First Chairman George had to put on the mask of conciliation and moderation. As Nixon waspreparing his departure speech, Bush lost no time in meeting with Ford, now less than 24 hours (^)
away from being sworn in as president. Bush told the press that Ford had "said he'd be pleased if I
stayed on" at the RNC, but had to concede that Ford had given no indication as to his choice for the
vice president. Bush's network in the House of Representatives, maintained since his Rubbers days,
was now fully mobilized, with "a showing of significant support in the House and among GOPofficials" for Bush on the day before Nixon left town. Bush also put out a statement from the RNC (^)
saying, "The battle is over. Now is the time for kindess...Let us all try now to restore to our society
a climate of civility." But despite the hypocritical kinder and gentler rhetoric, Chairman George's
struggle for power was just beginning. [fn 2]
Melvin Laird soon came out for Rockefeller, and there were sentimental displays for Goldwater in
many quarters. With Bush's network in full career, he was beginning to attract favorable mention
from the columnists. Evans and Novak on August 11 claimed that "as the new President was sworn
in, Rockefeller had become a considerably less likely prospect than either Senator Howard Baker of
Tennessee or George Bush, the gregarious patrician and transplanted Texan who heads theRepublican National Committee." Columns like this one went on at length about the many
disadvantages of choosing Rockefeller, not the least of which was that he would eclipse Ford.
On August 10, Ford announced that he would poll Republicans at all levels across the country.
Some expressed their preferences directly to the White House, but the Republican NationalCommittee members had to report their choices through Chairman George. Many of them, fearing (^)
the price they might have to pay for lese majeste, indicated Bush as their first choice. This matter
was the subject of a complaint by Tom Evans of the RNC, who talked to the press and also wrote
letters to the Ford White House, as we will see.
By August 14, the Washington Post was reporting a "full scale campaign" on behalf of Bush, with
an "impressive array of support" against Rockefeller. Bush's campaign manager and chief boiler
room operator Richard L. Herman of Nebraska summed up his talking points: Bush, said Herman,
"is the only one in the race with no opposition. He may not be the first choice in all cases, but he's
not lower than second with anyone." Herman said he was "assisting" a broader organization on theHill and of course at the RNC itself that was mobilized for Bush. Bush "can do more to help the
Republican Party than anyone else and is totally acceptable throughout the country," blathered
Herman. Bush was "obviously aware of what we're doing," said Herman. The old Prescott Bush
networks were still a big plus, he stressed. A group of House conservatives came out for Goldwater,
with Bush in second place.
Support for Goldwater was apt to turn into support for Bush at any time, so Bush was gaining
mightily, running second to Rocky alone. Taking note of the situation, even Bush's old allies at the
Washington Post had to register some qualms. In an editorial published on August 15, 1974 on the
subject of "The Vice Presidency," Post commentators quoted the ubiquitous Richard Herman onBush's qualifications. The Post found that Bush's "background and abilities would appear to qualify (^)
him for the vice presidency in just about all respects, except for the one that seems to us to really
matter: What is conspicuously lacking is any compelling or demonstrable evidence that he is
qualified to be President." Nelson might be better, suggested the Post. In any case, "we have the
recent example of Mr. Agnew to remind us of the pitfalls in the choice of Vice Presidents by theapplication of irrelevant criteria."
But despite these darts, Chairman George continued to surge ahead. The big break came when
Barry Goldwater, speaking in Columbia, South Carolina, told a Republican fund-raiser that he had a
"gut feeling" that Ford was going to select Bush for the vice presidency. Barry, we recall, had been
frankie
(Frankie)
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