Ronald Reagan learned early the importance of South Carolina — and certain South Carolinians — in the rough-and-tumble world of national politics.

In 1976, the S.C. delegation to the Republican National Convention in Kansas City was sharply divided between supporters of President Ford and backers of Reagan, a former California governor.

At times, the two factions got downright nasty, calling each other names you wouldn’t print in a family newspaper.

At stake was the Republican presidential nomination. The vote was too close to call. Everyone was on edge.

On one side was Harry Dent, former White House political director under President Nixon, who led the delegates committed to Ford.

On the other was Gov. Jim Edwards, the delegation chairman, who was captain of the Reagan troops. He used strong-arm tactics to keep delegates in line, causing some hard feelings.

Lee Atwater, emerging as a hot, young political operative, was quietly assisting the Ford troops. Despite his tender age of 25, he was a genius at manipulation. He had a knack for knowing what lay beyond the next horizon.

In the end, Atwater and Dent delivered the votes for Ford, who won the nomination in a cliffhanger.

Political candidates who found themselves opposed by Atwater often wound up wishing they had hired him — and often blamed him for alleged dirty tricks that damaged their campaigns.

Reagan, a quick learner, hand-picked Atwater to manage his S.C. campaign in 1980. He also enlisted then-U.S. Rep. Carroll Campbell, an emerging leader in S.C. Republican circles.

This was a critical test. The Palmetto State was to have the first Southern primary, and whoever won here would have tremendous momentum heading into the newly important round of primaries in the South — dubbed Super Tuesday.

Atwater always had made his weight work for him in campaigns, and he delivered for Reagan. The former California governor went on to capture the 1980 GOP presidential nomination and later ousted President Carter in a landslide.

And it all began in South Carolina.

In 1980, George H.W. Bush had surprised Reagan by winning the Iowa caucuses. And even though Reagan came back and won New Hampshire the following week, his people still worried. Reagan couldn’t afford to lose South Carolina.

Atwater — always looking ahead — bought a series of ads on an S.C. country radio station attacking Bush’s pro-gun-control record and asked Reid Buckley — William F. Buckley’s brother — to do the voice over. Reid Buckley was identified only as “Mr. Buckley,” leaving the impression he was the influential conservative columnist.

By the time Bush arrived in South Carolina, his staff was so riled up about Atwater’s ad campaign that Bush’s state campaign manager raised the gun issue at the state convention without even being asked about it.

Many credit those ads with finishing off Bush in South Carolina before he could even set foot here.

Regardless, it cleared the way for Reagan to sweep the South.

As a result, Reagan owed his nomination — and ultimately his presidency — to South Carolina.