The decision to place Card, a former Massachusetts state representative, in such a significant post marks the second time in two weeks that the campaign has reached back to the administration of Bush's father for someone to perform key tasks.

On April 25, the Texas governor and presumptive Republican presidential nominee picked former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney to head his vice presidential selection committee.

Card, 52, said Wednesday in an interview, "Governor Bush and I are the same age, and I am a passionate supporter of Governor Bush's initiatives and his leadership, and that is independent of the tremendous and absolute respect I have for his dad."

In a statement, Bush said: "Andy is a good man who will do a great job at the convention."

Card, a representative from Holbrook, Mass., who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Massachusetts in 1982, currently works as head of government affairs for General Motors. He said he will take an unpaid "unambiguous temporary leave" from the automaker beginning Friday. He also has represented the interests of automakers in Washington as head of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Card started his Washington career as liaison to state elected officials for President Reagan. He served three years as deputy chief of staff for President Bush before spending the administration's last year as transportation secretary.

After Bush was defeated by President Clinton in 1992, Card supervised the administration's transition out of office.

In his new post, Card will officially serve as chairman of the Bush-for-President operation at the convention, which will be in Philadelphia from July 31 to Aug 3. In reality, however, he will have a say in all convention matters.

While the run-up to the 1996 convention was marred by an intra-party squabble over abortion rights, Card said he will work to avoid any such disruption.

"I want to make sure that the convention provides significant forward momentum to the Bush campaign and the campaigns that will be run by Republican candidates around the country," he said.