“Poppy Bush was not Reagan’s first choice for VP.”
I remember talk at the time that Bush was the standard “balance the ticket” ploy since Reagan was considered extreme by standard issue Republicans. It was a unify the party thing.
Just like McCain and Palin, but from the opposite direction.
The story from someone who was there - great read:
Pres. Reagan was almost ready to bite for a Co-presidency arrangement with Pres. Ford (who wasn’t on the original VP list) Ford wanted too much power and Reagan had to say no to him.
He then got talked into Pres. Bush for VP, if Bush would support Reagan’s platform, unequivocally.