With Bush and Baker on Reagan’s team it’s just silly to say that Establishment Republicans opposed Reagan once he got the nomination.
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The only reason Bush was on the ticket was because that was the compromise the establishment forced on Reagan in order for them to agree to back him.
“The only reason Bush was on the ticket was because that was the compromise the establishment forced on Reagan in order for them to agree to back him.”
I remember this very well - sort of...
I was working that summer in Alaska at a salmon cannery.
There was a breakdown and we had a few hours to ‘relax’ (recuperate is a better word).
We turned on Armed Forces Radio, played some cribbage and heard that it was going to be Reagan/Ford - a co-presidency!
My buddy and I were ecstatic! Apparently the long hours were getting to us...At the dinner hour we would say things like: ‘Slide me a slice of supply side pie.’ It was funny and we were exhausted...
We went back to work for three days knowing the ticket was Reagan/Ford.
Turns out it was a backroom delay to get Bush on the ticket and the ruse only lasted an hour or so...
In my mind it lasted for days...