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JOHN SEARS, 36, gained considerable respect from both sides as a shrewd campaign strategist, although his reputation suffered when the Schweiker gambit failed. Sears also made the questionable decisions that kept Reagan out of such big-state primaries as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, on the theory that powerful party organizations would ensure rich delegate harvests for Ford. Some Reagan supporters faulted Sears for making a floor test on a procedural matter (whether Ford should have had to name his running mate in advance) rather than an ideological issue like detente. When this second gamble failed, Reagan was through.
But Sears was among the earliest to sense that Ford, as an appointed incumbent, was vulnerable, and that his huge budget deficits, Nixon pardon and foreign policy stressing accommodation with Moscow and Peking had created a large Republican constituency for Reagan. Sears' own cool, charm and intelligence guarantee him a role in future campaigns—if he wants one. Sears insists that he wants no part of Ford's campaign. Instead, "I'll go back to practicing law." He believes the wounds from the primaries are still too sore for him to join the President's cause; besides, he argued until last week that Ford, if nominated, would lose in November.
ROBERT GRIFFIN, 52, one of Ford's closest advisers, earned new luster and is certain to be a Republican power no matter what happens in November. The Michigan Senator's adept direction of Ford's intricate convention floor operation was praised by the newly nominated President: "Bob, you did it again." Added Tennessee's Baker: "This is Bob Griffin's convention. He is the one who pulled it together."
Last spring Griffin was sent to Iowa to round up the delegate votes that won that state's crucial caucus for Ford. He also ran Ford's successful campaign in Michigan and devised the plan for the President to whistle-stop through the state.
In the campaign, Griffin will be a key strategist, and could be called upon for a larger role if Ford fails to close the gap opened by Jimmy Carter. Should Ford eventually win, his fellow Michigander and former House Colleague Griffin could have a key appointive post. More probably, he would choose to remain in the Senate, and move up to Republican leader next January.