Ronald Reagan Consent for Use of Name Signed "Ronald Reagan." One partially-printed page, 8.5" x 11", [Ohio], n.d. [1976]. This form was Reagan's official declaration as a candidate for president of the United States to be included on the Republican presidential primary ballot in the state of Ohio. It reads, in part: "I, Ronald Reagan . . . hereby authorize and give my consent to . . . use my name in a Declaration of Candidacy . . . to the Republican National Convention as his First Choice for the nomination for the Presidency of the United States." Countersigned by Reagan campaign manager John P. Sears. Fine.

To be included on the Ohio ballot, Reagan's supporters had seventy-two hours to collect a minimum of 1,000 names by petition before the filing period ended. Headed by Canton, Ohio, businessman Peter Voss, they managed to collect 1,164 signatures and 28 delegate names which they turned in to Ohio Secretary of State Ted W. Brown with six minutes to spare. Reagan's at-large slate was approved, but he lost the June 8 primary to incumbent, President Gerald Ford. Ford would go on to win the party's nomination but lose the presidential election to Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.