SUN-TIMES, Chicago, July 17, 1980  

 * Ronald Reagan & Gerald Ford ?
* Presidential election ticket ?

The banner headline reads: "It's Reagan and Ford" "Former President Agrees to VP Deal" with related text.
This would not be true. Geoge H.W. Bush would be Reagan's running mate.
Much more on the Republican National Convention at Detroit on inside pages.
Tabloid-size, complete in 120 pages, very nice condition.

Background: The significance of this near-miss "co-presidency" lies in how profoundly it would have altered the structure of the American executive branch and the subsequent trajectory of conservative politics. Had Ronald Reagan accepted Gerald Ford's unprecedented terms, it would have fundamentally weakened the constitutional authority of the presidency by splitting executive power between two men, creating a chaotic governing model prone to gridlock and bureaucratic infighting. By walking away from the deal and selecting George H.W. Bush instead, Reagan preserved the traditional, singular strength of the office while inadvertently launching the Bush political dynasty. This pivotal course correction solidified Bush's position as the heir apparent to the conservative movement, leading directly to his 1988 presidency and laying the essential groundwork for his son, George W. Bush, to win the White House two decades later—a historical lineage that never would have existed had Ford taken the ticket.