Word: mated
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Bush's hopes for a buoyant bounce from that speech were sacrificed on the altar of Dan Quayle, the man he had selected only two days earlier to be his running mate. The surprise choice, and the way it was handled, revealed some of the weaknesses of Bush's approach to governance -- from a crippling fear of leaks to a distaste for face-to-face confrontation. At one point, only hours before Bush's acceptance speech, campaign aides considered the possibility that Quayle might be dumped from the ticket. Although Quayle survived the initial storm, there were strong indications that...
From the outset, Bush viewed the choice of his running mate as a case study in the loneliness of power. "I want to do this one myself," the Vice President frequently told longtime political counselors who offered to help. Bush solicited names and advice but rarely revealed his own feelings, and in the end relied almost defiantly on himself alone. "He had a preoccupation with leaks," recalls a senior staffer. Concern with maintaining firm control of the theatrics of the convention contributed to this security mania, but the primary cause was Bush's memories of the rumors that swept Detroit...
...relatively inexperienced Robert Kimmitt, who was in charge of the background checks. Kimmitt -- the top attorney at Treasury when Campaign Chairman James Baker was the Cabinet Secretary -- was under firm instructions to share most of his findings only with Bush. Thus, despite the broad-ranging search for a running mate, the most vital information of all was in the end filtered through a two-man channel...
...seven lists agreed. Bob Dole and Jack Kemp, both tested in the primaries, were obvious selections, but within the Bush camp they also inspired impassioned pleas of "anyone but Dole" and "anyone but Kemp." Their political prominence was also a disadvantage; Bush did not seem to want a running mate who had a strong independent record of his own. In contrast, Quayle's career had the virtue of leaving too light an imprint to arouse enemies...
...himself qualified to be the proverbial "heartbeat away" from the presidency. And it makes you wonder when Bush ignores the pleadings of seasoned political pros like James Baker and follows the advice of his media advisers that Quayle, if not the most competent, would make the most telegenic running mate...