1976 election

Question 1

What was Carter’s background and campaign?

Answer 1

• Former Governor of Georgia, a Washington outsider with a reputation for honesty.
• Campaigned on “trust and morality”, appealing to voters disillusioned with Washington politics.
• Promised to restore faith in government and address economic problems.

Question 2

What was Ford’s background and campaign?

Answer 2

• Incumbent President since 1974 after Nixon’s resignation.
• Struggled with economic difficulties (high inflation, unemployment, and slow growth).
• Criticized for pardoning Nixon, which damaged his credibility.
  Faced a tough primary battle against Ronald Reagan, which weakened his campaign.

Question 3

What were the key issues in the election?

Answer 3

• Trust in govt: Carter portrayed himself as an outsider who would clean up govt, using Ford’s decision to pardon Nixon
• Economy: the U.S. faced stagflation- Carter criticized Ford’s handling of the economy and promised change
• Foreign policy: Ford’s debate gaffe He mistakenly claimed that Eastern Europe was not under Soviet domination, hurting his credibility; loss of Saigon

Question 4

What happened during the campaign?

Answer 4

• Ran as an outsider, appealing to voters tired of Washington elites. His Southern background helped him win support in the South
• Ford attempted a comeback, emphasizing his experience, but struggled with his debate mistake and association with Nixon.
• Televised presidential debates were held for the first time since 1960, increasing public scrutiny.

Question 5

What were the election results?

Answer 5

Carter: 297 electoral votes; 50.1% popular votes
Ford: 240 electoral votes; 48.0% popular votes
- Carter won narrowly in the popular vote but secured enough electoral votes to win.
- His victory was helped by strong support from the South and African American voters.