Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg was chosen as the Republican nominee for the Presidency of the United States last night in New Lecture Hall.

In what was probably the biggest display of student enthusiasm since the end of the football season, University Republicans made a surprise rally behind Vandenberg on the third ballot to defeat Harold E. Stassen who had come within 20 votes of winning the nomination on the previous roll-call.

The convention, which was under the sponsorship of the Young Republican Club, opened with a keynote address by Congressman Claude I. Bakewell of Missouri. "The American people are tired of personality without character," Bakewell proclaimed. "Both on its record and as staunch advocates of freedom, the GOP is entitled to choose the next President and he will be a strong President," he continued.

Stassen, the first candidate nominated, was placed on the ballot by Daniel M. Pierce '49, an Illinois resident, who was head of the Minnesota delegation. A loud and large parade followed Pierce's speech.

Successive delegations nominated Senator Taft, Governor Dewey, Governor Warren, and Senator Vandenberg.

Because of the large number of tallies for favorite sons on the first ballot, no candidate came near the required 543 votes. Stassen led the field with 209, followed by Vandenberg with 203 and Dewey with 157.

After Vandenberg's election, Students for Stassen officials said they were not at all discouraged by the convention results.

They added, however, that the type of "Stop Stassen" movement which developed last night was just what their candidate would have to beware of at the National Convention.

Alleged "strong-arm" tactics of a few HYRC officials at the convention caused some slight resentment, but there were no serious distubances during the evening.

Plans to choose a nominee for Vice-President were dropped because of the amount of time consumed picking the GOP's Presidential standard bearer