Why did Poppy Bush select Dan Quayle?

[President Johnson]

I always wondered why Poppy Bush, who is actually a smart guy, chose such a fool like Dan Quayle as his running mate? And even kept him in 1992? Because of his youth and geographical ticket balance? There were several better candidates available in 1988, like Jack Kemp, Dick Thornburgh, George Deukmenjian, Donald Rumsfeld or Richard Lugar. Just to name a few. I mean, Quayle was literally a joke. Bentsen destroyed him so badly in the VP debate that year.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The reason Bush kept Quayle in 1992, despite vivid speculations, was simple: drooping a VP from the ticket was mighty risky. This is why even Nixon kept Agnew in 1972. As of him being picked in first time I'd say his conservative voting record and "muh young and handsome".

Deukmenjian explicitly ruled the Vice Presidency out due to the fact his Lieutenant Governor was a Democrat.

[Mr. Smith]

Considering how Dukakis and Co. seemingly went after him because of all the things he said or did, which allowed the otherwise boring Bush Sr to be like "Hey, I'm the one running, not him!", it seems it was brilliant.

[Don Vito Corleone]

One theory I've read (let's call it the impeachment insurance theory) is that Bush was worried about being impeached by a Democratic congress over Iran-Contra, and thus picked Quayle thinking no congress was going to let Quayle handle the delicate world situation when the Soviet Union fell.

[Lord Wreath]

Because it didn't really matter? Quayle was popular enough with the Reagan base to energise them. There were many elections in which the choice of a VP was decisive; 1988 was not one of them.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I can only assume it was a practical joke designed to discredit the Hoosier State.

[Lincoln Republican]

On paper, Quayle has an impressive resume.

His youth and an attractive family

B.A. in political science

Juris Doctor law degree

Service in the National Guard

Investigator for the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Indiana Attorney General

Administrative assistant to Indiana Republican Governor Edgar Whitcomb

Director of the Inheritance Tax Division of the Indiana Department of Revenue

Four years U.S. House of Representatives

Eight years U.S. Senate, in 1980 defeated well known and popular Democratic Senator Birch Bayh

However, Quayle came across as too much of a political lightweight, and eventually became the object of ridicule, some deserved, some not.

In 1988, it wouldn't have mattered much who Bush had as his running mate.  Bush was running against one of the very worst and most incompetent Presidential candidates in history, Dukakis.

By 1992, however, the Quayle flaws became more pronounced and he was a drag on the ticket, though by no means the cause of the Bush loss.

[darklordoftech]

Because Bush wanted a VP who stayed in his place.