Clarke Reed (born 1928) is an American businessman and political activist who served as the chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976. He is recognized for his influential role in the growth and reorganization of the Republican Party in the Southern United States during the mid-to-late 20th century.
Reed is most frequently cited in political history for his involvement in the 1976 Republican National Convention. As the leader of the Mississippi delegation, which remained uncommitted for a significant portion of the primary season, Reed’s eventual decision to support incumbent President Gerald Ford over challenger Ronald Reagan was considered a decisive factor in Ford securing the party's nomination.
A resident of Greenville, Mississippi, Reed established a career in the private sector, primarily within the cotton industry and various investment ventures, prior to and alongside his political engagements. Throughout his tenure in party leadership, he was a key figure in the "Southern Strategy," focusing on shifting the political alignment of the region. He has served in various capacities within the Republican National Committee and has remained an active figure in Mississippi state politics for several decades.
