Difference between revisions of "Lloyd Bentsen"
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| − | '''Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr.''' (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was the unsuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1988|1988 presidential election]]. Previously he served as a [[United States Senator]] from [[Texas]] from 1971 to | + | '''Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr.''' (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was the unsuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1988|1988 presidential election]]. Previously he served as a [[United States Senator]] from [[Texas]] from 1971 to 1993 and thereafter until 1994 as [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] under [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]]. Bentsen was involved from childhood with the [[Boy Scouts of America|Scouting]] at a young age, having earned the highest rank of [[Eagle Scout]].<ref>[http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/lloyd_bentsen.html Lloyd Bentsen Quotes]</ref> |
==Attacking Quayle== | ==Attacking Quayle== | ||
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Quayle responded simply that Bentsen's attack was "uncalled for," which Bentsen countered by blaming Quayle for bringing up the comparison in the first place. Quayle later admitted that his answer was inadequate to the challenge. | Quayle responded simply that Bentsen's attack was "uncalled for," which Bentsen countered by blaming Quayle for bringing up the comparison in the first place. Quayle later admitted that his answer was inadequate to the challenge. | ||
| − | Coincidentally, Bentsen ran for vice president with presidential nominee [[Michael Dukakis]] of [[Massachusetts]]. Dukakis lost the race to [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], whom Bentsen had defeated for the U.S. Senate in 1970. Dukakis supposedly had sought to resurrect the successful [[Boston]]-[[Austin]] connection of the 1960 presidential election. | + | Coincidentally, Bentsen ran for vice president with presidential nominee [[Michael Dukakis]] of [[Massachusetts]]. Dukakis lost the race to [[George Herbert Walker Bush]], whom Bentsen had defeated for the U.S. Senate in 1970. Dukakis supposedly had sought to resurrect the successful [[Boston]]-[[Austin]] connection of the 1960 presidential election. And Bill Clinton who named Bentsen to his [[Cabinet]] had unseated the same George Bush whom Bentsen had defeated twenty-three years earlier. |
Bentsen was a decorated [[World War II]] combat veteran, serving in the [[United States Army]] Air Forces. He was shot down in a bomber raid and rescued. | Bentsen was a decorated [[World War II]] combat veteran, serving in the [[United States Army]] Air Forces. He was shot down in a bomber raid and rescued. | ||
| − | + | In his memoir, Clinton uses the condescending and disparaging language, "A pro-[[business]] Democrat who still cares for ordinary people" in reference to Bensten, who was considered moderate on economic issues but a [[liberal]] on social policy.<ref>[[Bill Clinton]], ''My Life'' ([[New York City]]: Knopf, 2004), p. 451.</ref> | |
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 18:25, October 5, 2017
| Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. | |
 | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – December 22, 1994 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Nicholas F. Brady |
| Succeeded by | Robert Rubin |
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 20, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph William Yarborough |
| Succeeded by | Bob Krueger (interim for Kay Bailey Hutchison) |
U.S. Representative for Texas' 15th congressional district
| |
| In office December 4, 1948 – January 3, 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Milton West |
| Succeeded by | Joe M. Kilgore |
| Born | February 11, 1921 Mission, Texas |
| Died | May 23, 2006 Houston, Texas |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Beryl Longino Bentsen (married 1943-2006, his death) |
| Children | Two sons and one daughter |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer United States Army Air Forces in World War II (1942-1947) |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. (February 11, 1921 – May 23, 2006) was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for vice president in the 1988 presidential election. Previously he served as a United States Senator from Texas from 1971 to 1993 and thereafter until 1994 as Secretary of the Treasury under U.S. President Bill Clinton. Bentsen was involved from childhood with the Scouting at a young age, having earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout.[1]
Attacking Quayle
During the vice presidential debate in 1988, the question of whether Republican candidate Dan Quayle had enough experience to serve as Vice President came up for the third time in that debate, and Quayle answered it by comparing his congressional experience with that of John F. Kennedy when he sought the Presidency. Bentsen had known Kennedy while they were both serving in Congress, and used this fact in his sharp response:
- "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Quayle responded simply that Bentsen's attack was "uncalled for," which Bentsen countered by blaming Quayle for bringing up the comparison in the first place. Quayle later admitted that his answer was inadequate to the challenge.
Coincidentally, Bentsen ran for vice president with presidential nominee Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts. Dukakis lost the race to George Herbert Walker Bush, whom Bentsen had defeated for the U.S. Senate in 1970. Dukakis supposedly had sought to resurrect the successful Boston-Austin connection of the 1960 presidential election. And Bill Clinton who named Bentsen to his Cabinet had unseated the same George Bush whom Bentsen had defeated twenty-three years earlier.
Bentsen was a decorated World War II combat veteran, serving in the United States Army Air Forces. He was shot down in a bomber raid and rescued.
In his memoir, Clinton uses the condescending and disparaging language, "A pro-business Democrat who still cares for ordinary people" in reference to Bensten, who was considered moderate on economic issues but a liberal on social policy.[2]
External links
- http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/24/washington/24bentsen.html?ei=5088&en=76fccf1b5e08e750&ex=1306123200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
- http://www.humanevents.com/rightangle/index.php?id=13562&title=Remembering_Lloyd_Bentsen_a_Different_Way
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/23/AR2006052300593.html
References
- ↑ Lloyd Bentsen Quotes
- ↑ Bill Clinton, My Life (New York City: Knopf, 2004), p. 451.