Bush Picks N. J. Gov. Kean as GOP Keynote Speaker

New Jersey Gov. Thomas H. Kean, who literally wrote the book on broadening the Republican Party through “The Politics of Inclusion,” will deliver the keynote speech at the GOP National Convention in August, GOP National Chairman Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. announced Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Vice President George Bush made the selection personally, Bush’s office said.

But the announcement drew an immediate blast from Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey (R-N. H.), who said the decision was “an affront to the right-to-life movement.”

Aides say Kean is personally opposed to abortion but does not support a constitutional ban, something Humphrey has long sought.

Fahrenkopf said there will also be a “featured” speech by former U.N. Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, the outspoken former Democrat who campaigned against Bush in early Republican primaries this year.

Kean squeaked into the governorship in 1981 but built his popularity and won reelection by a landslide in 1985.

Bush has long and publicly admired Kean’s political success in a swing state as well as the governor’s philosophy of actually doing something about the GOP’s long-elusive goal of broadening its base and cutting into Democratic constituencies. Kean won an unprecedented 60% of the black vote three years ago.

Fahrenkopf, meanwhile, said he believes California Gov. George Deukmejian could be pressured into being Bush’s running mate if polls indicate he would strengthen the party’s chances in November.