With the 1980 Republican presidential nominations looming, Ronald and Nancy Reagan visited Marion on January 10, 1980. They arrived at Williamson County Airport at 5 p.m., held a brief conference and continued on to the Marion Ban Dor Inn for a fund raising dinner followed by a rally held at the Marion Civic Center, culminating at 8:45 p.m. after which the Reagan’s boarded their plane and returned to Los Angeles.

Reagan, of course, got the nomination and won the presidential bid, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter, becoming our 40^th president. The Marion Daily Republican article covering the event is as follows. Continue reading →