An Eyewitness to History: Sherry Marschink and the 1976 Republican Convention

The Georgia Politics Podcast

Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On today’s show we are going back in time to the last great Republican National Convention: 1976.

The 1976 Republican National Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, and showcased a fierce battle for the party's nomination between incumbent President Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the former Governor of California.

Ford narrowly clinched the nomination after a tense floor fight, highlighting deep divisions within the party between its moderate and conservative wings. Despite Reagan's spirited challenge, Ford ultimately emerged as the nominee, setting the stage for a heated general election against Democrat Jimmy Carter.

Joining us on the show to discuss is Sherry Shealy Martschink, who was a delegate from South Carolina, served on the vital Rules Committee, and spoke to the nation against a seminal rules change that helped decide the Presidential nomination.

Ms. Martschink, a native of South Carolina, was a junior at the University of South Carolina when she was first elected to the South Carolina state house, becoming the nation’s youngest lawmaker. She later served in the State Senate as well.

She goes into great detail about her role in that national convention, the issues that were at play, and details interactions she had with some of the most influential national politicians of the day.

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