Dan Quayle
This 44th vice president of the United States served under President George H W Bush from 1989 to 1993. He attempted to secure a place in the run for president in 2000, but was not successful. Republican Dan Quayle is a frequent media target for his ultra-conservative views and several public blunders, his most famous being incorrectly spelling the word potato at an elementary spelling bee. On the upside, he is the only former vice president not elected to the presidency to have a museum. The tribute to Quayle is located in Huntington, Indiana.
James Danforth Quayle was born on February 4, 1946, in Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating from high school in 1965, Dan attended De Pauw University, where he earned his political science degree. From the time of his graduation until 1975, Quayle earned his law degree, served with the Indiana National Guard, and successfully launched his career in public service, working with the Attorney General’s office and the Indiana Department of Revenue.
In 1976, Dan entered the world of politics when he was elected to the U.S. Congress, where he served two terms. Then, in 1980, at the age of thirty-three, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, making him the youngest person from Indiana to ever hold the position. He served for two terms with the senate, working on several committees including the Armed Services Committee and the Budget Committee.
In 1988, presidential candidate George H W Bush announced his intentions to make Dan Quayle his running mate, and therefore vice president of the United States in the event of a victory for Bush. The decision was met with criticism, including allegations that Quayle used family connections to enter the National Guard and avoid the Vietnam War. At the vice presidential debate, Quayle compared himself to Jack Kennedy. Democratic candidate Lloyd Bentsen responded with his now famous line “Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.” Quayle’s response of “That was really uncalled for, Senator” provided material for comedians and led to Quayle being included in un-flattering editorial cartoons, which depicted him as a child.
Despite any criticism surrounding Bush’s potential second in command, the Republicans secured a victory in the election, making Quayle Vice President. During his time as the country’s VP, he served as chairman of the National Space Council and head of the Council of Competitiveness. His role in direct policy making, however, was limited in comparison to successors like Al Gore and Dick Cheney.
Despite any positive contributions that Quayle might have made during his time in the White House, he was the subject of unending ridicule. His conservative views made him a target of the rap community, and he singled out Tupac Shakur as a negative influence on society when gangsta rap was gaining popularity. While judging a spelling bee in New Jersey, William Figueroa correctly spelled potato, which was declared incorrect by Quayle, who spelled it p-o-t-a-t-o-e. The elementary student was invited to be a guest on The Tonight Show with David Letterman, and also led the pledge of allegiance at the Democratic National Convention. The mistake left a lasting mark on Dan’s reputation.
In 1992, he managed to ostracize feminist and liberal groups during a speech when he blamed the L.A. riots on a decay of moral values, and singled out the television series Murphy Brown, which starred Candice Bergen, as depicting single motherhood in a positive light.
After Bush lost the election in 1992, Quayle sought the presidential nomination in 2000, but finished eighth and withdrew from the race. It seems as though he will never achieve his dream of one day becoming president. Dan and his wife Marilyn currently reside in Arizona. They have three children.
YUDDY
