[Brilliant]

You’re right about him offering Ford first. But Reagan did not want Ford. He thought he needed Ford. But Ford wanted to be more than a normal VP. He wanted a co-Presidency and Reagan refused. He went to the next logical choice Bush. And what I described is what happened next. The establishment did not foist Bush on Reagan. He just recognized that it was the best move politically.

[Mase]

It was a last minute decision. One of the main reasons he chose Bush was because Bush was at the convention and could make it out on the stage with him in a matter of minutes (after Ford refused to play ball). There was no vetting or interviewing. He didn't have time to consider what was best for uniting the party. That's what choosing Ford was supposed to do. Reagan first broached it with Ford 5 months earlier.

Again, he should have gone with Kemp.