Cheney Joins Bush on GOP Ticket

July 25 -- Former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney has joined presidential candidate George W. Bush on the Republican ticket.

The Texas governor formally named Cheney as his running mate at a campaign rally this afternoon at the University of Texas in Austin.

“I believe you’re looking at the next vice president of the United States,” Bush told an enthusiastic crowd of supporters as he stood side-by-side with the former Cabinet secretary, who ran the Pentagon during the Gulf War, under Bush’s father’s administration. “I’m proud to announce that Dick Cheney, a man of great integrity, sound judgment and experience is my choice to be the next vice president of the United States.”

Cheney, a former congressman, White House chief of staff and secretary of defense, had been heading up Bush’s search for running mate.

“Gradually, I realized the person that was best qualified to be the vice presidential nominee was working by my side,” Bush explained.

“I’m honored and proud to join your team,” Cheney told the governor, “and I enthusiastically accept the challenge.”

“Big changes are coming to Washington,” he added, “and I want to be a part of them.”

Gore, Dems Pan Cheney

Bush described his new running mate as a man “who is respected by Republicans and Democrats alike.”

“Even my opponent, Vice President [Al] Gore, once said Dick Cheney is a good man who iswell liked and respected by his colleagues,” he said.

But Gore and his Democratic allies wasted no times in criticizing Bush’s choice, portraying Cheney as an out-of-the-mainstream ultra-conservative.

“Governor Bush has now chosen his running mate,” Gore told a meeting of the Independent Living Council in Washington. “And there’s no question now that the American people will have a choice between two very different tickets and visions for our future.”