The 1980 Republican Convention

By the time the Republican Convention began in Detroit on July 14, Ronald Reagan had won 28 of 34 Republican primaries. He chose as his running mate George Herbert Walker Bush, who had come in a far-distant second by winning six primaries. Since Republican feminists had not supported Reagan, they had no clout at this convention. Read Jo Freeman's article "Republicans: Feminists Avoid a Direct Showdown."

Meeting the week before the Convention, the Platform Committee debated the Equal Rights Amendment. A few remaining members of the liberal wing of the Republican Party made a valiant fight to keep it in the platform. It had almost been removed in 1976. This time it lost resoundingly.

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Platform Committee debates the ERA

Jesse Helms	Bob Dole
Jack Kemp	Phyllis Schlafly

The National Organization for Women came to
Detroit to protest outside the Republican Convention.

Inside the convention, delegates cheered for their candidate.

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