In 1976, President Ford recalled Bush from China and appointed him as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, his brief was to restore morale and transform the way the agency was perceived by the public and by Congress.
When the Democrats came to power in 1977, Bush became Chairman of the Executive Committee of the First International Bank in Houston.
Bush sought the Republican nomination for the 1980 Presidential campaign, exploiting the contacts he had made as Chairman of the Republican National Committee and as a prominent Texas businessman with corporate interests in the East.
Bush soon emerged as the principal challenger to the former Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, the Republican frontrunner.
Although Reagan later defeated Bush, surprisingly he selected him as his running mate and hence placing him on the winning Republican presidential ticket of 1980.
Bush proved to be a loyal, hard-working supporter of the President who maintained a low profile presence, providing quiet counsel to Reagan and gained his confidence.
When Reagan was shot and seriously wounded in 1981, Bush flew in from Dallas immediately, his aides advised him to take the helicopter to the White House to illustrate to the public that the government was still operating normally.
Bush refused stating "only the President lands on the South Lawn", this made a serious impression on Reagan, the two men became very close, lunching regularly on Thursdays in the Oval Office.
When Reagan was re-nominated in 1984, Bush retained the Vice-Presidency, continuing in his role in the background offering advice and counsel.