National GOP Endorses Bond as Chairman

WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee unanimously endorsed President Bush’s choice of Richard N. Bond as its new chairman Saturday, completing Bush’s make-over of his election-year team.

Bond, a veteran GOP operative who has given Bush advice for more than a decade, succeeds Clayton K. Yeutter in the top party post. Bush on Friday named Yeutter as White House domestic policy adviser--a new Cabinet-level position with wide-ranging authority.

Bond was approved by a resounding voice vote. There were no dissents.

In his final remarks as party chief, Yeutter presented a sober assessment of the President’s political plight with the economy mired in a recession.

“In my judgment, this presidency is going to rise or fall on how it performs between now and November,” Yeutter said at the close of the committee’s three-day meeting.