The Press: The Made-for-TV Convention

Tom Ellis felt doublecrossed. It was nearly 2 a.m., and the chairman of the North Carolina delegation had asked for a roll-call vote on a pro-Reagan foreign policy amendment to the Republican platform, when pro-Ford Convention Chairman John Rhodes ordered a voice vote and gaveled the session to a close. Reagan delegations exploded in anger. Screamed Ellis: "Railroaded! You have broken the rules!" It was one of the most dramatic moments of last week's Republican National Convention.

Except the nation never saw it. CBS's Lesley Stahl ran up, shouting "Mister, who are you?"...

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