“Please think about it. It’s so important.” A Hall of Fame political ad from 1976.

President Gerald Ford was 33 points behind Jimmy Carter after the 1976 Democratic National Convention. Ford eked out a narrow win over Ronald Reagan at the Republican convention in Kansas City in August.

Ford delivered a stirring acceptance speech (overshadowed by the remarks he invited Reagan to make to the convention), challenged Carter to a debate, and began to make his case, reminding Americans how he had guided the nation through the storms of Watergate and the fall of Saigon to murderous communists.

Singer and actress Pearl Bailey joined Ford on the campaign trail in October. Everybody loved Pearl Bailey. This interview was cut into a 30-second commercial as Ford closed the gap with Carter, who voters began to have doubts about.

Bailey was the essence of candor in her long and storied public life. It was probably true that she had no script when she spoke to the camera. The ad, along with one that included the last memorable campaign song, helped bring Ford within a whisker of defeating Carter.

Carter’s win became a catastrophic victory for Democrats.

Published October 29, 2024.