c is voted tonight, the chances of resident ford naming it tomorrow morning a moderate in order not to sway against him any of those who would support people on the fringes is greatly enhanced and that would be a for

instance, howard baker, though there are other moderates who might satisfy liberals and more conservatives in the party. so we are all standing aside here for the shootout from the kc stockyards. the republican national convention coverage by cbs news will resume after this message. walter: the session is set to begin 15 minutes from now, the session that will tell whether president ford will get the nomination of his party or whether it will be ronald reagan. we will be watching this rules fight tonight and we have some thoughts full it -- some thoughts. >> the president is first to choose winning the nomination rather than winning the election and in terms of the future of

the country, the vice president becomes president -- four out of the last six presidents were vice presidents. of course the ford people would not oppose it. he wants somebody who can help them in the election, but also somebody who could be president if necessary. if you loses the fight tonight, what walter and dan rather are suggesting that it would be someone like baker, and inoffensive moderate. >> yes. you have to keep in mind this was born not out of any first for reform. they tell a story about texas

about a fellow who had to have a shotgun wedding. you took the onus off his own indiscretion. ronald reagan is trying to turn this convention into a double shotgun wedding. he wants to call for the support of delegates to be angered no matter who he chooses. >> the high moral tone is that it must be so. they are talking at the eastman case. >> would 10 hours make that much difference? >> that is the point. people would have 10 hours to react whether they make that choice or not but to react in terms of investigating, they could do nothing. >> it also highlights the fundamental rule of politics, which is reciprocity. presidential leader would be unable to select the loser as his running mate and closing down politics into an ideological view unto -- and at agent of reconciliation.

>> there is also the long-distance practical matter of future conventions here and you set a precedent. each of the big blocks of delegates thinking they would have a serious chance to be president, none of them could designate one or the other as vice president and it would betray their followers. that is a secondary consideration but a real one. >> if a liberal nominee or conservative announces 10 hours in advance, he is not going to make anyone happy -- if he chooses a liberal, he runs the risk of making the battle more pitch and enduring and un-reconcilable. >> the selection happening here is more important than what happens in november. no vice president has ever

increased the popular vote by more than 2%. they can bring in an occasional state like lbj with kennedy, he helped to get texas and louisiana. that was a close calculation, but even lbj cost him a little bit. >> i would expect right now that gerald ford doesn't know who he should take for the best interest of the party or for the country. >> i think he has to find that answer before he does. walter: we will be back in one minute with cbs news coverage of the republican national convention. walter: this crucial session of the republican national convention is just 10 minutes or

so away. it is generally agreed in kansas city that the momentum is with president ford. nearly all of the delegate polls by various news media indicate ford has gone over the top, somewhere around a margin of five or 10 votes and upi, united press new service quoted a reagan aide as saying he has lost it. i don't see how he can pull it off. john sears is a campaign manager and a very smart political manager. ronald reagan hoped to hold off by such maneuvers as the fight on 16 c, possibly a fight over the platform. that comes up tonight. the 21,000 word document that sets how candidates should campaign, what the republican party stands for. there are going to be some amendments offered tonight and one would be an amendment supported by reagan forces in the so-called independent conservatives that would in effect criticize the henry kissinger/gerald ford foreign policy.

that matter will be on the floor if they get these rules things settled before dawn tomorrow. 16 c is the name of the game because that comes up first. we have not had a test vote of this nature in a political convention since 1964 when the liberal scranton forces put a platform fight before the convention and lost it. it was proof the goldwater forces controlled that convention in san francisco. roger mudd is with a georgia delegate who is against the vice presidential amendment but is going to vote for it anyway. roger: this is the state chairman of the gop in georgia. if ronald reagan is going to win on 16 c, he's going to have to get all the votes he can get. georgia is a reagan state that there are some that will not vote for 16 c.

>> we see it as an attempt, a campaign technique to not necessarily embarrass the president but put him in a corner to change delegate votes. i think reagan sees this and it could be indicative to how it goes. roger: while it is true you don't favor 16 c, you're going to have devote for it? >> yes, i will. there are a lot of allegations that are not sound like i am. i think the votes, no matter how it comes out tonight is not going to be indicative of the vote tomorrow night. as it stands right now, i believe president ford probably has the edge. the only way the governor probably has a hope of trying to win the nomination is trying to get the president to name his residential nominee.

walter: most of the mississippi delegation remains officially uncommitted on the question of who should be the presidential nominee, but they made up their mind on this rules thing. mike: gil carmichael is the leader of the ford forces in mississippi. he ran for governor and almost took it last year. gil carmichael, 30 votes against ronald reagan, how come question mark -- how come? >> there was a vote today and it could not help the interpreted as a ford vote. it was a real desire in the delegation to be very fair. mike: the people voted 31-28. as a result, you invoked the unit rule. does that reflect the fact certain reagan people simply went along? explain the vote.

>> what happened is a decision was made. the ford strength is there and a lot of people did not believe it. there's a strong support for president ford and a strong support for governor reagan. we divided up in the room. mark reid voted for 16 c but has committed himself to president ford, so that gives us 32 votes. mike: what you seem to be saying is the mississippi delegation could go for president ford tomorrow night? >> a try. mike: you remember the uncommitted delegate who said she was going to give up the news first. you have now decided in favor of? >> president ford. mike: you said you were going to get a message from up on high. is that where you got it? back i prayed all night last

night. mike: 30 votes against 16 c and conceivably a ford majority for the nomination. walter: dan rather is with one of the ford floor leaders who will be watching his delegate closely on these floor fights. dan: what is the strongest argument you have found to use with people who say i'm going to vote for president ford for the nomination but i really want to support the reagan people on this matter of getting out front with these choices? >> i don't know any ford people who would do that. this is a scheme to lock schweiker in for vice president. reagan has his backers. if the convention would force ford to have a package, they vote between it to packages and swiger would be home free.

he can be nominated on the floor of this convention in a straight out fight. if this new rule is adopted, it locks schweiker in if reagan wins. if ford wins, it locks reagan out. it is foolish why it would prevent ford from conferring with reagan about vice president because he couldn't do it until after the contest was over. dan: there were three or four members of the delegation trying to convince you that was not true. did you find that persuasive? >> not at all. they cannot nominate him on this floor. this is the rules to lock him in without a direct vote. >> who would run best with him in the brassica?

>> reagan. and as locked out if they vote for this new rule. dan: do you think there's any chance despite what he said? >> yes. now he would say no. he would probably say no until thursday morning, but at least he can become altered. in the past, i've known a lot of candidates who said no and in the morning, they said yes. dan: that is the kind of argument supporters are giving against 16 c. walter: there is a large movement among the more conservative delegates here that even if their candidate is nominated for the presidency, they would vote against his vice presidential choice when i got

to that vote on thursday. it seems almost every few minutes since early this afternoon, we got another indication from our delegate count that ford is building his momentum. we just got word from our people keeping track of the delegates feeding them into our computers, a delegate from virginia just told cbs he would vote for president ford. he had previously been counted as having no preference. so now it goes up to 1141. the convention is just getting underway now. this crucial session of the convention with the trooping of the colors into the hall. cbs news coverage of the republican national convention continues in a moment. announcer: cbs news continues its special report, campaign 76.

tonight, the second session of the republican national convention from the kemper arena in kansas city. this portion is sponsored by the people of ford motor company on behalf of ford and lincoln mercury dealers. ford wants to be your car company. >> ♪ oh say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight last gleaming. whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, over the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air

gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ [applause] walter: that was gordon mcrae, popular singer singing the national anthem this opening

session. >> the invocation will be given to one of my good friends in congress, one of the outstanding members of congress in the first district of minnesota, the honorable al please. >> ladies and gentlemen, let me ask you, if you would communicate with god in your own way, let us bow our heads and hearts. oh, lord, god, we acknowledge that you created and planned all in the universe and created us in your image. our hearts are filled with thanksgiving this evening that you care for us, that we can safely worship you and share with others our belief in you, that we as a minority in this

nation can assemble to state what we stand for and select our republican choice for president and vice president. that your presence may infect us. phyllis through your wisdom of the holy spirit. we have differences of opinion as you know. help us that we might love each other with the love of christ's as we push for what we believe in and who we believe in and while we need your forgiveness, help us above all to be forgiving of others. lastly, may i remind all of us who are gathered here your words to your decide when james and john asked to sit at your right hand and left hand in your kingdom and you said we are to be different.

whoever would be great must be a servant, just as the son of man came not to be served but serve and give his life as a ransom for many. we pray in jesus'name. amen. ♪ walter: the convention is going to hear some brief remarks on the p.o.w. missing in action issue from lieutenant colonel raymond shrum. he retired from the army in 1973 after being a prisoner of war for five years from 1968 to 73 in vietnam. on thursday, the north carolina delegation is considering honoring him by putting his name into nomination on the vice presidential ballot. thereafter, in the early parts of this evening for around 15 minutes or so, there are remarks to be heard from representative

melissa fenwick and the president of the national federation of republican women. then the introduction of former senator connally, former governor connally, excuse me. the presiding officer is a temporary chairman, senator bob dole of kansas. mr. dole: i ask you to take your seats. we have a most important guest. it is my honor to introduce to you one of the greatest americans are generation, no one appreciates how long a single day is until he has spent days in a p.o.w. and communist prison. colonel raymond shrum rum north carolina spent five years as a pow during the vietnam war.

with him was a friend of mine, john done from hutchinson kansas. it would be emotional to tell me -- for me to tell you that he had himself engendered in his fellow prisoners. decorated with two silver stars, to legions of merit, three purple hearts and two awards in the combat infantry badge, it is the greatest honor to introduce colonel raymond trumps and mrs. shrum. [applause] ♪

[applause] >> senator doyle, distinguished guests, fellow republicans, as i stand here before this convention and our lord and savior jesus christ, i pray that you will bless the men and their families of whom i are about to speak. as you know, my background is largely that of a career soldier and for at least the past two years, a small businessman. as you will immediately become aware, i'm neither a politician or a speaker. however, i do claim a cherished and priceless title, the most important in these united states, i am a private citizen of this republic. [applause]

with your permission tonight, i shall exercise not only the rights and privileges of that citizenship, but, more importantly, some of the responsibilities that go along with the title. that is quite simply to speak to you about things that are on my mind and in my heart concerning the condition and direction of our country. having spent five years of my life denied the freedoms i once took for granted, i came to realize just how precious those freedoms really are and, today, i cherish them beyond words. [applause] i attribute my homecoming 23 basic things -- faith in god, faith in my country, faith in my

fellow man. it is altogether fitting and timely in this year of our 200th anniversary as the greatest republic of all time to reaffirm ourselves to the preservation not only to the bracing principles with this country was founded. america is the only country in the world that knows the true cost of freedom and that cost can only be measured in human life and personal sacrifices. [applause] regardless of your feelings in -- and mine on the vietnam war or how it was conducted, what is more important is how to resolve the last chapter of the vietnam war. how to obtain the release of the

remaining men still being held and the return of those who died so that they may be properly buried. [applause] as a typical, average american, i do not understand the intricacies of the world politics, but i am learning fast. we elect individuals to political office with the fervent hopes he will protect their lives and liberties and love america as much as we do individually and collectively. that personal gain and quest for political power will not be the overriding decision when hard decision must the main on our behalf. however, my efforts on behalf of our prisoners of war and missing in action has given me pause to wonder -- where are the patriotic leaders in our country who will take a stand on behalf of the men they asked to serve jamar -- asked to serve?

[applause] today, in this great and free nation of ours, there are many wives and children and parents who have only love to keep alive their hopes for a loved one listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action. only god knows how many men are trying to stay alive on memories of such a love? we do not know the status of over 1000 men listed as missing in action. these men left this country and endorsed our nation's commitment to its allies. that endorsement was not accomplished merely by a signature on a hill but by personal sacrifice of life and freedom. nor do they enjoy any of the rights and privileges we often take for granted and for which they were willing to pay the

ultimate price. must there endorsement be forfeit to support our national interest. the idea that this matter of dedication to duty is becoming the in saying and is a fearsome not in deed. as a matter of national integrity, we are morally bound as a matter of national integrity, we are morally bound to a complete accounting in recognition of these lost men. [applause] we, the american people, going to allow the leadership of this country, that committed these men to their fate to now be forgotten? right now, more than ever before, we must return integrity

and moral commitment to our government. >> i noted with great interest a draft averter from vietnam was nominated as vice president of the united states of america. prude, but i do not want a deserter to have anything to say or to speak for me. [applause]

>> resolve today, now, that you yourself tocate these brave men and their families. this is a humanitarian way. more importantly, it is the american way. [applause] men dide in mye presence -- died in my presence. i can assure you that not one ever lost faith in his country, his god, or his fellow man. [applause]

poor is the nation that has no heroes. shameful is the one that, having them, forgets. you, and god bless america. [applause] ♪ >> lieutenant colonel raymond strump, for five years, a prisoner of war in vietnam. >> the convention will now hear from alison fenwick,

congresswoman of new jersey. the talk on the floor is of rule , to have the vice president name no later than tomorrow morning. for more on that fight, here is morton dean. >> of course, this is a reagan-ford fight. there is an interesting sideline. is aesswoman heckler moderate. terms, agreesl with the reagan position. you will not be voting on that position. why not? >> i do not agree with the requirement that the nominee be selected before the nomination. i do not agree with that. i agree it is in the public interest to have all presidential candidates suggest

to the president and the public the names of their potential running mates. i believe that would be a reform. so i agree in part, but not with the specifics. i think this is a political gimmick by a desperate campaign manager. >> on the one hand, the people should know the type of men or women being considered for the vice presidency. why not agree with the idea of having mr. ford name his men? >> i feel that would be disastrous. the advantage of having the american public know candidates are thinking of as their running mates would allow exposure of these candidates to public view, the scrutiny of the press and public. it would then bring out the connolly, for -- example. the question of selection goes too far.

it ties the candidates' hand. >> but you would like for the next convention that there be some kind of arrangement that those in running for the president says, i am considering the following individuals? >> yes, i do. that kind of reform would give us an idea of who the vice presidential hopefuls might be. >> i want to put you on the hot seat. measure as a ford opposed to the reagan measure, you might be voting differently on this? >> i would not. this convention does not represent the american people in its totality. if i were to vote for that proposition, i would be saying this convention is representative and the candidates should reflect the needs of the convention and should go out and get the delegate strength and use it as a tool in choosing the vice presidency.

i think that is wrong. >> congresswoman heckler of massachusetts. republican convention coverage will continue after this message. how do the reagan forces look on this crucial fight with 16c? what are the people in tell us is mike wallace. lynn nassegger has been with ronald reagan since the beginning of his career. and undoubtedly weighing in on 16c. it looks like it will not go

reagan's way. are you surprised at this point in time? >> i will not go with the assumption. i think we have a chance to get them to go our way. >> lynn, would you look over at camera 7? see camerara -- i seven. people have been putting out literature says no on 16c. they are suggesting people oppose 16c since it prevents a ford-reagan ticket. >> that is a phony issue, and they know it. ronald reagan made it clear he would not accept the vice presidency. it has no validity at all. it just would not happen. >> it eliminates consultation with governor reagan for the president's vice presidential

nomination. harvey -- the man is hardly going to say, i want your device about all this. i cannot do it on account of 16c. >> that is not true. if gerald ford wants to call the governor, i am sure the governor will take his call. >> he is hardly going to get that kind of call. >> these are excuses, mike. people admitord this is a good proposal. they are just saying do not do it this year. >> i think people across the united states are saying it is a good idea. why change the rules in the middle of the game? why not look forward to 1980? >> we are not in the middle of the game. they have been at this for a years, trying to figure out a way.

most people say this is a good way. the fact is that it is a good way. the only way, as a matter of fact, at this moment. >> that is not so. i think we are going to win on the platform issue tomorrow night. >> the bottom line is votes. make a prediction. is it going to carry? by how many? >> it is going to carry. i have never given you a account. >> you know you lost mississippi. you are not giving the votes you hope for in new jersey. >> all i know is what senator kaye said. >> 52 out of 67 votes in new jersey are going against 16c. one abstention. you just do not seem to have these votes on this part of the floor. votes on this67 part of the floor that will vote for 16c. >> those are going to come from

california. i guess you can count on those. walter? >> not far away in the actual counting. not all the action will be on the floor. some of it will be in the periphery. the strategy, direction to , is run from the trailer area outside the hall. jim mcmanus is out there. >> they are called communications trailers or, in military parlance, command posts. one behind us blunt to president ford. security here is tight. each day, they are checked for telephone wire taps. the trailer behind us belongs to ronald reagan. the general of the reagan troops is john sears. he sits here in a politician's version of a broadcast anchor

booth. it is marked for each allegation. to keep track of proceedings, a battery of television monitors. they manned the telephone lines along the wall in these boots. they are in constant contact with their counterparts on the floor. each are responsible for five delegations. in this case, kentucky, virginia, tennessee, and west virginia. if mrs. reagan and the congressman come here, this is where they will spend time. as the reagan forces get ready to do battle this evening, this is the place from which it will be directed. jim mcmanus, cbs news. >> president ford facing a challenge to nomination for his party, the first such by any political party of an incumbent , is gainingnce 1912

momentum this evening. most of the news media polls show he is over the top with 11 00 delegates needed. any of that could be upset. one of the test votes comes tonight on the ruling on 16c, the reagan-sponsored rule that would force president ford to name his vice presidential candidate by tomorrow morning. the leader of the reagan force is here, and a short while ago, he talked about what he expects on the vote. >> senator, how does the fight shape up? >> as of this moment, it looks good. i was worried about the mississippi delegation. thathe last word i had is it will break down to a about 16 -14. 14, reagan.

if we can hold on that basis, i think we will win. >> mississippi -- what kind of headcount do you have on the issue? there was the assumption mississippi would break even. it is going to be terribly tight, but i am confident we are going to win this. >> what would a loss when to the to thenomination -- mean reagan nomination chances? >> it would depend on the extent of the loss. 10 votes or so would not mean that much. but this is a terribly poor test vote. >> perhaps the most important. paul,as going to say that earlier today, had scaled down his estimate of ronald reagan's strength. john sears, campaign manager for reagan, has been saying 1140

votes on the first ballot, enough to win. today, he was saying it would be under 1130 on the first ballot, an indication some confidence has been shaken in the reagan forces. it will all come out in the wash. probably some indication of it tonight.ote on 16c besides the rule 16c fight, be ar mail -- there may ruling to strike down a ford sponsored rule that would require the 19 states where the delegates are pledged to vote according to the results of their primary campaigns to vote that way and not defect. this was aimed primarily at north carolina, where a lot of delegates are really reagan delegates. but according to the way the

vote went, most of them will have to vote for ford on the first ballot. there was some talk they might not vote that way and vote for reagan instead. 18, that wille come before the convention tonight. then we move into the platform fight after the rules matter is settled, assuming it is settled early enough tonight for this session to. go on to platform. there was some talk the fight could go on so long tonight they would have to go into a daytime session tomorrow to get on to the platform before we move to the balloting for the presidential nomination. the campaign managers do not want to do that. the convention managers do not want to do that. it is costly to have a session in the afternoon. one problem i have got is they used the city bus to transport

delegates from the convention hotels, some of which are quite a ways out, to the arena area. there is a problem involved in changing the schedule to that degree. the republican national convention coverage by cbs news will resume after this message. >> in a few minutes, the convention will have presented to it the report of its credentials committee. chairman is john mcdonald. in theere no fights credentials committee, but there were several challenges brought forde -- there is mrs. outside the convention hall.

we are told she has had a little fall. >> have you been listening to the reports? >> i have the tv on all the time. >> your son jack told me today that he thought the president would get 1200 votes on the first ballot. what do you think? >> that is a lot. >> do not think it will be that good? >> i hope so. >> how are you enjoying kansas city? >> very much until i just tripped. >> i am sorry if we caused that. >> i was trying to keep my eye on you and did not see the curb. handed me a car just before we got to the picture that she had a fall. did she fall down? >> she was coming out of the car and down this ramp behind me. all the reporters, including yours truly, said mrs. ford.

she looked at us. as she did, she fell. members of the secret service grabbed her. she says she is fine. >> i just have that little report. we certainly had to clear it up. i am glad mrs. ford is all right. she is on her way into the hall now. of thenter,head republican national federation of republican women just completed her remarks. john mcdonald, the chairman of the credentials committee, is about to give his report. there were some delegate challenges. but they were settled in the committee, and no fights will be brought to the floor in time for registering protests. the delegate list will be approved without any problems. let's listen in. >> take your seats.

others may want to hear. if you would make every effort to clear the aisle, there will be important business conducted in five to 10 seconds. 9 republican delegates at this convention are, for the most part, middle-aged, white, and well-to-do. 7% are under 39 years. 97% are white. 1% more than the 1972 condition. it is 2-1 male. the delegates are well-off. more than half of them earn more than $35,000 a year. here is chairman john mcdonald. elected to serve

at that time were as follows. john c mcdonald, chairman. sylvia hermann of maryland, vice chairman. maxine snowden of the district of columbia, secretary. at the contest committee 6earings held on august 9, 197 in kansas city, three contests were presented. n, the reports were presented to the republican , sitting asmittee the committee of the whole, pursuant to the rules for final action. no appeals were taken to the credentials committee and -- in any of those cases. states, changes with

respect to alternate delegates were requested and approved. a letter request for changes in the oregon delegation was denied. ue to a printing omission, the note which states, "popp -- delegate is shown that candidate" was left off the permanent role in florida. committee, we were advised by mr. richard haber, assistant to general counsel, of further utilized services joy price. your committee moves that the asporary role of delegates presented to this convention on

august 16, 1976, as amended in five instances with relation to delegates and corrected in the case of florida, become the permanent role of the convention. thank you. walter: the delegates get here on the following basis. at-largee gets six delegates and three delegates for each conventional district. additional at-large delegates are awarded on the basis of republican victories in 1972 state and national elections. next order of business is the presentation of john connolly. john connolly was said to be planning a rousing speech. the box.s mrs. ford to this sets off a demonstration

from the delegates. she is accompanied to the box by her daughter, susan forward. and her sons. ♪

♪ ♪ ford, with her son

stephen, who studied animal husbandry. oldest son. the had a rough time before the new york delegation today. he was going to speak in caucus. the reagan delegates said that was all right, but they wanted a couple speakers as well, which started a rumpus. they decided to settle the whole thing by asking jack to leave for a few minutes. the boxrd came into with tony orlando, the musical star. ♪

walter: nancy reagan is not in the hall tonight. were privileged to see one of the more unusual scenes in any political convention. nancy reagan and mrs. ford arrived. we had sort of a challenge match as the crowd divided its attention between mrs. ford and mrs. reagan, dividing their cheering as well.

if you had a meter on the applause, you might have gotten a straw vote at how the forces stacked up at this convention. gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen. thank you very much. temporary chairman robert dole finally getting the attention of the convention. we just saw the credentials of these delegates approved without any fight. there was a test on credentials in 1952.

there was indication that eisenhower would beat taft. been a net canad battle all the way. and neck battle all the way. we are now going to have a battle tonight on a rule change. the are going to your from john connolly, former governor of texas and cabinet member under the nixon administration. he has been preparing a speech that could excite the convention, possibly influence it. which direction remains to be seen. he is a ford supported. the texas delegation, however, is a reagan delegation. there.swept the primary

connolly would like to get the vice presidential bid. he has not said so in so many words. sure he would like to enhance his chances with a speech here tonight. hundreds and thousands of americans would like to participate in politics. utead the help of mrs. williams. i have had literally hundreds of phone calls and telegrams from across this country saying that the republican party does have a heart. we are a party of compassion, a

party of who cares -- a party who cares, because of the efforts of mrs. williams. i want you to thank her. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, our next guest will be introduced by a delegate from rhode island. a former assistant attorney general of that state, the mayor of providence rhode island. cianci, jr. [applause] ♪ walter: he is the first republican mayor of providence in modern history. 35 years old, lawyer, federal prosecutor. >> thank you very much. theellow conventioneers,

name i am about to bring to the attention of this convention is a man familiar to you all. prior to fulfilling that responsibility, i would like to address myself to mr. carter, if he is watching, that is. ci, mayors buddy cian of providence, rhode island. [applause] anmr. carter, i am not american, and proud of my ethnic background. [applause] thehen you refused to see delegation last month, you hurt me and offended all of my ethnic friends. let me remind you that the greatest source of manpower for the building of this great millioname from the 23

foreigners who immigrated to our shores in search of a better opportunity. [applause] >> from them comes the rich variety of cultures that characterize our american way of life. s have beeng, ethnic treated by democratic political machines as statistics. ambitions at their and scoff at their dreams. been seenng, we have by urban planners as figures on a graph. our great republican party has deemed fit to recognize the needs of our neighborhoods by including our interest in this year's platform. this grand old party will rekindle the american dream for greek americans, for the german,

americans thatro- live in the neighborhoods of this great country. [applause] yes, our republican ranks contain many of us who are probably come from providence, from boston, or from texas. it will be from the cities and neighborhoods of the east and west that republicans, independents, and democrats with "i"s that end in "o" or that will help us with the big win. [applause] the man i call your attention to now is one of us. polish up amongst the

and czechoslovakian communities of south texas. he has a special understanding for the heritage of this nation and the peoples from the many lands that made it so. his credentials are familiar to you all. he was the secretary of the navy, the secretary of the treasury, a man whose wisdom and fourent has been sought by presidents representing both parties. he never forgot the friends of his childhood. when he served as governor of texas, he personally supported creation by the state of texas of a magnificent institute of texan cultures, which honors the 26th ethnic groups that helped build that great state. it is my pleasure to introduce to you a man who knows how to pronounce the word "friend."

the former governor of the great state of texas, john b connally. walter: john connolly introduced republicancianci, mayor of the predominantly democratic rhode island. ♪ ♪

>> thank you. thank you very much. thank you very much. thank you very much. cianci, mr. chairman, 200es and gentlemen -- years ago, in the hot summer of band of patriots convened at philadelphia to oddstake a task against which seemed insurmountable,

against entrenched opposition which seemed impregnable. contendedogether, together. when those deliberations were done, they brought forth which has new nation changed the course of human history. of in this historic summer americansr representing their countrymen are meeting here in this nation's heartland, facing a challenge no less formidable than that which confronted the first americans. odds which are long, against opposition which is strong, we are here to take up the challenge of changing our nation's course. changing it away from a reckless

and senseless course which and ours our purse principles. changing it in a way that will restore's america's enduring values and ensure america's continuing greatness. present tohere, we our loi americans know -- facade ofericans no artificial unity. we are contending together, debating together, deciding together. we have no plans to hide, no goals to obscure. when these deliberations are done, we should go forth with -- clear goals -- to reunite elect a republican president

representative of the values for which a majority of americans stand. [applause] cause is a proud and just cause. it is also an urgent cause. it is to that urgency that i will now speak. across the decades of this troubled century, the tragedies of freedom most often have been wrought by the failure of free people to face the evidence of their freedoms' peril. time and again, free men and women have seen the encroachment at home and abroad. we have seen all those signs and signals. they still are waiting, hoping, trusting, that what they might see could somehow be changed. at this moment in history in

urgent needre is an for all concerned americans to andowledge the clear unmistakable meaning of what is apparent to us all. i know, you know. there is not a segment of the american population which does not know that we are living under the reign of government run amok. worthy purposes, idealistic the uglynnot obscure reality that drastic change has come over the nation of government in this land. every station in this society, from the citizens who suffer poverty to those who enjoy plenty, government is feared and distrusted. where once americans could rejoice that there is was a was ament -- theirs

government of, by, and for the people, there is growing question that it is any of those things. what has changed? what has gone wrong? i believe we must look to the beginning of our system, with the system being brought into being for us two centuries ago. the founders of this nation designed it on three sound principles. first, it should be a system of checks and balances, deliberately designed to prevent partisanship and monopolistic control. they further conceived where the in one representatives of the people would be accountable to the people who had chosen them to serve. that, they envisioned under this system, the power of public office, the power of the

presidency itself, would be entrusted to leaders known and tested in national leadership. leaders thoroughly proved in the crucible of power before themselves being entrusted with power. it is by those principles that i believe all americans should measure the choices they make this year of crucial decisions. let me explain what i mean and why this is so important. the nationago, watched and listened as delegates of the democratic party met in new york city. through those proceedings, americans heard speaker after speaker boasting of their party as the party in control of the american system, local government, state government. the party in control of the congress of the united states. on that ground, the democrats built their case, arguing they

should begin in final and total dominion over all power in this system by control of the executive branch and federal government as well. i believe that is an argument that americans must deal with in grave alarm. that time, long past time, we must awaken to the reality our system is in danger of losing the balances which assured our success and personal freedoms. not in the lifetime of anyone present here, not in the lifetime of the republic itself, have we been so near as we are now to the subjugation of the system under the rule of single party. in the last 24 years, it is the democratic party which has exercise control over both houses of congress.

during that time, not a lot has been enacted, not a government agency created, not a tax dollar , withoutthe government the democratic majority controlling that congress. [applause] years the record of those is a record from which the democrats cannot escape responsibility. it has been the democratic party, through its absolute domination of the congress which has relentlessly stoked the fires of inflation that are consuming the earnings and aspirations of americans in this country today. [applause] for 40 of the last 44 years, it has been the democratic

party, through its total control which has built the bureaucracy ever larger and -- the agents of that bureaucracy to penetrate deeper into our affairs and personal lives. yes. [applause] >> it is the democrat party in congress. the democrat party at every level, which has unleashed upon occurs cursepeople of government which today careens out of control. is the party that has been entrusted with dominion over lives and liberties. is this the party which the people want to hold all power over them without a republican president in the white house, willing and able to exercise restraint over the party's

willful excesses? know, that the answer is "no." [applause] >> not only must we keep a republican president in the white house, we must, in this important year, devote ourselves in every district to restoring the balance of party alignment in both houses of congress. who are the people that must lead this charge for our country? the dedicated republicans. the dedicated republicans here in this hall tonight. you must help lead the charge. [applause] maded that challenge is doubly demanding by the direction in which the democratic party is being moved by the parties gaining ascendancy.

our founding fathers recognized that, as this system must have checks and balances, it must also function on the principle of accountability. the accountability of elected representatives to those who they are elected to serve. obscureocrat orators that reality. that party has moved relentlessly to seize control of every segment of the system. it's controlling segments have moved to contravene this basic principle of accountability. we must remember that, two y ears ago, those forces were laid bare for all of us to see. not only did they seek to elect butto-proof congress, congress beyond restraint from a republican president. they undertook to make all

democrat representatives accountable not to the people but to the party's own narrow caucus and its leadership. recall the word went forth from every state and district that, henceforth, positions of influence within the party would be denied them unless they marched in lockstep with the command of the caucus rather than answering to their nce andious -- conscie constituents. i submit to you this way is not that gave this nation the greatness to which we want to return it now. against this background, we see the works of the recent democrat convention in a new and clear light. democratonvention, the party of today closed the

circle. it nominated and submitted to the people as the party's candidate of 1976 a man unknown, a man untested. toan wholly subservient those factions which are inexorably tightening control over that party and the nation. american,oice, every whatever his or her past loyalty, must surely pause to question. do you want to entrust the leadership of this land to a man of whom you never heard one year ago? >> no! >> are you willing to place at the helm a commander in chief who will not say, and may not know, where he intends to steer the ship? >> no! sinceer in all the years

america came to occupy the role of world leadership has anybody been asked to give allegiance to a presidential candidates of little-known as the democratic party nominee for 1976. [applause] >> let me respectfully remind you all, in the big leagues of world leadership, they rarely play softball. [applause] >> what this country needs and must have is more leadership born of republican revival. we need more republican leadership to come to a besieged united states. [applause]

>> leadership begins with , and we areh candor not going to try to hoodwink the american people. the average american knows we have problems and is willing to face up to them. we must tell the american people we cannot promise them cheap energy. the sooner we face that fact, the better off we are. the republican party will say to america that there is going to because of there expanding world population. we must face the fact that the present population of the world, is expected toe, double in 35 years to 8 billion people. we must tell the american people that the future may not be all sweetness and light because it probably will not be.

of the people in this world live in relative freedom. the other 80% live under some form of tyranny. those tyrants are sworn to destroy america. it is time we face that hard, cold fact. [applause] >> we must tell the american people that government cannot give them cradle to the grave security because it cannot. we must tell the american people we cannot forever live beyond our income. we must convince the american people that does that tell us government can do these things are cruel deceivers playing on our hopes and dreams. who are false prophets merit only our scorn. [applause] >> we must tell the american

people that we are living in a dangerous and changing world. are soonger self-sufficient that we continue our use of precious resources. we represent 5% of the world population and consume one third of the world's raw materials. we must tell the american people we have seen the end of an era and face a period of scarcity and sacrifice. people must understand that only inl promises end bitter disillusionment. 't talk only of providence. let's keep in perspective some of the things that are right with this great nation. we are at peace with the world, a peace brought about by a republican administration. [applause]

no american boys are dying on battlefields anyplace on this earth. for that, we should all be grateful. we still proudly wear the mantle of leadership in this great world. we have used that power not for conquest but for peace and prosperity. million almost 88 americans are gainfully employed, on a percentage basis, more than any other society on the face of the earth. we enjoy the highest standard of living ever attained by any people in modern history. we have said more people and housed them better. we have educated more people than any people since the beginning of time. [applause] it is also not enough to just

reflect on our good fortunes. to carry on a republican revival, we must pledge the republican party will lead the people to new strengths. to carry on a republican revival, we should talk about loose during -- boostering national security. we must remain number one in military strength, whatever that costs. [applause] to carry on a republican revival, we must pledge leadership to new economic strength and expanded job opportunity and security. the miracle of this nation has been the remarkable economic vitality of our free enterprise system. we must do battle with those would stifle it, dismantle it, or nationalize it. [applause] >> to carry on a republican

revival, we must pledge to get the federal government off the backs of our people. [applause] businessman, the proud craftsman. let's give freedom from regulation and guidelines. andy work on -- working man woman has a stake in this action because it affects job opportunities. to carry on a republican rival, we stand for an end to deficit spending. we must end the cruel inflation which silently robs all-americans, hurting those who can afford it least. what this republican administration has done, you helped.

no effort has been more vital to the stability of this nation. the time has come for the republican party to lead the fight for a constitutional amendment to prohibit deficit spending except in times of war and national emergency. [applause] finally and most importantly, the republican party must tell dedicated towe are the rekindling of the spirit of the individual. government surely must provide many vital services. pledgedis party must be to see those services are provided efficiently and effectively. but government did not build this nation. the relentless spirit of the individual built this nation. if we are to face the challenges of the future, we must once again encourage the genius of the individual, not the paternal

ism of a central government, which imposes mediocrity upon us all. [applause] >> our founding fathers fashioned a system of rights and privileges which are assured life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the common man. they also imagined a system which would produce the uncommon man, founded on our personal freedoms and free enterprise system of commerce. it is that climate of responsibility that produced an uncommon man named abraham lincoln. it was that climate of opportunity that produced an uncommon man named thomas edison and alexander graham bell. it was that climate of opportunity that produced an uncommon man named george washington carver and jonas salk. out there tonight in america, countless more young minds that can become uncommon men and

women. we need those men and women blessed with extraordinary genius for the future of america and the future of this world. we must rekindle that genius and the system of incentive that rewards it. only in america can the individual soar as high as a god-given talents and personal dedication taken, without shackles of caste or class. there are voices in the opposition parties were dedicated to taking away that fountainhead of individual achievement. there are those who would nationalize our economy and reduce all the stray mass of mediocrity. but down the pathway lies the conformity,f reducing life to hopeless despair. down the pathway, beyond the loss of economic freedom, lies

the loss of all other freedoms. we have enjoyed those freedoms longer than any other nation in history. and we tend to take those freedoms for granted. the world'so one of great spokesman for freedom. listen to what alexander scholes and ethan -- alexander sultanate sent says about freedom and the united states. [applause] theays of us, you have impression democracies can last. but democracies are islands in a vast river of history, and the water is always rising. let us pause and think about what he is saying to us. when we think of the freedoms we enjoy today, let's remember always the words of thomas jefferson deeply ingrained in the marble of that magnificent jefferson memorial in

washington, d.c. hostility turn on against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. i do not know, i do not know how long this nation of personal freedoms will last. it all depends on you and our determination to protect them and our courage to defend them. all we do know is that no society, no nation has remained number one forever. the pharaohs of egypt created a society marvelous in its architecture and engineering feats. but that civilization was covered with the sands of the desert. greece saw one of the greatest periods of mankind's time on earth, but that golden age passed into oblivion. the roman legions concord the known world and brought civilization and order.

but the great roman empire faded into obscurity. the dark ages discended upon the world. and with the passing of the dark ages, the great colonial powers rose that ruled the world for 400 years. they discovered, colonized, educated, but the end of world war ii saw the end of the great colonial powers and the mantle of leadership fell for the first time on the united states. how long will we have it? only you and i can say. how long this civilization, this free society of america will exist, i do not know. i only hope that when the time comes to write of our labors in this great republic, historians will not say of us as the good of the ancient athenians they wanted comfort and security more than they wanted freedom and in the end they lost, their comfort, security and their

freedom. i hope that our records will be written, it will be deeply engraved in the minds of all that follow that up until the very end, we were still trying, we were reaching beyond our grasp, we were still daring to expand the horizons of human freedom and human opportunities, up to the very end we were seeking to broaden our system of social justice and enrich the lives of all people. up to the end, we resisted with every fiber of our being the oppressive hand of an all-powerful central and dominating government and we had an abiding faith in an almighty god and that there is more good than evil in man. thank you very much. [applause] >> ♪

>> john connally is the former governor of texas. a cabinet member for both johnson and nixon, he turned from democrat to republican in the nixon administration and is a favorite of many members of this convention for a vice presidential nomination. but he is almost equally strongly opposed by many members of the convention. he was acquitted of accepting a bribe to influence an increase in milk price supports and there was some talk that he is on the watergate tapes from the white house. but part of those have not been made public. but members of the house watergate committee that voted

for impeachment have said that republican members did not think he should be on a republican ticket for that reason. and he is quite a controversial figure for the party but admitted to be one of the strongest members in the public appeal and also in his negotiating capabilities. connallylly, john turning from democrat to republican is not the only member who has made that switch. andrew johnson did it, abraham lincoln's vice president. , thell willkie standardbearer of this party, in 1940 did it. strom thurmond from south carolina was once a democrat, as was mills godwin, the governor of virginia. and we can also name ronald reagan, who was once a democrat and is now a challenger for the

republican nomination himself. like johnothers lindsay who did it the other way around, republican to democrat. the late senator wayne morris was a republican, then independent, then democrat who won reelection under all those banners. now we are coming to the point after the official photograph which they are about to take of this convention proceeding of , the rules committee report, and then that test vote will come on so-called rule 16 c, a reagan forces effort to demand that president ford name his vice presidential running mate by 9:00 tomorrow morning. our chief delegate counter has done that job for us for a long time now and has been extremely accurate at it.

they are now taking an informal poll on the floor. willys it appears the vote be a straight ford/reagan vote. it will be a test vote in that sense. if it were a straight vote all the way through, it would indicate that ford would when it -- win it. it should be pointed out that for the presidential nomination, it takes a majority of all the delegates for a vote on the rules change that would take a majority of those voting. so that figure may not be 1130. we won't know what that majority figure is until we know how many actually vote. 11:30, it will have to be considered a victory.

the connolly supporters in the convention are continuing a demonstration for their man. some reports that john connolly had been told by president ford that he was no longer under consideration as a possible vice presidential running mate of president ford. connolly himself has denied he has been told that. but there seems to be some evidence that may have happened. that would be because of strong opposition in the party. he is also not viewed with as much favor in the northeastern section of the country. there is some talk that connolly was hoping to get ronald reagan to suggest to president ford that connolly would be the man to bring the party together

after the fight for the nomination and presidency. and maybe that will happen. the connolly demonstration was turned into a ford demonstration. >> ladies and gentlemen. would you please take your seats? or take anybody's seat, but please sit down. >> bob dole is the temporary

chairman of this convention. trying to get order. pounding the gavel. what's this is the most exciting part of our convention. if you will please take your seats. thank you very much. [pounding the gavel]

>> there seems to be no particular reason for this demonstration at the moment. ford and reagan people, maybe it is there last big effort before they get to the rules committee vote, but bob dole has had very little let eating their attention. he will try once more. >> ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen. thank you. thank you.

[pounding the gavel] senator dole: ladies and gentlemen, will the delegates please be seated? will the delegates and alternates please be seated?

will the delegates and alternates on the balcony please be seated? floor, please be seated. will the delegates and alternates on my right please be seated? gavel]ing the d senator dole: will the delegates and alternates please be seated? thank you very much. thank you very much. thank you very much.

your special attention is needed at this time. your special attention is needed at this time. will the delegates and alternates please be seated? guests in the balcony please have a seat? will our delegates and alternates on my left please be seated? ["god bless america"] ♪

>> the convention management resorts to music to finally bring a close to this demonstration. it seemed to have no particular takeoff point. and perhaps no place to go either. both the reagan and ford groups were shouting for their candidate. music has been used to try to calm and excited in the past. the first time we have seen it necessary at a convention in four or five conventions. senator dole: will the delegates and alternates please be seated? thank you very much.

first, let me thank our distinguished speaker, governor john connally. and i'm proud that he is now republican. i remember in 1972 when i was chairman of the republican party, the most exciting event was taking the official photograph. but i can see from this audience and from the enthusiasm here, that you may have other things in mind. in any event, the time has come to take the historical, official photograph of this 33rd republican convention. the official photographer is david ludwig of kansas city, missouri. if all the delegates and alternates will look toward the cbs anchor booth on my right.

from moving refrain or speaking, for 30 seconds, you may set a record and you may also receive a photograph. if we can do that for 30 seconds, we will have taken the official photograph. look toward the right toward the cbs anchor booth. >> we would like you to know that we are not taking the official photograph here, but the official photographer is right above us here. we are a convenient reference point. coverage will continue after this message. >> cbs news continues its special report "campaign 76." tonight, the third session of the republican national

convention from kansas city. this portion is sponsored by the people of ford motor company. on behalf of ford and lincoln mercury dealers, ford wants to be your car company. here again is walter cronkite. >> the rules committee chairman beginning to read the rules. right now, there's something going on in the mississippi delegation. mike wallace can tell us what is going on. >> convention politics mississippi style have taken over a new mississippi delegation. we told you earlier that they against -- 31-28 against. there was a headline in the birmingham paper today that that presidentng ford intends to bypass

[indiscernible] between now and the convention. that infuriated people in mississippi and alabama delegation. now, the reagan people want to go off the floor in the mississippi delegation. they want to go off the floor and hold the caucus and break the unit rules. they think they now have some adherence to their cause. there has been a fight going on. shall we or shall we not leave the floor to break the unit rule? doug is the leader of the four forces in the mississippi delegation. doug, can you explain just exactly what this fight is about? >> probably not. they are taking a vote now to see if the mississippi delegation wants to caucus. >> you don't want them to break the unit rule. >> that is not the question. this afternoon, we agreed on one thing. now we get here and we disagree.

caucus, theyn in brought up three times if anybody wanted to break the unit will. and the answer was no. now they want to break it. we asked for a caucus three times yesterday. and did not get it. now they want >> why do you want one. to break the unit rule? malcolm? >> we think this is a ballgame tonight. >> how do you mean? if we can have it adopted on the floor of the convention, this will force the hand of president ford. >> was it a headline in the birmingham paper and the fact that president ford is going to give short shrift to what put this in motion. >> i don't know if that is what started it. i have to tell you it did play a part in this. >> did you hear them saying that roger morton shot his mouth off

? and the president called him and said he had no intention of giving short shrift in the campaign? >> he said that? >> yes, he did. are you indeed off for going on a caucus? >> no. i am not. >> it is just the reagan people who will caucus? >> it appears that way. >> the already convinced will caucus together? >> maybe some other people will go with them. >> there is never a convention, democratic, or republican -- without a real donnybrook in the mississippi delegation. >> the rules committee chairman of ohio, the chairman of the republican ohio state committee is now making his little talk before presenting the rules. a talk about the fairness of the rules procedures of the

republican party as opposed to those of the democratic party, a somewhat partisan view. while he is doing that, dan rather has been covering the reagan floor leaders. he can report on perhaps what progress they are making on this rules fight. >> i just talked to two of the reagan floor leaders. they are still talking a good game. the sense here on the floor, whether the pennsylvania or michigan delegation is this it is slipping away. ,if they ever had it to try to make his vice presidential reference before the presidential vote. pennsylvania is probably as good of an example as any. right now, the delegation chairman figures -- not the delegation chairman. i stand corrected. he is the leader of the ford forces in this delegation. what you see is the portrait of

a politician at work. it is hot on the floor. it is extremely crowded. tension has developed between the reagan and ford people for the first time to my observation. they had a sign tearing down earlier. the point is this. >> we are friends, and we are unified. we will elect the nominee. >> so you hope. the point is this. in pennsylvania earlier this evening indications were perhaps , there would the 85 votes, for the ford position forcing , the president to name his vice presidential choice before he is nominated. our own poll is that as many as 89 votes in the delegation. overall, the floor is away from reaganites. and toward the ford forces. suddenly, the reagan forces have begun shifting and saying even

if we don't win out on that, we will do better on the platform. it strikes me that they may have a point, that may be easier for the reaganites. in your delegation, would that be the case? what in my opinion -- >> in my opinion, they were more accessible to intrusion on the rules vote than on the platform. mrs. reagan is coming into the hall. thank you. >> mrs. reagan i think, is , coming into the hall, setting off another demonstration. this came just as the chairman of the rules committee and ohio state committee was getting to the part of the rules concerning the vice presidential

nominations and 16 c. now we will have a break here , for this demonstration for nancy reagan. one gets the impression that the wives of the candidates for the presidential nomination are being moved like pawns -- or perhaps like queens -- in a chess game. nancy reagan's arrival tonight must have been timed by the reagan forces for maximum impact just before this vote. >> ♪ even last night, the arrival seemed timed to stem an overwhelming demonstration going on for nancy reagan.

>> ♪ >> tony orlando has chosen this fornt of the demonstration mrs. reagan to strike up a dance with mrs. ford. cbs news coverage of the republican national convention will continue in a moment. >> ♪

>> the timing of arrival of the famous persons at political conventions is not a new art, of course. it has gone on for time immemorial. in an attempt to influence delegates. there was only one occasion when a candidate for the nomination appeared in the hall before the vote. that was the declared candidate, that was back in 1956. he was in a tight nomination race with adlai stevenson and he appeared in the hall in the spectator seats with his father. he said the reason was that his father wanted to come to the convention hall and had to have somebody bring him.

of course, it did break precedent and set off quite a demonstration and criticism from the stephenson people, naturally. the reagan people are quite vociferous. when connolly finished his speech, they burst into a round of applause for john connally. in the middle of it, the reagan people took up the chairs. it was hard to tell if john connolly was getting the applause or if reagan was getting more support from his noisy supporters here. connolly thought it was the latter. he could not care for the fact they had overridden his tribute. that tribute divided here in the hall. there were a lot of people sitting on their hands. connolly is a very controversial figure in the party. dan rather is on the floor with the national republican chairman, rogers morton.

he is the ford chairman of course. >> rogers morton just came on the floor to visit with the delegation. i understand the mississippi delegation is considerably upset about a quote attributed to you. that you had urged the president [indiscernible] >> absolutely not. i said in the interview that we were not going to write off anything. some would be easier than others. i believe the president, when he is nominated, can claim georgia. >> so our viewers understand the the mississippi delegation is under the unit rules and will vote for ,resident for tonight on 16 c the position not to force him to name his choice before he himself receives the nomination.

now the mississippians are considerably upset about what they think you said. >> i am anxious that they not be upset because i think the south is republican country. obviously some states are easier than others. i believe strongly that wrote -- republicans can take all southern states. >> is this possible this will tip over the mississippi line? >> i hope not. i do not think it will. i think the mississippi delegation will hold fast. >> is it true you have been urging president ford go for a northerner for vice president? >> i have always been a connolly and baker fan. i don't see any reason to change. >> is a true you have been supporting dan evans? >> no, i have not. >> have you talked to anyone in mississippi about the situation? >> no, i have been talking to them on the telephone trying to assure them i absolutely believe

that the president can take all of the southern states. obviously, some are easier than others. i said in the interview i was not going to write off anything. it was the headline that was bad, not the article. >> what did the headline say? >> the headline had a question mark and said, will ford write off the south? i don't think they will write off anyone. >> what did they say to you? >> i have been trying to talk to them on the telephone. i have not gotten through. i think that john talked with them. i think two or three others have. i hope they read the whole story. i'm not writing off anything. i am a southerner myself. >> are you going over to mississippi right now? >> i had not planned to. >> can we walk over there with you? let's go get this straightened out.

mr. morton, right over here. rogers morton came on the floor many of the operatives have been doing. we will try to go over to the mississippi delegation to straighten out something. we might be better off if we can get over this way. it is going to take a few minutes to get over there. the floor is so crowded down here. if i'm any judge of rogers morton conversation, he is concerned about this situation and genuinely feels there has been a misunderstanding. anytime you talk about a delegation with 30 votes, as mississippi is under the rule now, you can understand why he would be concerned and want to get it straightened out.

>> you have a husky running back to help you. >> true. over this way. excuse me. try to get him over here. rogers morton knows a lot of people. he wants to stop and talk with one of the floor operatives. the men in the yellow hat are part of the ford operation. rogers morton is trying to talk to one of them now. apparently, to ask him what he has heard. he's getting the feeling that a little larger than he first figured on. >> he fell down and broke his ribs. >> i did not know that. when i get home, i will call him. >> right this way to

mississippi. >> i understand. morton has the better about going over to mississippi and said he thought he better talk to them privately. he is going over to discuss the matter with the floor whips. both of them are in close contact with senator griffin, the man in control on the floor. for president ford. he said he wanted to talk to them privately. he does not seem to be in any great hurry to get over there to speak to them about it walter. , i think the best thing for us wallace tod on mike perhaps catch up with rogers morton went he gets over the.

he stopped to talk to a reagan operative now. i am sorry. the man in the red hat is another of senator griffin's floor operatives for president ford. .t will take a while at least another 45 minutes to get over to the mississippi delegation. >> ok. we will be keeping an eye on you and listening to you. we will pick you up when you have something there. meanwhile, on the convention floor, the chairman of the rules committee is just about to finish his formal report before getting to rule 16 c. cbs news coverage of the republican national convention will continue in a moment. >> the clerk is now reading the amendment for rule 16 which will get down to section c in just a moment. let's listen.

>> in making the nomination for president and vice president and voting thereon, in no case shall the call of the role be dispensed with. the total time of the nominating speech for any candidate for president or vice president shall not exceed 15 minutes. amendment offered by delegate thomas curtis adds a new section. [applause]

[pounding the gavel] >> it was an unruly convention tonight and they have not even gotten to the rule that makes them unruly. >> will you please be seated? will the delegates and alternates please be seated? [pounding the gavel]

>> ladies and gentlemen, this is the most important business that may affect the outcome of what happens here if anything. i will ask mr. bartlett to proceed with the reading of the amendment. in fact, i will ask him to reread the amendment. >> amendment offered by delegate thomas curtis of missouri. section c,on to read all persons seeking to be nominated for president under shall announce to the convention and file with the secretary a declaration stating who he or she will recommend to the convention as the vice presidential nominee.

[cheering] >> this declaration shall be filed with the secretary of the convention by 9:00 on the day a.m. for which the nomination for president is held. this declaration shall state the person's name and that he or she has agreed to accept the nomination. no delegate or alternate shall be bound by any commitment of any kind, public or private, to support any presidential candidate who does not file such a declaration. [applause] >> the clerk reading that resolution is mr. bartlett the , minority clerk. >> i will only ask that you

listen to me for 30 seconds. i about to read the agreement between the ford and reagan forces as to how we might dispose of this matter. i think it is very important that all the delegates and alternates who may be asked to participate have a right to be heard. i would ask the media to conclude their interviews in the aisles and permit those here to conduct business. i would ask on the aisles be cleared and alert the sergeant at arms that the aisles will be cleared. i would ask the media to please retired to the rear of the room and conductor interviews in that area. there are many delegates who cannot even participate because you are there. [applause] >> will the sergeant at arms

please cooperate, or will the media please cooperate? will all those in the aisle please move to the rear of the arena? all those in the aisle to my right, all those in the ultimate left, we want to get on with this very important business. the delegates have a right to be presenting for and against the amendment have a right to be heard. i ask those on my immediate left to please clear the aisle. >> let's go to of the sergeant at arms. the sergeant at arms being an appointed post to the convention. he has his agents on the floor who are hired guards and ushers. they are now moving out into the aisles trying to carry out the

edict of temporary chairman bob dole that the aisles be cleared. certainly media representatives are out in the aisles, so are an awful lot of delegates. the immediate people seem to be moving voluntarily. the delegates, not so quickly. >> the aisles will be cleared. i thank those who are cooperating for cooperating. those who are not, i know they will be cooperating. will the sergeant at arms please clear the aisles? >> if bob dole succeeds in clearing these aisles, it will be the first time that i've ever been to a political convention where the aisles have been cleared. that precedes the days of television.

>> can all of the delegates see what is happening or hear what is happening? ladies and gentlemen, i will now read the agreement. the chair wishes to advise the delegates of the procedure which will follow. report on rules and order of business. i would ask the guests to please withhold any audible conversation. the delegates are entitled to hear the debate. the delegates have a very important decision to make. the delegates want to make it objectively. those who may be in the hall standing, seated, or otherwise, please bear with us for a while. the chair should first state that those who have offered the

amendment have mutually agreed to this procedure. debate will limited to 30 minutes which will be equally divided. they may eat use their time as they see fit. they may use it all themselves or yield time to other speakers. when all the time is elapsed, the question before the convention will be the adoption of the amendment on the rules and order of business. if there is no objective to the --objection to the seizures outlined, we shall proceed. the chair now recognizes delegate tom curtis to open debate. tom? [applause] >> tom curtis, former congressman from missouri, speaking for the reagan amendment. >> ladies and gentlemen, this evening we have the opportunity to improve and strengthen our party's procedures for the

selection of a vice presidential nominee. even more important, we have the opportunity to demonstrate to millions of our fellow citizens who are watching that we republicans are wise enough to learn from recent painful experience. this evening, our party should make a binding moral commitment to the principles of openness , full disclosure, and complete trust in the american people. you, my fellow delegates, are the representatives of the people at this convention. they are watching and waiting for you to decide between secrecy and candor, between politics as usual and our acceptance of new responsibility in the national interest.

before explaining why i believe the proposed change in rule is 16 necessary, i wish to offer my credentials as a veteran reformer of parliamentary and campaign procedures. during my 18 years as a congressman from missouri, i served as ranking republican to committeehouse senate to reorganize and modernize the rules of the congress a job, i , might add, that still needs to be done. in 1964, i served our national convention as acting parliamentarian, until last may 21st, i was chairman of the federal election commission. in protest to the successful attempt of the democratic

infamousled by the now wayne haze to destroy the independence, i asked the president to not reappoint me. finally, i am the fellow who ran against tom eagleton in the senate in 1968. we recall how his hasty selection for the 1972 democratic ticket led to a fiasco. as usual, since the episode the , democrats have talked about reform, but have not done stage a except political beauty parade through georgia, an empty crusade for the news media. since 1972, our own party's rule

29 committee, recognizing the need for reform in this important area, has urged that improvement be proposed. our proposal is responsive to this unmet need. it is a serious and constructive proposal made at a time when our party has compelling reasons to bear public witness to the desire for reform. our proposed change unites political science theory with practical political reality. satisfies the needs of theory by recognizing the importance of office of the vice presidency has acquired in recent years. it reclaims tragic procedures, including the use of the office ascond-highest bait for convention delegates.

it eliminates the frantic post-midnight scramble of the delegates to find out something about the man secretly chosen. most important, it ends the denial of the convention delegates right to know. many of them who failed in their responsibility to choose a ticket that would win the election and govern the nation according to a strategy and philosophy known in advance. now, let's consider some of the practical effects. under our proposal, the convention keeps its power. a majority of the delegates can reject any vice presidential choice, but the big change is the power of the convention is now real. under our proposal, the presidential candidate retains his traditional freedom to

choose a compatible running mate. he is not restricted in any way in his method of selection. he can choose his team as he pleases. but the big change is he must tell us in advance who is on the team before expecting us to join him. our proposal requires that the presidential candidate trust the delegates and take them into his confidence before they cast a their votes. the proposed change adds only one day, 24 hours, to the decision-making process. but it also adds real meaning. i believe sharing of the decision-making responsibility is fair because delegates and all americans are bound to share the long-term consequences of the candidate's decision.

we have a right to be consulted for a day when the effects of our decision be felt for years may to come. there is always a temptation to make reforms effective at some later date. i say we recognize the problem . we have for years. we have seen and felt its effects. now, it is time for us to act responsibly and constructively. now is the time for all of us to join in picking the best team and follow it to victory in november. mr. chairman, i reserve the balance of my time. >> mr. chairman, i yield two minutes of my time to the

delegate from wisconsin. >> she will be speaking against the amendment for the ford position. >> fellow delegates, i am from wisconsin. i have read this amendment. and i understand it. therefore, i emphatically oppose it. [applause] >> the reason -- the reasons for this last-minute amendment is political opportunism. [cheering]

>> now, i believe it is time to really tell it like it is. this amendment is for one time, one place, and one candidate. and not for prosperity. [applause] furthermore, none of you -- not one has participated in the choice for the vice president -- vice presidential candidate who is designated by governor reagan. i believe that we must speak honestly about this issue. the only reason for this proposal is to minimize or offset the political mistake of naming the senator as their vice presidential nominee.

ladies and gentlemen -- [applause] >> as paul harley, chairman of governor reagan's home state, so aptly put it -- >> the chairman of the reagan party is not a reagan delegate. >> as he put it, the reason for this proposal is misery loves company. thank you. what's more speeches to come when cbs coverage resumes after this message. >> ♪

>> she got a good laugh from the isvention when she said reminded of the bridegroom who is about to be buried on -- married on wednesday night, but wednesday morning has not decided which girl to take for his bride. >> and we do not know who is invited to the wedding. it is of prime importance for our republican party that we know in advance who will head our team at the top. we hope we will have your support for 16 c for the good of the republican party. thank you very much. >> the mississippi delegation, widely split and deeply divided on the reagan and ford issue and the issue of 16 c .

they had earlier decided to vote as a block against 16 c. it is now caucusing off the floor of the convention in one the trailers behind the convention hall. we certainly have not seen this kind of spirit at a national political convention since probably the 1964 convention when this party was deeply divided between the goldwater forces and the more moderate , liberal forces of the party. let me remind you i know it is a very enthusiastic audience. for that, we are grateful as republicans. but this is an agreement entered

into by both parties. those on each side have a right to be heard. those supporting and those against the amendment. i trust you will keep that in mind. everyone walking to the podium is nervous to start with. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i yield two additional minutes to the lady from hawaii. i would appreciate it if you would give her your attention. >> mr. chairman, fellow delegates, i am the delegate from hawaii. [applause] in 1972. i served on the national convention rules subcommittee, assigned to a consideration of vice presidential's election reform.

-- selection reform. for the past two years, i have served on the role committee and committee before during my tenure, we have fully discussed all of the vice presidential selection process proposals. many different proposals were presented. some had merit, others did not. delegates, fellow none of the proposals were presented without careful and adequate deliberation, study, and debate. and there have been no proposals partisan,your league political purpose.

this amendment, presented by the reagan committee last week, is nothing more than a last-minute political maneuver. i would liketes, to tell you that this proposal has been rejected not only wants, but twice. it's been rejected by the rules committee of the republican national committee and the rules

committee of this convention. and it was rejected by resounding margin. this is tampering with the institution of the vice presidency. if we are to be the first of the two major national republican parties to adopt reform, it must be after thoughtful consideration, nonpolitical mimicry. this proposal has had little 16c is designed to

benefit only one candidate. it is not a constructive vice presidential selection process, and for this reason, it should be voted down. >> that was vice chairman of the rules committee. the did turn down proposition, and that's why it's come before the board as an amendment. >> mr. chairman, i yield an additional two minutes of my time to the distinguished gentleman from arkansas. >> mr. chairman, fellow delegates.

i came from texarkana, arkansas, to join you at this convention to do two things. to nominate the next president and nominate the next vice president of the united states. and i tell you, i think we got the two best candidates running in america today. and for this reason, i am opposed to rule 16c. my reason is basic and it is simple. itdisenfranchises me and disenfranchises you. many of you know because i have

.poke with you >> there is something going on in the new york delegation, we are trying to find out. we saw chairman rosenbaum of the , the baldelegation headed gentleman there, seem to be chasing some large man off the floor and now someone is being escorted off the floor by a guard. we will find out in a moment what that was about. it looks like quite a ruckus down at the new york delegation for a moment. has beenork delegation having its troubles all day. they are complaining about the

cavalier treatment by the dominant forces. fuss thatd so much just invitedbaum young jack ford to leave, said it was the only way to get order back in new york caucus. our reporters as you know were asked to leave the floor. that's surely one of the difficulties of not having access to the floor. the guards are trying now to keep the press from going down the aisle to the new york delegation. we will get an answer on this story in a few moments. bob dole trying to get order again. >> will the delegates please take their seat.

>> there are two problems here. number one, someone with a utah credential came by and tripped the phone out of the socket, a phone belonging to the chairman. we have another problem, the guards here will not remit us newspeople on the floor. and we're really being shoved around. they claim that senator dole has ordered them to clear the isles. can you explain what the problem is now? why aren't the newspeople being allowed on the floor? whate walk down and see richard rosenbaum himself has to say. excuse me.

they demanded that the authorities arrest that man from utah but he was escorted from the floor. >> i can't understand you. >> we will be apple to talk with him in just a moment. tell us what happened now. is some guy came over and tore up my phone. he also damaged my other phone. man. a reagan >> what did he say to you? >> he is the vice chairman of one of those delegations. x and then what happened? >> something to do with the sign, i don't know. the phone is torn out. look at it. >> which phone is that? >> my wife toward phone.

that goes next to the trailer. not only that but my other phone is damaged, too. >> that is the story from the new york delegation. the phone ripped out, a brief scuffle, and a lot of pushing and shoving right now. certainly when the isles are cleared of delegates that jammed the isles as well as media, it makes for orderly procedure out when there is news. and when there is news, unfortunately the media cannot get to it. bob dole is waiting for the matter to be cleared up before

he really works on getting order again and get back to the debate on rule 16c. if anyone has tuned in so late that they don't know what is 16c, we will take these moments of confusion to recount the situation for you. this in effect is it. the vote on the rule that has been proposed by the reagan forces. -- presidential nominees the hallace is outside that the pacific delegation has been caucusing on. >> they are just having a friendly meeting, they say.

office.our we office inside their. they have been in there for 10 or 15 minutes. they are basically the reek -- reagan people in the mississippi delegation. as you know, earlier today they go with president ford and not with ronald reagan , and then they decided to go with her junior rule, which is 30-0 to go with ford and not reagan on 16c. then that story about rogers morton saying the president was not going to pay attention to the cut itself, upset a good many of the reagan people inside that mississippi delegation. they decided they wanted to caucus, but the ford people in the mississippi delegation refused to leave the

floor. they didn't want to caucus. so for the last 15 or 20 minutes they have been inside. ill moyer sign, they don't know that, and roger mudd's son. so we will find out from the mississippi delegation when they get out what happened, and then of course we will get the from moyers and mudd. somebody made a deal. desk,ested my office, my that i would be an impartial observer. they didn't buy it, but they didn't recognize moyers and mudd were inside. >> the discussion is still going on down here on the floor on what happened in the mississippi delegation. nose and rockefeller has been holding up the phone that they claim was torn out.

is mudd. matthew, what happened in their? >> they try to take a vote of the people that were in there but not everyone was in there. think are still on the floor. >> 21 people in their and they said they could not vote unless they had the entire delegation. >> they said they missed most of the delegation. had 28 before and they are shooting to get 31 now. , if you will come on down here, we will now find out what kind of reporters we have. >> what would you like to know?

>> i would like to know what happened inside around my desk. isit appears the vote on 16c extremely close. >> you mean in mississippi, or all across the country? the country, and in mississippi. there are a few more votes pass, in order for 16c to to win. right now, the mississippi delegation is going to be polled individually on whether or not to come out from under the unit rule on this particular issue. if we come out from under the unit rule on this particular issue, only the delegates will vote. and the delegates will be polled individually to determine who is for and who is against it.

>> coming out from under the unit rule. >> know, if we come out from under the unit rule, then the delegates will be polled. >> i understand. have the ford people in your delegation agreed to this procedure? >> some of the ford people have refused to come to this meeting. not all of them, but some of them. we are going to poll them individually and they will participate in the poll. >> you think about is that close across the country that perhaps he vote in mississippi could make that much difference? >> this is what we have been told. >> malcolm mayberry told me that if you lose here, you have lost. >> that is not correct, because the vote on 16c cut both ways. there were some people in the ford camp and some in the reagan camp who voted one way or the other.

a clear-cut ford-reagan decision in the mississippi delegation. >> you found it friendly? friendly andt very we thank cbs for the use of it. >> a majority of about 50 votes , which is still being debated out here. 50 votes for the ford position without even counting mississippi either way. happened?r, what part of the phone is down there on the floor. can you show the viewers what happened to it? can i borrow this for a second? governor, could you stand up for a moment? the phone people here connecting it. you have a disconnected phone.

the telephone people with the greatest efficiency and most tremendous speed. i have to give it back to them so they can put it in. >> a good plug for the phone company. brust, could you just tell mr. viceappened -- president, could you just tell us what happened? >> they came by and just told the rosenbaum that if he didn't get that sign back, he was going to rip out the phone. it was a reagan signed. as i went by and i just tuckett, i thought he was handing it to me. -- i just took it. >> he came to get that reagan signed from you.

>> its something new everyday. i'm trying to get out, but i can't get out. next the vice president wants to get out of here, and he can't unless we get out of here. a rather agile 68, i think it is. walter, back to you. >> republican national convention coverage by cbs will resume after this message.

>> lynne loeb arkansas, state party chairman, a four delegate, 16c and uset rule the argument that it could -- perhaps some ford people would like to see that particular ticket. he's just made the argument that the delegates have a right to know who the vice presidential nominee will be on a ford ticket . he says they're being promised connelly in the south and other delegates being told that eastern delegates are being told it could be elliott richardson

or you and ambassador scranton. let's go back to the floor of the convention. >> thank you, mr. chairman, fellow delegates. as i started to work on the rules committee, i found myself in ottoman minority because i am an uncommitted delegate. >> this is a south carolina reagan delegate. 16cy first impressions of were my own, and i want to share with you my first impression. i found rule that i thought was a bit unfair, and i want to tell you why. i realize that politics is not again, but the principles are the same. for example, let's take the simple game of checkers. probably many of you in this arena have played checkers before.

when we played checkers in south carolina, we know that we can play one of two ways. we can either play that you have to take your job, or we can play that you don't have to take your ump. but the one thing we do is we decide how we are going to play before we start again. i will admit, sometimes we decide that we have to take the jump and we get to a place in the game where we decide not to take the jump, but we do abide by the rules because we made the rules before restarted the game. now, it's the same way in politics. we need to decide what we are going to do before we start the game. i'm very much for reform in the way that we choose our vice presidential nominee. very much for it.

for it for 1980, not right now at the middle of the game. and not at this late date near the end of the game. luckily, i have one in those political elections in which i have right, and i want to ask know what i would've done it someone had changed the rules in those elections in which i was involved. i don't know if i would've won the office that i saw had someone change the rules near the end of the game. i want to ask those of you in the arena who have run for office, whether it be governor, mayor, school board, public service commission or anything else, what would that have done to you if someone had pulled the rug out from under your feet and changed the procedures in the end of the game?

i don't think you would have liked it either. in closing, i want to share with you two lines of a little poll i'm that is a favorite of mine. those two lines go like this. myself andive with be fit for myself to know. i ask you to think about the fact that you have to live with yourself. continue to to know that you vote to change the rules at the end of the game? >> she is a reagan delegate. just barely turn 21 years old.

>> mr. chairman and fellow delegates, the role of the vice president and are central -- the old politics stall selection by few power brokers in a back room. the vice president is a major participant in our government and a partner in the administration. he is a perspective future and each of our last three presidents were first vice president. because people recognize the importance of the office, they are given greater scrutiny to our choice for the second spot. and they are demanding that the two parties find a better way to

elect our vice presidential candidates. the democrats didn't provide it. we can't. section 16 c gives the delegates the right to know. the right to know the alternative before they make their choice. year where wethis are seeking to nominate the strongest possible candidate, the identity of the second name on the ticket will help us assure that our nominees have been fully considered by this convention and will carry our party forward to victory. we have heard much rhetoric concern ort legal answers to the basic question

why should the candidates not take the delegates into their confidence? why should the decision to be announced on thursday not be announced on wednesday? why? cyresiden the vice continue to be a discussion in the back room? it has been argued that the right to know amendment would preclude we the delegates for making our own choice. nothing could be further from the truth. our rules provide that a majority of the delegates will choose the nominee. do isction 16c will provide that the candidates vice besidential preferences will

proposed. it has been said that one candidate has made a mistake. perhaps that is so, but what i want to know is whether the other candidate is going to make does, i want if he to know that when i can still do something about it. this rules change assures that it will be conducted so that we have all the necessary facts. it is a major republican reform, an idea whose time has come, and urges or. thank you. -- i urge your support.

walter: there are two summary arguments now against the rule. former congressman tom curtis is for the rule. 16c whichhe vote on could tilt this republican national convention either ronaldrobert reagan -- reagan or gerald ford as this .ear's candidate >> on bob griffin of michigan and i'm not running for anything this year. despite our differences, which are being emphasized with such great enthusiasm here this evening, i have been impressed, whoi think most americans have watched the proceedings have been impressed with an underlying spirit of goodwill that does prevail at our conventions.

we believe very strongly in our points of view and i think that is good american is amended republicanism to be dedicated to our points of view. but we also agree, i found it to be true, on one basic point. that is regardless of our personal choice for president, we all know and we really must unite our party when this convention is over in order to go on to victory in november. frankly, in addition to the rejecteasons, given to section 16c, i see it as a basic divisional, divisive proposal.

to adopt rule 16c would drive a wedge of division in our party and impede and make more the unity that we know we must achieve. if he is nominated, and of iurse i think he will be, don't know whether president ford will ask governor reagan to be his running mate or not. but i do know this. i want president ford at least to have that opportunity.

i believe governor reagan when he says he is not interested in running for vice president. i know he means it. and i'm sure he will continue to feel that same way tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m., the deadline provided in this amendment. but i also know and believe that governor reagan should be in a position and be able to change his mind on thursday morning, if it should be in the interest of the party and the nation. i see no merit in a proposal that would have the effect of locking senator schweiker in an locking governor reagan out.

i can also say with some authority that president ford if would like at least to consult with governor reagan and will do so about the selection of vice president before making his final decision. such consultation on such an important decision between the heads of the two great roots of our party would not only be riding appropriate but it would be invaluable in most important in achieving the unity we must achieve. i say would be full hearty to cast away such an opportunity to achieve unity.

in a real and important sense, a 10 i would be a vote against unity. we must have unity, so vote for 16c. unity and vote no on >> senator griffin made a point with some of the more conservative reagan supporters have also been mating -- been making, that 16c would not only prevent the nomination of ronald block but it would senator schweiker as a vice presidential nominee. many of these southern conservatives have wanted to block swiger from the ticket and they wouldn't be a to do that. now here's former crossman tom

curtis, one of the sponsors of the amendment. >> also there good judgment on what is best for our party and our country. speech.s the final we are ready for the voting here . >> the time has come to vote on the amendment. i recognize the delegate from idaho. chairman, pursuant to rule 15, the great state of idaho, and the majority of our delegates demand the roll call, by thearded in my motion great in sovereign state of new mexico, texas, oklahoma, callow

ornette, alabama, and arizona. >> under the rules, a majority of delegations are required to get a roll call vote. cooperationate the of the media. we have advise him that they can now in an orderly fashion slowly return. the chair will recognize the delegate from new mexico. >> mr. chairman, the state of of mexico stance in support the chair of the state of idaho. >> the chair recognizes the delegate from texas. , the texasrman , aegation requests of poll

roll call. >> mr. chairman, in the great american tradition, california --udly votes >> hold it. >> he got a little ahead of himself there. it takes five states to do that and that is what they are going to now. concur and we call for the roll call.

>> they were polled in their individual states and voted by state. >> arizona. >> mr. chairman, the great state 16c andna supports demands a roll call. >> the rules having been complied with, the roll call is ordered. if you listen very carefully i will explain how we will proceed on the rule call. the vote will proceed in this fashion. would like to accommodate those in the aisle if they will be quiet. will the delegates please take their see? we are about to vote on a very important matter.

will the sergeant at arms then out the aisle on my right? for those being interviewed -- walter: we have determined that neededs 1140 boats, 1130 to nominate. we will be able to identify vini have shifted over to the reagan position on 16c. clerk, jill reading bartlett, will tally the boat and it will be recorded. the chair will then resolve any discrepancies in the vote of that delegation before the secretary proceeds to the next delegation.

the secretary will now call the role. and may we please have order? >> you can imagine what it's like in ford and reagan campaign headquarters. >> alabama. >> madam chairman, the great state of alabama boats 37 votes yes. reaganotes for the position. >> if i may interrupt the roll

call, let me again request the sergeant at arms to clear the the new the right to york area. arm'she sergeant at proceed to clear the aisle. explain a yes vote means support of the amendment, a no vote means support of the committee opposition to the amendment. again with the sergeant at arms clear the aisle on my right, particularly in the new york area where it has been packed all evening. will the delegates please give the secretary their attention. gentlemen, matt please have your attention while i call the role of state? votes., 37

>> madam chairman, alabama cast 37 votes yes. >> so the alabama delegation stands firm for reagan. >> alaska. 18 votes. votes, i'm sorry. >> madam chairman, the great state of alaska votes to votes yes, 17 no. the position alaska is expected to take. >> arizona, 25 votes. votes grand canyon state 16 in favor of 16c.

that is in error, 25 aye. >> arizona, 25 aye, 4 no. x arkansas, 27 votes. yes, 10sas accounts 17 no. >> arkansas , 17aye, 10 no. x california. >> the arkansas vote was as expected. >> 167 votes.

>> california proudly votes 166 yes, 1 no. >> ford has now picked up a total of three votes. >> mr. chairman, colorado cast 26 votes yes, five votes no. >> connecticut cast 35 votes no. >> the position as expected for connecticut.

>> connecticut, 35 votes no. >> delaware. 17 votes. votes one vote yes, 16 votes no. >> one vote we had listed uncommitted goes to the ford side. game fors his net votes so far. columbia hasct of 14 votes no. >> as expected. >> florida, 66 votes. passeschairman, florida

at this time. we have not finished counting. >> florida is a divided delegation. >> georgia, 48 votes. >> madam chairman, the state of georgia cast 38 votes for, seven against, and three abstentions. >> georgia had 48 votes for reagan. >> the indication there is that the georgia delegation is ,eavily for reagan longe beautiful island of cast for votes no.

>> madam chairman, hawaii, the paradise of the pacific votes one yes, 18, no. >> idaho, 21 votes. idaho cast 17 votes yes, for votes no. >> in hawaii, ford picked up three votes their. >> illinois casts 20 yes, 79 no. and to abstaining.

>> illinois, 40 yes, 79 no, to not voting. >> illinois, that's a loss of one vote for ford. indiana cast 27 votes in favor of the amendment, 27 votes against the amendment. >> so indiana, actually reagan picks of quite a few votes there over what has been anticipated. indiana has nine votes pledged to fort. 45 pledged to reagan, although

evensplit the state almost . >> mr. chairman, our vote is 20 to vote yes, 79 no, and to abstaining. >> so now, through indiana, what we show in our vote tonight on vote, the ford position picked up eight votes and reagan explodes. >> one uncommitted vote in iowa has now gone to reagan. kansasvereign state of cast for votes i, 40 boats no. vote in themitted

kansas delegation has thus gone to the reagan is efficient. , 37 votes. chairman, the bluegrass state casts 26 votes yes, 10 no, one abstention. >> kentucky, 26 yes, 10 no. >> louisiana, 41 votes. >> madam chairman, louisiana votes no,tes yes, six one abstention. >> so one of the expected votes

from louisiana has gone over to the competitor. casts fivee of maine ye, 15 votes no. >> as expected there. , ford cumulative total picked up nine votes and reagan seven. x madam secretary, the great free state of maryland casts eight voteaye, 35 votes no. >> so ford lost one vote on that and reagan except to. two.agan picked up >> the commonwealth of massachusetts casts 15 votes yes, 28 votes no.

way this boat is going now, so far down through massachusetts, is that neither side has gained any particular advantage of the voting. ,> michigan cast 29 votes yes 55 votes no. >> this vote is following almost precisely our cbs news delegate poll which remains that president ford will win this test vote. also indicate that he will win the nomination perhaps tomorrow night. >> madam chairman, minnesota abstention, 35 no. votesd picked up three there. because of ane abstention.

mississippi, 30 votes. >> there is that difficult state of mississippi. bound by the unit rule. mississippi passed. they've been fighting all evening over with true impose the unit rule. delegation almost evenly's split -- almost evenly's split between ford and reagan. , 18 know, onee abstention. extent -- one abstention is lost from the reagan forces.

>> montana, 20 votes. >> madame secretary, montana, the big sky country, cast 20 aye.s >> that was as expected. that is a solid reagan state. the reagan forces have picked up eight votes. >> nebraska, 25 vote. >> nebraska votes 18 yes, seven no. >> that is as expected. >> these delegates -- this means afford victory on this vote. >> the reagan forces picked up to on that boat.

>> new hampshire, 21 votes. >> mr. chairman, the grannis state -- granite state cast three votes aye, 18 votes no. >> new jersey, 67 votes. >> i asked that the microphone be left on after the call. chairman, university -- new jersey cast for votes yes, 62 votes no and one abstaining.

>> i respectfully request that the new jersey delegation be polled. >> it would give him a total now 13 more votes than expected. ford is winning this vote. >> one member has asked for a poll of the delegation, the 57 members in the new jersey delegation be called by name. there's a little trouble in the difference between the computer

and my own figures here. president ford has picked up 13 votes and reagan picked up nine. 10 in the show 11 and picked up votes. >> delegate millicent fenwick. >> the democrats do not poll.

>> the democrats have now pulled the delegation off the floor as the call of the states goes on. have not hadowever to face this problem perhaps since 1952. the entire convention comes to a standstill while a single state is polled. if it is felt by any member of the delegation that some of the delegates are not living up to homeledges they made at

and are voting contrary to those pledges, this is a means of exposing them to the people back home. it will be reported back there to the newspapers and the party already faithful, this is a means of checking that out. there has been accusation made in the past when this became a popular procedure back in 1953, that people were doing this just to get their names and faces on television, and there might've been something to it. it show that there were political reasons but the people eventually got tired of that procedure and so they were not

poll publicly anymore. >> and flynn votes no. so in this poll of the new jersey delegation, each of the members of the delegation's names are being called and they -- being asked to ricard record their vote on the matter of rule 16c. so ports going exactly as our cbs poll indicated. this is a little bit confusing as we just -- what were trying to do as we go along state-by-state, we will have a

, as to howlegate .hey stand for ford or reagan as of tonight president ford has votes for the nomination, that is 11 more than needed for the nomination. we are taking that poll and balancing it against the vote state-by-state and it turns out that our poll of the delegates precisely byd more the delegates as they vote for or against rule 16c. president ford forces are winning this fight for 16c. in other words, the majority we expected to come out of the delegation are being followed

almost precisely tonight on thec 16 voting. the vote here was considered to be a tough vote for the presidential nomination to bar night. forthat crisis has come ronald reagan. jersey poll is .ontinuing i think they're coming near the end of the new jersey poll. >> dan rather reported from the floor not too long ago that he

felt there were indications that the reagan forces thought they were going to lose the vote. some of the leaders were beginning to shift their emphasis on this matter and the platform will be coming up later tonight. however, they tried to shift the emphasis of little late because of until the early evening they were saying this was a crucial test vote. they are now calling on all the -- all those to vote who seem to be absent. will be held to conclude the new jersey pool -- new jersey poll in just a moment. what happened is apparently -- the pollng to showed 60 favoring fort, for favoring reagan, and three uncommitted, but when they got

to the boat tonight, 62 voted for ford and four voted for reagan. so two of them have gone over to ford. flushntly they tried to out those two and get their names out in front of their hometown folks or whatever the arcane reasons were in that particular area of new jersey from which the delegates cane. bruce morton has been following this from the podium. >> i don't know that it is different down here from what it is up there but it is warmer here. they are talking to the temporary chairman, senator bob dole a while ago about getting our reporters back on the floor. that this it very might be the big test vote and after this, everybody would

.elax a little bit this would be the only roll call vote of the night. there is no way to know that but it is a possibility. , the role goal -- roll call is going pretty smoothly. random telephone was allegedlyat but this seems to be going along pretty smoothly. >> it might just be that bob dole is right, others have been speculating on the test votes for reagan. suspected he was not exploring every avenue because he didn't have the vote and was in effect giving up, and that

might be what bob dole is saying if that's the way the vote goes down against reagan. teddy white, author of the making of the president, was and heome work for us just called to correct a report of mine. if theredidn't recall was a poll of the republican convention since 1952 or something. he reminded me of the 1968 convention. i had little trouble getting that one out of my mental cardfile. dan rather is with the north carolina reagan leader right now. >> this is a reagan organizer.

as of the moment it appears that ford is in a very good position to win the vote and to win it by a margin much greater than even they were talking about. you are a man for reputation with straight talk. in real terms, what does this mean for ronald reagan's chances as the? nomination >> they certainly put andtheir muscle behind it if they lost by a substantial it's 50 or 100 or 150, it's not for me to say, but certainly they put all their eggs in this basket. >> is it fair to say that what they are doing is going for the inside straight? >> i would rather you take the , mr. rather, because i

had nothing to do with this decision of putting the x in the basket. i thought it should be on a principle rather than on a rule like this. >> do you think you can win the platform? >> i certainly do. >> the you have a better chance on the platform? >> absolutely. all we, we have seen reagan principles put into the platform and the four people come faxing -- the ford people collapsing under the issues. they might just say the morality platform, how can we be against it? >> has a deal been cut? >> if it has, i do not know nothing about it. i would not be surprised. i hope they do vote with us

because it is what the republican party stands for. i hope we go out of here with principal rather than was just procedures. >> mike wallace reports on that mississippi delegation. i don't know how they are going to vote yet. they have decided to cast their 30 votes one way or another. for the ford position. a new jersey vote, the poll of delegation has been completed and will be going on with the rollcall next to new mexico that is almost evenly divided. it is exactly evenly divided according to our "cbs" news poll. new mexico delegates favor ford. 21 favor governor reagan. we will see how they vote on rule 16c.

it would require president ford to name his vice presidential nominee tomorrow morning. excuse me. i was confused a moment ago. the new mexico voting all for reagan, 21 votes. i am reading my charts. that is where i got it. if i cannot talk and read, maybe i should get out of the business. 21 votes for new mexico. all of the delegates and new mexico are for reagan. roger? roger: this is bob michael. if i can interrupt you for one minute as you turn off your headquarters microphone. mr. michael, can we do some

television were? is this all over now for reagan? mr. michael: we are running right on target. i am very pleased with account. the state of florida will be what our original count would be. on mississippi, depending on what they want to do if they want to give us those 45. >> you don't think you need mississippi? >> the way we are going now, we probably won't need it. it would be nice to talk in those terms. it is a significant victory for our side. there is still some people who vote differently. >> all right.

ok. >> they are talking about the new jersey vote now. nay. votes aye, 1 vote >> new york, 154 votes. >> madam, secretary -- new york, the great empire state, casts 20 votes yes, 134 votes no. [applause] >> there were six uncommitted votes in the new york delegation.

the way that vote comes up, only one of them went to the ford position. his margin is increasing. >> madam, chairman -- north carolina, the home state of italy graham and senator jesse helms -- [laughter] >> casts 51 votes for >> north carolina, 51 yes, three no. >> half of them in for tomorrow. >> six votes yes, 12 votes no. >> north dakota, six yes, 12 no. >> reagan picked up one. >> ohio, 97 votes. >> madam, secretary -- ohio vote

seven votes yes, 90 votes no. >> ohio, seven yes, 90 no. >> oklahoma, 36 votes. >> madam secretary, oklahoma probably cast 36 votes yes. [applause] >> that was as expected. that is a solid reagan state. so north carolina, reagan picked up 25 votes almost. >> madam secretary, oregon has 14 votes yes, 16 votes no. >> oregon, 14 yes, 16 no. >> this is remarkably close to our "cbs" delegate poll. >> madam, chairman -- the

keystone state says 14 votes yes, 89 votes no. >> so it is six uncommitted votes in pennsylvania. reagan has picked up one. ford is five. >> 89, no. >> puerto rico, eight votes. >> madam chairman, puerto rico, we vote eight votes no. >> that was as expected there. almost invariably in the states

where there were uncommitted votes, the majority has gone for the ford position tonight. rhode island, 19 votes no. >> south carolina, 13 states -- 13 votes. >> madam chairman, the state of south carolina cast 25 votes yes, 11 votes no. >> the one a committed delegate there in south carolina went to the ford position on wool 16c. >> south dakota, 20 votes. >> madam secretary, south dakota probably cast 11 votes yes and nine votes no. >> as our poll indicated, south dakota would split.

>> tennessee, 43 votes. >> madam, secretary -- the great volunteer state of tennessee casts 26 nay, 17 ay. >> five reagan votes in tennessee switched over to the ford position on this particular vote. i will explain that tennessee vote a little bit later. that is one of the states that has a trojan horse principle. texas states with reagan on the rule 14c.

>> texas, 100 votes, ay. >> utah. 20 votes. >> utah cast 20 votes, ay. >> that was as expected. >> vermont, 18 votes. >> madam, secretary -- the state of vermont casts 18 votes no. [applause] >> ormond, 18 votes, no. -- vermont, 18 votes, no. >> virginia cas 36 votes ay, 15 votes no. >> the one ford vote in virginia went over to reagan's position. >> the sunshine gem casts four

votes no. >> virgin islands, casts four votes no. >> madam chairman, washington casts 31 votes yes. seven votes no. >> president ford is 31. a big test vote on role 60c -- rule 16c. >> west virginia casts 12 votes no, 16 votes -- 12 votes yes, 16 votes no.

>> that was a pickup for reagan in west virginia. it is still close enough so mississippi's votes can make a difference. mike wallace says they will go for ford. >> that was as expected. that almost puts it out of reach for reagan. and here is wyoming. >> madam secretary, wyoming casts 9 votes aye, 8 votes no. >> the uncommitted votes in wyoming went to the ford position as well. as you see there, even with 30 more votes from mississippi, which reagan is not going to

get, reagan is not going to win it. it would appear president ford's forces have rallied at this crucial point of the republican convention. president ford's forces to control this convention. that vote has to be counted in there as well. >> florida, the great sunshine state, casts 38 votes no, 28 votes yes. >> officially that does it. officially. they do not have all of the votes counted as yet. there, you see the vote. there it is.

the ford and the reagan forces -- this is a critical vote. some reagan forces are putting their eggs in the basket of platform changes, but it appears the ford people have the votes. >> 28 votes no. >> mississippi, 30 votes. >> mississippi -- after much consternation -- 30 votes no.

>> that is the way it is. that is the end of that vote. [indiscernible] that was an important vote. there might be only a few in the hall that do not believe this was a critical vote and the crisis has now been passed for the ford forces president gerald ford, who did not run for the presidency in 1970 or 1972 will likely be the nominee for the 1976 election. now that the first major battle of this convention is over, we

have thoughts -- >> think that that must represent the high point for reagan, wouldn't you think? this was the second stage, the first stage being the schweitzer announcement. it seems like the last thing they have up their sleeve. >> yes, before the convention opened, reagan's assistant said pointedly, they were calling in the spanish armada -- they are bigger, but they do not maneuver very well.

tonight they have what seems to me to be very convincing -- after a lot of pulling, they have put the house in order and they can withstand this -- he -- what he was able to withstand was this very ingenious gambit. and it was. but don't you think it was just a gambit? >> they put in the thou shalt lost onl rule and taft that. and then they did turn things around.

the press, even if the ford people had lost this, if they wanted to vote against schweitzer, that is a privilege. harding, who was going to be the nominee, really wanted a man from wisconsin as his running mate. the convention turned around. at i remember reading about it. but this looks like it. i don't see quite what they can do from now on. because the fight on the platform, the morality and foreign policy for example i do not expect it, do you? bill: no, it's going to be very hard. although there will be some for the ford people to take because it is a kick in the pants.

eric: of the defensive, i think, to ford and kissinger. better for their point of view that they not fight at all, and just let them go. that looks like what they are fighting about. bill: it shows how much of a cleavage there is between the east and the west of this body. people voted for the reagan position. in the midwest, with 175 voted for the reagan position. in the south, 445 voted for the reagan position. one 56 for ford. in the west, 366 versus 84. you can see that this is along

the lines of the sun belt division we have been talking about this week. eric: [indiscernible] we have time to talk about this whole new regional switch in this country politically, the east and the west -- a change from the old days with the interventionist east. the whole thing has changed. do you have any further thoughts on this? bill: if you were ford, where would you think you would have to choose a vice president from? eric: it all depends, i suppose on who runs with carter in the south, you? bill: i don't think they can cut very deeply into his strategy. but they probably do think it will weaken the west.

he does not have to pick a safe, inoffensive person. like perhaps senator baker. he can pick someone with the idea and the capacity to be president and take his chances. my impression of these people in the convention is -- assuming ford is nominated, ronald reagan from people may not raise money for him, but they will vote for him because he is a conservative man, much more so than carter. the president has quite a lot of flexibility on what he can do. bill: there was passion, but it was good-natured hostility. they are not in geared at this moment the way they were in 1964. eric: i don't really believe

those polls that indicate if ford is nominated --[indiscernible] i think they probably will vote for the conservative position. why not? and the trouble than would be organizing a campaign and raising the money. let's turn this back to the anchor booth and walter cronkite. walter: the convention has just approved the rules now, and that includes role 18, that requires the delegations from 19 states to vote is pledged and not as

the delegates themselves might wish in their own individual choices. the republican national convention coverage by cbs will resume after this message. >> cbs news continues its special report, campaign 76. tonight, the coverage of the republican national convention from kansas city. sponsored by ford motor company. ford wants to be your car company. now walter cronkite. walter: the reagan forces lost your tonight in this auditorium in kansas city and it looks like the reagan campaign for the presidency may be very near its end.

a test vote on the rule changes have failed, a vote the reagan forces brought to the convention floor, and the question is what will they do? will they continue to fight on the platform or will they give up at this point? there is an indication leslie stahl has. come in, leslie. leslie: walter, you're absolutely right. i am standing here -- senator strom thurmond was just over here, going over the foreign policy language so there will be no fight on the floor. the ford people are eager not to have a fight on the foreign policy front. what language have you written in? i noticed you marking off the buzzwords so to speak. >> i would not confirm that. leslie: i saw you do it. >> i do not know what a buzzword is. leslie: i saw you mark out the

word detente. is that right? >> no, it's not. -- leslie: i saw you mark out the word detente. are you willing to seek a compromise, senator? senator thurmond: i am willing to talk to members of the committee. i am not a member of the committee. i have been able to talk to them to see if we can make a few changes to it. leslie: we know that there are conservative members of the committee who want stronger language. what is governor reagan's position? senator thurmond: i don't know. leslie: you don't. >> [indiscernible] leslie: well, i am told that he did. [laughter] >> we have a lot of strong conservatives on the foreign policy committee.

leslie: this proposed language is really an attack on kissinger. is that the way you read it? >> i read some implications of attack on the nixon foreign policy as carried out by kissinger and on the ford foreign policy carried out by kissinger. yes, i do. leslie: thank you very much. walter, we may not have a fight on foreign policy after all. thank you. walter: they just approved don rhodes, the congressman from arizona and the minority leader in the house of representatives, as the permanent chairman of this congressional committee and they are singing his praises right now before introducing him to the delegates, most of whom already know him. he is likely to be the majority leader of -- that is the speaker of the house of representatives and he is campaigning for that job. which means he is campaigning for a republican house of

representatives next year. now we have the chairman of the ford campaign for the presidency. my guess is you are rather delighted man know that you have gotten over this test vote. >> we are really excited about it. i think it is a real victory for the president and really a victory for the republican party. i think mending the rules in the middle is a very difficult thing. walter: we just heard some others suggest they will not compromise on the foreign policy plank, that they will continue with different language and some of the matters. do you think it is all over? >> i don't think you ever ought to think that. i think you better fight everywhere. the delegate count is very solid.

walter: did your presidential count of the delegates work out the same on this press vote? >> very close. closer than you would think. we tried to cross the line between the two candidates, but it's very close. walter: are you concerned about any particular plank? when it was first drafted a week or so ago, that they would take out a bit? >> no, i think it was in the rules committee. i think it was in the rules committee. it was very significant. i thought it showed a strong position. do you see any booby-traps and the road between this time tomorrow night? you don't think the platform will cause any excitement? >> the platform -- i don't think this one will, and i think the committee is a good platform.

i don't know about these amendments. walter: there is an awful lot of talk by your forces that 16c would have foreclosed president ford from consultation with him or inviting them to be the vice presidential candidate on this ticket. do you think of reagan as a vice presidential possibility? >> i certainly would not excluded. i think it's very important. this is been a long primary. it has been a close primary. a tremendous number of republicans involved. and i think it would be very inappropriate for president ford to discuss the candidate before he makes his final decision. walter: [indiscernible] >> i think he intends to do that.

walter: [indiscernible] >> i would love to. i don't know. i think the process we have gone through is very fair. and we certainly have input from many, many people. and we believe the polls taken. walter: doesn't have to go to a moderate, moderate right to

bring the party together now? this is a pretty close split for an incumbent president here. reagan came awful close in this campaign, and that indicates an awful lot of people who are more conservative even then president ford, who is not a raving liberal. walter: -- >> as far as the capacity to run, to be the president of the united states is number one and the president would like someone compatible with him and i think he has in terms of his philosophy, he is trying to get that done in the country, and that is the way i think it will probably come out. walter: what about the former governor? >> i certainly would not exclude anyone. walter: i think i have got about all i'm going to get out of you. >> you're not going to get any more. [laughter] walter: we will see how the delegate count holds up tomorrow as well. >> i think it will. walter: thank you. shortly before the reagan forces went down on this critical rules fight, one of the chief reagan supporters, senator jesse helms

of north carolina -- >> do you have enough delegates? senator holmes: i don't know. it's possible, of course. >> does it concern you? senator helms: of course, it does. things appear to be going the wrong way, but the ballgame is not over. we have the ninth inning yet. >> what you going to do in the ninth inning? senator helms: everything we can. >> what do you think about them saying we want ronald reagan for the vice presidency? senator holmes: of course -- my good friend in the senate said that and he knew better than that. it works a lot of times. in the confusion of the convention floor, people do not always think exactly straight. if they stopped at to put on their thinking caps, they might have voted differently. >> what if the reagan delegates

tried to stampede the invention and get a draft going for mr. reagan? senator helms: i've got to take ronald reagan at his word. he says he is not going to accept any offer that may come to him for vice president. his exact words to me as late as yesterday were, "no way." i assume that is his position. >> [indiscernible] senator helms: like i said, there is trouble in river city. i would not be leveling with you if i said i just came from a jubilant trailer. but back to the drawing board. walter: senator helms is one of the so-called independent conservatives. senator buckley, the senator from new york state, the presidential candidate here for a while -- he says that they

have been in talks, though senator helms has flatly denied it -- there might be a walkout. and he was against a vice presidential spot on the reagan ticket. he still has the capability to cause a lot of interest at this convention, to put it mildly. there is considerable passion here by continuing to bring other matters before the convention. it's very difficult to do that from the floor. for instance on the platforms, the only thing that they can do, where they got 25 percent of the votes for the platform committee, they satisfy the rules of the convention. the only thing they can do is try to strike the platform.

they might try to do that, try to create some passion, but it seems the fire has gone out of the reagan forces with the loss of this important vote. one of the important things to consider -- although jesse helms brought up the matter of people having voted so they could preserve the possibility of reagan being named as a vice presidential candidate with or presidential candidate with ford, as we go down the vote tonight, it turns out the vote followed precisely the lines of the cbs delegate count for ford and for reagan. so, there was no subtlety in the casting of any votes in any of the delegations. the vote was absolutely solid. we have to take the indications from that that president ford is almost certainly the candidate of this body after tomorrow night. the republican national convention coverage from cbs news will resume after this message.

>> road to the white house rewind continuous with more from the 1976 republican national convention, with gerald ford speech accepting his party nomination. he called for party unity in the wake of his narrow victory at the gop convention. he also presented himself as an honest and calming force in the oval office, following the resignation of the two years earlier over the watergate scandal. our coverage comes from nbc news. the this is about 40 minutes. >> i'm honored by your nomination and i accept it.