Paterno was a political conservative and a personal friend of President George H. W. Bush . He campaigned for Bush door-to-door in the 1988 New Hampshire primary , and seconded his nomination at the Republican National Convention . Paterno was also a close friend of President Gerald R. Ford , and introduced President George W. Bush at a campaign rally before the 2004 presidential election . Before the 1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election , a group of Pennsylvania Republican Party leaders briefly considered Paterno for Andrew Lewis ' ticket as the candidate for lieutenant governor
Republican National Convention
1988 Republican National Convention
Joe Paterno