1988 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1988 election. Incumbent Vice President George H. W. Bush won the 1988 Republican nomination for President of the United States, and chose Indiana Senator Dan Quayle as his running mate. The selection of Quayle surprised many of Bush's closest advisers, who had expected Bush to pick a more well-known running mate.^[1] However, Bush adviser Roger Ailes helped convince Bush that Quayle would be able to effectively attack the Democratic presidential nominee, Michael Dukakis.^[1] Bush also liked Quayle's youth and felt that Quayle would make for a loyal vice president.^[1] The Bush–Quayle ticket would go on to defeat the Dukakis–Bentsen ticket in the general election but ultimately lost to the Clinton–Gore ticket in 1992.

During the selection process, real-estate developer and future U.S. president Donald Trump approached Bush's campaign manager Lee Atwater asking to be considered as a possible choice for running mate. Bush found the request "strange and unbelievable."^[2] Contradicting this report, Trump later asserted it was Atwater who approached him asking if he was interested in the position.^[3]

Possible running mates

Final candidates

^[4]

Former Secretary of Transportation
Elizabeth Dole
from Kansas
(1983–1987)
Senator and Senate Minority Leader
Bob Dole
from Kansas
(1969–1996)
Representative
Jack Kemp
from New York
(1971–1989)
Senator
Dan Quayle
from Indiana
(1981–1989)

Media speculation on possible running-mates

Former Mayor of
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California and Actor
Clint Eastwood
(1986-1988; 1954-present)
Chairman of Chrysler
Lee Iacocca
(1979–1992)
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Sandra Day O'Connor
(1981–2006)
6th Commissioner of Baseball
Peter Ueberroth
(1984–1989)
Real-estate developer Donald Trump

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Margolis, Jon (August 18, 1988). "Why Bush Cast Aside Vp Tradition". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
^ Meacham, Jon (2015). Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush (illustrated ed.). Random House. p. 326. ISBN 1400067650.
^ "Trump says Bush 41 adviser approached him about becoming VP | CNN Politics". CNN. November 8, 2015.
^ "Bush Selects Quayle as His Running Mate : Calls Indiana Senator, 41, Future Leader". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 1988. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Decker, Cathleen (July 16, 1988). "Bentsen Expands Bush VP Options : With Texan Already on Ticket, GOP's Choices Increase". LA Times. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Meacham, Jon (2015). Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. Random House. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-4000-6765-7.

[margolis-1] Margolis, Jon (August 18, 1988). "Why Bush Cast Aside Vp Tradition". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2015.

[2] Meacham, Jon (2015). Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush (illustrated ed.). Random House. p. 326. ISBN 1400067650.

[3] "Trump says Bush 41 adviser approached him about becoming VP | CNN Politics". CNN. November 8, 2015.

[4] "Bush Selects Quayle as His Running Mate : Calls Indiana Senator, 41, Future Leader". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 1988. Retrieved April 21, 2020.

[decker-5] Decker, Cathleen (July 16, 1988). "Bentsen Expands Bush VP Options : With Texan Already on Ticket, GOP's Choices Increase". LA Times. Retrieved October 4, 2015.

[meacham336-6] Meacham, Jon (2015). Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. Random House. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-4000-6765-7.

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1988 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection

Contents

Possible running mates

Final candidates

Media speculation on possible running-mates

Members of Congress

Governors

Other Individuals

See also

References