Clarke Reed

Clarke Thomas Reed (born 1928) is an American businessman and politician from Greenville, Mississippi, who was from 1966 to 1976 the state chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party.

Clarke Thomas Reed Sr.
Reed in 2010
State Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party
In office 1966–1976
Preceded by	Wirt Yerger
Succeeded by	Charles W. Pickering
Personal details
Born	1928 Ohio[1] Reared in Caruthersville Pemiscot County Missouri, USA
Spouse	Julia B. "Judy" Reed
Children	At least 3, including Julia Evans Reed
Residence(s)	Greenville Washington County Mississippi, USA
Alma mater	University of Missouri
Occupation	Businessman

Reed was instrumental in the nomination of U.S. President Gerald Ford, at the 1976 Republican National Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri. As recalled by Dick Cheney, who was then chief of staff to the president, Reed "was pissed at Reagan and what he'd done picking (U.S. Sen. Richard) Schweiker" as his vice presidential running mate. Schweiker was a liberal Republican from a state whose delegation could be crucial at the convention. "And in the anger of the moment," Cheney said, Reed "committed to Ford."^[2]

Reed was the father of writer Julia Evans Reed.^[3]

References

1. Reed, Roy (30 July 1976). "Mississippi Republican Leader". The New York Times.
2. Smith, Richard Norton (2023). An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford. New York: Harper. pp. 628–629. ISBN 978-0-06-268416-5.
3. obituary for Julia reed

Political offices
Preceded by Wirt Yerger	State Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party 1966–1976	Succeeded by Charles W. Pickering