Jan. 14, 1977:
Still smarting over their defeat in the 1976 elections, Republicans elected former Sen. Bill Brock of Tennessee as their national party chairman. Former President Gerald Ford had preferred James Baker, his campaign manager, and GOP rival Ronald Reagan backed Richard Richards, the Utah party chair. Brock, the second pick of many, was considered a compromise choice. Brock himself was part of the '76 loss, as he was beaten for his seat by Democrat Jim Sasser.
Brock would help lead Republicans to pick up congressional seats in 1978. In 1980, when he was still chair, the GOP won the White House with Reagan and took control of the Senate for the first time since 1954.
Richards, Reagan's choice, succeeded Brock as party chair in 1981.
Today in Campaign History is a daily feature on Political Junkie.
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