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The President managed to communicate this sense of optimism, however limited, and offer a foretaste of his campaign theme: a mixture of give 'em hell and emphasizing the record of his Administration. He began forcefully and with a surprise, injecting a note that had not been in the text: "This year the issues are on our side, and I'm ready and eager to go before the American people and debate the issues face to face with Jimmy Carter." That unusual challenge from an incumbent to an opponent brought the audience to their feet for one of 65 ovations.
Throwing aside any remaining reticence about proclaiming his own accomplishments, Ford declared: "From August of 1974 to August of 1976, the record shows steady upward progress toward prosperity, peace and public trust. It is a record I am proud to run on." Where an underdog Harry Truman ran in 1948 against a "do-nothing Congress," Ford will take on "the vote-hungry, free-spending congressional majority [of Democrats]." The speech was essentially, though mutedly, conservative, an evocation of Eisenhower themes. "I see Americans who love their country for what it has been and what it must become. I see Americans who in their own quiet way pray for peace. My fellow Americans, I like what I see."
For all of his criticism of Democratic overpromising, Ford made some pledges of his own. He called for programs to reduce crime, improve health care for the elderly and provide for the needs of the poor. At the same time, he promised less Government, a fairer tax structure and a balanced budget. It was a pretty tall order—a combination of social compassion and fiscal conservatism.
After that, the Republicans emerged from Kansas City with at least a public display of unity. Ford's treatment of the defeated Reagan had much to do with the reconciliation. About an hour after he was nominated, Ford at 1:30 a.m. visited Reagan's suite, where the challenger promised to campaign for the President in the fall. Then, after his acceptance speech, Ford brought his opponent down to the podium to have the last word—a wise peacemaking gesture.
Ford's selection of Kansas Senator Robert Dole as his running mate also appeased the conservatives, but at the risk of exasperating many others in and out of the G.O.P. Some suspected that the Reaganites had all but forced the President to choose Dole—or someone else from the right. Actually, Ford had his own reasons for picking the Kansan.
Pennsylvania's Senator Hugh Scott said that Ford had told him Dole would have strong appeal to the farm-belt of the Midwest and Plains states. His background as Republican National Committee Chairman from 1971 to 1973, added Ford, has given Dole an extraordinarily wide acquaintance with Republicans in all states. And he has been an able Congressman and Senator. U.N. Ambassador William Scranton added another reason: "He is an excellent campaigner of the type we need. The President is not the attacker type, but Bob can do that kind of campaigning." He also can be abrasive and slashing to opponents, though his sense of humor alleviates some of the sting. Cracks Minnesota Republican Chairman Chuck Slocum: "We've got righteous Jimmy, dull Walter and stuffy Jerry. Bob Dole will add some zip to the campaign and prevent it from being dull."