Thursday, May 2, 1996

Bush Lands Key Convention Job By MICHAEL HOLMES
Associated Press

AUSTIN - Gov. George W. Bush said Wednesday he hopes to use his post as temporary co-chairman of the Republican National Convention to set a kinder, gentler tone for conservatism.
"I've got something to say, and it will be a positive view of why I think conservatism is good for our country," said the eldest son of former President George Bush.

Bush and New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman will share the post, presiding over the early portion of the Aug. 12-15 convention in San Diego. House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the permanent chairman.

"It's important for the Republican Party to have people, whether it be me or Christine Todd Whitman, say we've got a good philosophy, a compassionate, decent philosophy that can make America a better place for our children and our children's children. I look forward to saying that," Bush said.

Some Republicans have said they thought the 1992 GOP convention in Houston, where Bush's father was nominated for a second term, left too negative an impression on television viewers.

Asked about that, Bush said, "I'd love to see the convention take a hopeful tone, an optimistic tone, a tone that says follow us, we've got a better vision for America."

He deferred questions about involvement of Pat Buchanan or other defeated GOP presidential candidates to the prospective nominee, Kansas Sen. Bob Dole. Bush endorsed Dole before the March 12 Texas primary.

The first-term governor said he viewed the selection of himself and Ms. Whitman as a statement by the national GOP about progress being made in states under Republican leadership.

"I think part of the emphasis is that the states are doing some really remarkable things. They would like me to share the success story as to why and what we've done," he said.

Since his election in 1994, when he defeated popular Democratic Gov. Ann Richards, Bush pushed for and won passage of four major legislative initiatives.

The state overhauled the education laws to give more control to local school districts, toughened juvenile crime laws, passed limits on civil lawsuits and changed welfare to put time limits on benefits and require job training.

Bush said his selection also demonstrates the political importance of Texas, the nation's second-largest state. "Good things happen to you when you're the governor of a great state," he said.
Nationally, some GOP officials said party leaders were offering a mixed bag of views on the abortion issue in their choice of convention officials.

Ms. Whitman vocally supports abortion rights, while two staunch abortion opponents were expected to head the party's platform committee: Illinois Rep. Henry Hyde, as chairman; and Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt as one of two co-chairmen.

Bush described himself as "pro-life," saying he favors limiting abortions to cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother. "I've made that clear. And I will continue to stay with it - this isn't a political position."

And while his own view is different, Bush said he believes the GOP should retain a platform plank calling for a constitutional ban on abortion.

"It was a winning platform in 1988. I don't think it determined the outcome of the 1992 election. I think it's important to keep it in," he said.

The governor downplayed suggestions that the convention would face a major battle over the issue.

"Now I know the national press is going to try to focus the convention on abortion. I'm not going to let it. I'm going to talk about the future, what we've done. ... There's some positive news to be put out, and that's what I intend to do," he said.

Bush is the latest Texan to play a major role in recent national political conventions.

In 1988, then-state treasurer Richards was the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, while then-Sen. Lloyd Bentsen was the party's vice presidential nominee. That also was the year Bush's father won his first presidential nomination.

In 1992, Richards chaired her party's convention in New York City, while former Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan delivered the keynote address. Ms. Jordan also keynoted the 1976 Democratic National Convention, a speech so remarkable it sparked rumors that she might be offered the vice presidential nomination.

Also in 1992, state Treasurer Kay Bailey Hutchison, now a U.S. senator, held the same job Bush will have this year - temporary convention chair.