Bush: 'You're Looking At The Next VP Of The U.S.'

Cheney Enthusiastically Accepts Recommendation

AUSTIN, Texas, Updated 10:27 a.m. EDT July 26, 2000 -- Amid applause and chants of "Cheney, Cheney, Cheney," Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, announced Tuesday that Dick Cheney will be his running mate on the official Republican ticket.

As Bush stood at the podium, he told the crowd that he thought they were "looking at the next vice president of the United States."

"He is a man of great integrity and sound judgment," Bush said. "He is my next choice to be the next vice president of the United States. He is fully capable of being the President of the United States and he will be a valuable partner in the Bush administration."

Bush said that he had asked Cheney to be his running mate before he came on board to help find him the next vice president, but Cheney declined because he enjoyed working in the private sector.

Bush said that as the two worked closely together to find a vice presidential nominee, he realized that Cheney was the person best qualified for that role.

"I was impressed by his thoughtfulness and the way he approached his mission and, gradually, I realized the person who was best qualified to be my vice president was working by my side," Bush said. "I saw first hand Dick Cheney's outstanding judgment. He has served our country, and he is respected by Republicans and Democrats.

"I am proud to call him my friend and honored to call him my running mate."

Cheney stood at the podium and told the crowd that he's "absolutely confident" that he and Bush will prevail.

He said that he wants to help change the tone in Washington.

"America's leaders should stop pointing the finger of blame and start sharing the success," Cheney said.

He said he was "honored and proud" to join the Bush team and that he "enthustiastically" accepts the challenge.

"I believe Gov. Bush has the vision and courage to be a great president," Cheney said.

Cheney confirmed speculation that he will be Bush's running mate for the Republican presidential ticket.

He acknowledged his selection when he was asked how it felt to be Bush's choice. The former defense secretary replied "Pretty good" as he entered the governor's mansion in Austin.

A highly placed Republican official said earlier Tuesday that Bush made an early-morning telephone call to Cheney, and the former defense secretary accepted.

A Bush spokeswoman said the candidate made the phone call from the governor's mansion in Austin. She would not identify the person whom Bush called, but said that the man on the other end of the phone said yes.

GOP sources said that the call was to Cheney.

Cheney, 59, served Bush's father -- President George Bush -- as defense secretary during the Persian Gulf War. He also served as White House chief of staff after a long tenure as a congressman from Wyoming.

He is now chairman and CEO of Dallas-based oil services giant Halliburton.

Bush and Cheney will visit Cheney's home state of Wyoming on Wednesday.

Bush was busy on the phone.

After his phone call to Cheney, Bush contacted others who had been on his list of potential running mates.

An aide to Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist said Bush called the senator and told him that he had selected Cheney, and then thanked Frist for taking part in the selection process.

Other calls went to Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Govs. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania, Frank Keating of Oklahoma and George Pataki of New York.

Two new polls released Tuesday show the presidential race is still nip and tuck.

An ABC Washington Post survey gives Bush a 48-to-45 percent edge over Vice President Al Gore. That's a statistical tie since the margin of error is three points.

Bush has a slightly larger bulge in a CBS New York Times poll, with 46 percent favoring the Texas governor to the vice president's 40 perecent. That poll's margin of error was three points.

With the GOP nominating convention in Philadelphia opening in a week, Bush had tentatively planned to announce his decision Tuesday. A GOP source familiar with the deliberations said that Bush was on the verge of naming Cheney, but cautioned that his decision would not be final until he "makes the call."

Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth remained under consideration, but his prospects faded throughout the weekend as Bush mulled his options at his secluded Texas ranch. As Bush arrived Monday afternoon at the governor's mansion in Austin advisers said a surprise pick was still possible but not very likely.

Bush had planned to notify his nominee Monday night, a second source said, and he was "leaning heavily" toward Cheney. Barring a last-minute change of heart, he will tap the former Pentagon chief, the source said.

The same source told The Associated Press on Friday that Bush was "very, very close" to picking Cheney. "Nothing has changed," said the source, who has discussed the deliberations with Bush.

Cheney Viewed As Solid, Stable

With a focus on Cheney and Danforth, Bush seemed determined to pick a rock-solid conservative with Washington experience who poses little or no political risk.

Bolder options were available to Bush. Among the GOP stalwarts who had been under consideration: Frank Keating of Oklahoma, a little-known governor with a shoot-from-the lip style, and abortion-rights supporter Tom Ridge, governor of Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.

Also mentioned as prospects: Gov. George Pataki of New York; Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Fred Thompson and Bill Frist of Tennessee; Rep. John Kasich of Ohio; and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander.

What About Powell?

With so much at stake, rumors and speculation buzzed throughout the GOP community here and in Washington. The hottest gossip: Retired Gen. Colin Powell, who has frustrated Bush with his refusal to serve on the ticket, had reportedly entered negotiations with the Bush camp.

Sources deep inside the Powell and Bush camps quickly denied the report.

Cheney headed Bush's search team but emerged as a serious candidate after Bush considered or met with the prospects reviewed by Cheney -- ending with a secret Danforth meeting last week.

All signs pointed to Cheney. He changed his voter registration from Texas to Wyoming to avoid a hitch in the Constitution; he told business associates that he had a good chance of getting the job and leaving his company, Halliburton Co. of Dallas; and he forwarded an all-clear health report from his doctors to Bush.

Cheney, 59, sold nearly half his interest in Halliburton stock -- some 100,000 shares -- last month, raising an estimated $5.1 million. Before the sale, Cheney held options on 229,000 shares.

The health report came at the behest of Bush and his father, former President Bush, both of whom wanted to know whether Cheney's history of heart trouble would pose a problem in the campaign.

Sensitive to suggestions that the elder Bush is a quiet power behind his son's White House bid, campaign spokeswoman Karen Hughes said the call to Cheney's doctor was the only action taken by the former president in the review process.

Gulf Warrior

Cheney served as defense secretary under President Bush, helping the president forge an international coalition in the Persian Gulf War. Before that, he served six terms in Congress from Wyoming and as chief of staff for President Ford.

His appointment would add stature and Washington experience to the ticket. Bush has faced questions about whether he is ready to be president, and advisers believe that a running mate who knows his way around the White House -- and around the world -- would fill in the so-called gravitas gap.

In Congress, Cheney appealed to moderates, but racked up a conservative voting record and was a solid Ronald Reagan supporter. He was mentioned as a possible vice presidential running mate for the elder Bush in 1992.

Cheney is anti-abortion but says the party must accommodate Republicans on both sides of the debate.

Cheney suffered three mild heart attacks by age 48, including one while campaigning for the Wyoming House seat in the primaries. He has undergone coronary bypass surgery.

Record Not Spotless

A rare black mark on his record: He admitted writing 21 bad checks while serving in the House, but told the Ethics Committee that investigated the House banking scandal that he always had a positive balance and no checks were returned for insufficient funds.

In 1991, he gave Pentagon briefings to GOP supporters who donated $5,000 to the Republican National Committee.

Twice-failed presidential candidate Lamar Alexander was told by Cheney in May that he was under consideration and was contacted again last week by Cheney's office. A GOP source not tied to Alexander confirmed that he had been under consideration.

Like Danforth, who predicted Sunday that Cheney would get the job, Alexander had praise for the former Pentagon chief.

"If he's looking for somebody who's prepared to do the job and who would be a loyal subordinate, you know he's got Cheney cold," Alexander said in a telephone interview.

Cheney's History:

• Led search for Geroge W. Bush's running mate.
• As defense secretary for the Texas governor's father, President Bush, oversaw U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf War
• Was President Ford's chief of staff.
• Represented Wyoming in the U.S. House for six terms.
• Now chief executive officer of Halliburton Co., a Dallas-based engineering and construction complex.
• Close confidant of both George W. Bush and his father.
• While in Congress, considered one of the most conservative members.
• Voted with the Reagan administration on everything from the "Star Wars" missile defense system to anti-abortion rights.
• In first congressional run in 1978, suffered the first of three heart attacks.
• Had quadruple bypass operation in 1988.

Previous Stories:

• July 24, 2000: Cheney Expects To Get Bush's VP Bid
• July 24, 2000: VP Announcement Expected Tuesday
• July 23, 2000: Danforth Not Interested In Being VP
• July 22, 2000: Vice Presidential Nomination Deadline Nears
• July 21, 2000: Bush 'Very Close' To Naming Dick Cheney His VP
• July 21, 2000: Sources: McCain Would Be Bush's VP
• July 17, 2000: Bush Getting Closer To Picking Running Mate

Copyright 2001 by NewsNet5. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.