[Brilliant]

That is not true at all. This is a well documented event. Bush was his only competitor and not really close but the race was very acrimonious so Reagan was intent upon unifying the party. The recommendation of Reagan’s advisors was that he choose Bush. He told Bush that one thing that was not negotiable was that Bush had to back up Reagan on abortion by repudiating his pro abortion stance. Overnight Bush became pro life and the deal as done.

[rockinqsranch]

Well then we disagree on the history of the time. I know better.

[Mase]

At the 1980 convention, Reagan was counting on Gerald Ford being his running mate. He had begun laying the groundwork for that very thing months prior. At the convention, and during an interview with Walter Cronkite, Ford started rambling on about him not just being VP, but serving more like a co-president. Reagan wants nothing to do with this and at the 11th hour, picks Bush. No vetting, no interviewing, just a phone call and then walking out on the stage together.

This choice had little to do with uniting the party. It was more about convenience and safety in a guy with executive experience, a long time of military service and name recognition. How differently the world might be today had Reagan not wasted his time with Ford and made the right choice with Jack Kemp.