Who should George H W Bush have picked for VP

[MaC]

if not Quayle?

[Lincoln Republican]

Governor James Thompson of Illinois would have been an excellent pick.

He was a powerhouse in the midwest, and was considered to be a political "heavyweight."

He had been serving as Governor since 1977. 

Prior to becoming Governor, he worked in the state's attorney's office, taught law school at Northwestern University, and served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.  As a federal prosecutor in the early 1970's, he was successful in obtaining convictions in several high profile cases. 

[CPT MikeyMike]

Wasn't Carroll Campbell considered as a running mate? I know he is only in his 1st term as governor of South Carolina but I thought Bush was seriously thinking of him.

[J. J.]

George Deukmejian or Pete Wilson.  Powell might have been ready in 1988, and was considered.

1992 might have looked very different.

[TomC]

Jack Kemp

[12th Doctor]

I have this story right from someone who was there.  At the GOP Convention in 88, Bush's people were literally deadlocked over who to put on the ticket as VP.  Bush walked into the room and asked who they had.

Jack Kemp: too wierd
Bob Dole: too mean
Elizabeth Dole: too green
Pete Wilson: too liberal
Pat Robertson: too conservative
Colin Powell:  not sure if he would accept



Finally... after stating what was wrong with everyone else, someone in the room suggested "What about Dan Qualye?"

Bush tasted it for a second, and said... "Brilliant.  I love it.  Let's do it."  And that was that.

[J. J.]

Colin Powell:  not sure if he would accept

They should have asked.

[jerusalemcar5]

Bill Clinton.

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Ted Kenendy

[kashifsakhan]

Here's my list of potential suggestions. Any feedback is welcome!

1 Dick Cheney
2 James Baker III
3 Lawrence Eagleburger
4 Alexander Haig
5 George P.Shultz
6 Thomas Kean

[adam]

I had always said that Alexander Haig would have been a great option. Dan Quayle was probably a strategy thing. With Quayle at the vice-presidency, who would even think about impeaching Bush?

[kashifsakhan]

I had always said that Alexander Haig would have been a great option. Dan Quayle was probably a strategy thing. With Quayle at the vice-presidency, who would even think about impeaching Bush?

Why would you ever want to impeach Bush anyway?

[adam]

I had always said that Alexander Haig would have been a great option. Dan Quayle was probably a strategy thing. With Quayle at the vice-presidency, who would even think about impeaching Bush?

Why would you ever want to impeach Bush anyway?

I'm sure the liberal whacknuts could have come up with a good reason, but decided not to because "President Quayle" stuck fear into their hearts.