Many Republicans believed that had Ronald Reagan been the party's nominee in 1976 instead of Gerald Ford, the outcome of the election would have been different. Battered by the collapse of the Nixon White House and Ford's subsequent defeat, Reagan was seen as the party's best hope to stop Carter in 1980, and as early as 1977 the groundwork was being laid for another run. This uncommon pinback was issued for an early pre-campaign speaking engagement.