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Quayle also found himself enmeshed in controversy when it was alleged that his serving stateside in the [[National Guard]] during the [[Vietnam War]] was due to family connections in order to avoid the draft.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DD1231F932A1575BC0A96E948260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Organizations/R/Republican%20Party BUSH STRUGGLING TO SHED QUESTIONS ON QUAYLE SERVICE]</ref> It is interesting to note that there was more controversy over a Vice President serving in the National Guard than there was over the next President ([[Bill Clinton]]) avoiding the war altogether.  

Quayle also found himself enmeshed in controversy when it was alleged that his serving stateside in the [[National Guard]] during the [[Vietnam War]] was due to family connections in order to avoid the draft.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DD1231F932A1575BC0A96E948260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Organizations/R/Republican%20Party BUSH STRUGGLING TO SHED QUESTIONS ON QUAYLE SERVICE]</ref> It is interesting to note that there was more controversy over a Vice President serving in the National Guard than there was over the next President ([[Bill Clinton]]) avoiding the war altogether.  

Perhaps the sharpest blow to his reputation came during his vice presidential debate with Democrat [[Lloyd Bentsen]], [[Michael Dukakis]]' running mate. When queried on his comparatively short record, he replied that he had as much Congressional experience as [[John F. Kennedy]]. Bentsen replied, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Perhaps the lowest blow directed at him occurred during his vice presidential debate with Democrat [[Lloyd Bentsen]], [[Michael Dukakis]]' running mate. Quayle had already been subjected to being reasked the same question multiple times, an unprecedent move by the moderators who were supposed to be neutral, but when they went on to query him on his comparatively short record, he replied that he had as much Congressional experience as [[John F. Kennedy]]. Bentsen's operatives had overheard Quayle making the comment during practice, and Bentsen had already forged a reply in case the statement was made in the debate.  Unable to factually counter Quayle's assertion, Bentsen decided to make a deeply personal attack that sidestepped the issue completely, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Incredibly, the vicious personal attack was not condemned by the press as unprofessional and unbecoming.  Quayle had the last laugh though when the Democratic ticket decided to go all out in attacking Quayle's performance and worthiness instead of attacking the Presidential candidate George Bush.  The Bush-Quayle ticket coasted to an easy victory. 

As Vice President, he had a much publicized "feud" with [[Murphy Brown]], a then popular TV show starring Candice Bergen as the title character who became pregnant out of wedlock.  Dan Quayle said that she was a poor role model for getting pregnant out of wedlock. His statements led to backlash from the [[liberal]] media.  Even though no one of note actually said they supported the concept of single motherhood as a best-case option for American women, and Quayle took great care in noting he was not criticizing women who were in that situation through no particular fault of their own, he was besieged with false allegations and smears.  

As Vice President, he had a much publicized "feud" with [[Murphy Brown]], a then popular TV show starring Candice Bergen as the title character who became pregnant out of wedlock.  Dan Quayle said that she was a poor role model for getting pregnant out of wedlock. His statements led to backlash from the [[liberal]] media.  Even though no one of note actually said they supported the concept of single motherhood as a best-case option for American women, and Quayle took great care in noting he was not criticizing women who were in that situation through no particular fault of their own, he was besieged with false allegations and smears.