WI: Reagan Done After 1976

1976 is seen as having set Reagan up for the 1980 election. However, what if it hadn't? Reagan was quite old by 1980, and already had a long career behind him. He had tried and failed to win the 1968 nomination, tried and failed to become Nixon's vice president, and tried and failed to become the nominee in 1976. What if 1976 was the final opportunity Reagan took to run, deciding instead to stay out of the race for politics after that loss?
 
Perhaps Reagan conservatism rightfully dies in its infancy?
I think the best ways for that to happen are: 1. Reagan defeats Ford in the 1976 primaries and then defeats Carter in the 1976 general. If stagflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis still happen, Reagan gets blamed and a Democrat defeats him in a landslide. The recovery that happened under Reagan OTL instead happens under a Democrat, so the Democrats are credited with ending the malaise of the Nixon and Ford years. 2. Ford wins in 1976. Stagflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis still happen, so a Democrat defeats Ford in 1980. By 1984, Reagan is too old.
 
I think the best ways for that to happen are: 1. Reagan defeats Ford in the 1976 primaries and then defeats Carter in the 1976 general. If stagflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis still happen, Reagan gets blamed and a Democrat defeats him in a landslide. The recovery that happened under Reagan OTL instead happens under a Democrat, so the Democrats are credited with ending the malaise of the Nixon and Ford years. 2. Ford wins in 1976. Stagflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis still happen, so a Democrat defeats Ford in 1980. By 1984, Reagan is too old.

Reagan does not win 1976 whatsoever in this discussion.
 
I think the best ways for that to happen are: 1. Reagan defeats Ford in the 1976 primaries and then defeats Carter in the 1976 general. If stagflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis still happen, Reagan gets blamed and a Democrat defeats him in a landslide. The recovery that happened under Reagan OTL instead happens under a Democrat, so the Democrats are credited with ending the malaise of the Nixon and Ford years. 2. Ford wins in 1976. Stagflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis still happen, so a Democrat defeats Ford in 1980. By 1984, Reagan is too old.
Iran isn't happening under Reagan. I just don't see it. The rest does happen but even with Carter's lecturing and numerous mistakes, he nearly won re-election. You better have a real contender to dethrone the Gipper and no, Teddy won't do.
 
When did Ronnie believe himself to be called by God (and/or saved by God) in order to prevent nuclear war?

If this was primarily after surviving the March 1981 assassination attempt, he may possibly have opted not to run in 1980 in order to be more of a positive guiding force for movement conservatism (direction of his own choosing), spend more time with Nancy, etc. If a lot of this was beforehand, then probably not.
 
Maybe his Alzheimer's develops earlier. We really don't know when it first appeared though but I do think some signs were present in his second term. So maybe it starts showing in 1976, but not anything really serious, I.e. asking for things to be repeated or misplacing things and gets more serious by 1980.
 
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