Bush Picks Sen. Quayle of Indiana as Running Mate : 41-Year-Old Conservative in 2nd Term

George Bush said today he has picked 41-year-old Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle as his running mate. He introduced Quayle as “a man of the future” at a welcoming rally in this convention city.

Bush thus reached out to add a youthful conservative to his ticket for his uphill race against the Democrats. Quayle is in his second term as senator. Bush made a formal announcement of his pick and the two appeared together, drawing loud cheers.

Word of Quayle’s selection leaked out a few hours after Bush arrived in the convention city to claim his party’s nomination, saying he had picked a running mate “with finality” and then briefly struggling to keep his secret.

But since Bush’s first order of business was to inform people who were not chosen for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket, word began to spread.

‘A Tough Decision’

Among those to receive rejection calls were Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, who was told he had been one of two finalists; his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Hanford Dole; Rep. Jack Kemp of New York, a favorite of many conservatives; Sen. Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, and South Carolina Gov. Carroll A. Campbell.

Also off the list was California Gov. George Deukmejian, who told reporters that he had received a telephone call.

“It was a tough decision,” Bush told Dole in a telephone call. About 10 minutes after Bush hung up with the senator, the vice president called back again, this time to inform Elizabeth Dole that she had been passed over, too.

In his call to Campbell, Bush seemed to rule out two Tennesseans, former Gov. Lamar Alexander and former Sen. Howard H. Baker, by saying he had ruled out a Southerner.

‘I Do Not Intend to Fail’

Bush trumpeted confidence about the campaign ahead as he arrived for his hour of triumph.

“I do not intend to fail” in the quest for the White House, said the man who lags in the early public opinion polls.

In a carefully scripted changing of the GOP guard, Bush flew to the convention city and strolled across a windy Tarmac to bid “hail and farewell” to a departing President Reagan.

At a ceremony at Belle Chasse Naval Air Station 20 miles from town, Bush and Reagan met briefly and then headed their separate ways, Reagan en route to a long vacation in California and Bush making a triumphant entry into the convention city.

“Hail and farewell,” Bush told Reagan and his wife Nancy.

Quoting Sir Isaac Newton, the vice president said: “If I’ve seen further, it’s because I’ve stood on the shoulders of giants. . . . Today, America can see further because of your vision.”

In response, Reagan joked that he tried to make a deal with Bush: “I’d tell him where to find the best blackened redfish, if he’d tell me who’s going to be vice president.”

But the President lauded Bush and said, “You have all our support and all our love.”

Bush shook Reagan’s hand and said, “Have a safe trip; see you in a few weeks.”

The President, asked by reporters about the identity of Bush’s running mate, said: “I don’t know. He hasn’t told me. I’m not sure he knows.” Bush quickly interjected, “No, I know.”

Just before Reagan boarded Air Force One, Bush leaned over and whispered something in Reagan’s ear. Reagan nodded. Bush aide Alixe Glen said she thought the vice president told Reagan the running mate’s name.

In addition to finally making his vice presidential choice, Bush said he was also ready with the speech he will deliver Thursday night, an address that delegates say is crucial to set the tone for his fall campaign.

Bush said he practiced the speech on the plane on the way to New Orleans. “I checked it out with Barbara,” he said. “She stayed awake for the whole thing. I feel comfortable with what we’ve got.”