Bush was a good choice and later was a respectable president.

Reagan chose Bush after Jerry Ford said No! As it turned out , he was a good choice. He provided know how and was a good soldier.

Good choice providing geographic and experience balance.

Anybody remember the bumperstickers that read "Reagan in '80, Bush in '82"

Reagan needed a VP to placate the country club republicans.  The aristocratic former congressman and head of the CIA (he had also served on the Warren Commission) was just the ticket, even though he had ridiculed Reagan's economic plan as "Voodoo Economics" and took a "Pro-Choice" stance on abortion during the 1980 primaries.  Bush changed his views on abortion, apologized for the mocking and on they rode to the greatest landslide in US history over one-term President Jimmy Carter.  The Iranian Hostages were released after 444 days the day of Reagan's Inauguration, prompting democrats to cry "foul! "  To no avail.  Bush solidified Reagan's hold on both conservative and moderate republicans, even Jon Anderson's presence on the ballot couldn't derail the juggernaut.  Independents had nowhere else to go.