” Trump was supposedly forced by the GOP to accept Pence as VP”
The problem there is I don’t remember ANY of that. When Reagan was forced to select Poppy Bush, it was clear that was happening, there was buzz and chatter about it. With President Trump there was just suspense. No leaks. Then he made his selection and it seemed good. Pence seemed reliable if dull. It made sense that Trump wouldn’t want someone who would try to upstage him. But I don’t remember anything about any GOP pressure. GOP was still adamantly opposed to Mr. Trump receving the nomination!
Pence looked like the classic “normalize the candidate” pick, a known establishment person to offset the mercurial Trump.
How the pick was finalized, no one knows.