At Bush Coronation, Father a Spectator

AUSTIN, Texas —  Elizabeth Hanford Dole will have a prime speaking part. So might Laura Bush. But George W. Bush’s famous father will play a more modest role at a GOP convention designed to show diversity and showcase the Texas governor.

In an effort to attract TV coverage in a day when the major networks have demonstrated little appetite for such fare, the Bush campaign is planning a few features that could add a smidgen of novelty to the minutely scripted event, which runs four days starting July 31.

Texas Gov. Bush may forsake the first two days of the Republican gathering to appear elsewhere around the country at events that would be beamed to the convention hall via satellite. He could arrive in the host city of Philadelphia at midweek, on the day he formally claims the GOP presidential nomination.

In other wrinkles, the formal roll call of states bestowing the nomination may take place over three nights, rather than one, and the convention might replace the usual “keynote” address with a series of prime-time speeches, including appearances by retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Dole, who delivered a successful theater-in-the-round performance for her nominee husband, Bob, at the 1996 GOP convention.

Bush has already said that he would eschew the attack-oriented nature of past GOP conventions in favor of a program that would serve more to highlight the positive aspects of his “compassionate conservative” agenda.

“Gov. Bush wants the convention to focus on ideas and on changing the tone in Washington,” said spokesman Ari Fleischer. “It’s going to be substantive, issue-oriented, and we think it’s going to capture people’s imaginations.”

Built around a theme-a-night program, the convention’s first installment will likely feature Powell and possibly Laura Bush, the governor’s wife, who rarely speaks in public. A “charter school”--one that operates free of most bureaucratic oversight--will be spotlighted as part of Bush’s effort to emphasize his call for education reform.

The lineup on the second night, devoted to a theme of “strength and security,” will likely include Dole; McCain, the runner-up to Bush in the bitter GOP primaries; and Condoleezza Rice, the governor’s national security advisor.

The Tuesday night program will also include a tribute to past Republican presidents, including Bush’s father, who will not have the speaking role that might be expected of such a high-profile parent (not to mention the last Republican to serve in the White House.)

While wishing no disrespect, the Bush campaign is mindful of the need to establish the Texas governor in voters’ eyes as a worthy presidential prospect in his own right. Indeed, many view a joint father-son appearance on the eve of the New Hampshire primary as one of the campaign’s few major missteps.

Economic issues, including Social Security, will likely be the focus of the third night, when Bush would formally claim the GOP nomination. The vice presidential running mate will be the night’s featured speaker, and Bush’s acceptance speech, in keeping with tradition, will serve as the convention finale on Thursday night.

By awarding one of the few, coveted prime-time speaking slots to Dole, the campaign signaled its intention to court women voters, who have leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections. As part of the diversity theme, the Bush campaign also announced earlier this week that three members of Congress--one Latino, one female and one black--would serve as deputy chairmen of the convention.

The selection of Reps. Henry Bonilla of Texas, Jennifer Dunn of Washington state and J.C. Watts Jr. of Oklahoma guarantees that a variety of faces and complexions will be visible throughout the convention.

A spokesman for Al Gore said Friday the vice president’s camp has no such details to announce about the Democratic gathering, which opens in Los Angeles on Aug. 14. “Plans for the Democratic convention are still in the works,” said press secretary Douglas Hattaway.

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Times researcher Massie Ritsch contributed to this story.