James Danforth Quayle – the Right Man for the Job?
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James Danforth Quayle
The Right Man for the Job?
Kenny Burke
12/8/05
James Danforth Quayle
The Right Man for the Job?
Potato, P – O – T – A – T – O, Potato. No I am sorry, Potato is spelled Potatoe! Those were the infamous words that rung out in Trenton, New Jersey at an elementary school spelling bee. This incident was arguably the most memorable and lasting image of Vice President Dan Quayles political career. Comedians, commentators, and all branches of the media had a field day with this comment as well as many other comments from the Indianapolis, Indiana native.
But how did this young and ambitious politician get to this point? This question has been brought up by political analysts for years and as long as there is a historical record of his controversial term as Vice President, there will be people who question, was he the right man for the job?
Dan Quayle was born into a wealthy family. His grandfather owned several newspapers including the Arizona Republic and the Indianapolis Star. Quayles father moved his family to Arizona so that he could run a branch of the publishing empire. Dan lived most of his childhood years in Arizona, but would later move back to Indiana for his secondary education, and for his collegiate education. 1
He received a B.A. in political science from DePauw University in Indiana. After graduation, he went to serve in the Indiana National Guard. This move, would eventually come back to haunt Quayle as some critics would claim that he was a draft dodger in the time of the Viet Nam conflict. While he was in the guard, he received his Juris Doctor
1. Fenno 1989. The Making of a Senator – Dan Quayle. (79-81)
degree from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. He was 27 when he finished law school, and began practicing law with his wife, Marilyn, in Huntington, Indiana.2
This is the beginning of Dan Quayles life in Public Service. He works for the Indiana Attorney Generals office and later works at the tax division for the Indiana Department of Revenue.3
His political career begins in 1976 when he defeated an eight term incumbent for a seat in the U.S. Congress from Indianas fourth congressional district. He won by the greatest percentage margin to date when he ran for reelection in 1980. It seems that at this time in his career, he can do no wrong, and that no one can stop him. He is gaining attention nationwide from other Republicans and is quickly being recognized as a giant killer when it comes to elections. In 1980, at age 33, he becomes the youngest ever senator from the state of Indiana. He defeated a three time incumbent, Birch Bayh. In his last senate campaign in 1986, he once again set Indiana political history by defeating his opponent by the greatest margin of any Senatorial race to that date.
During his senate races, Dan Quayle had called upon then current vice president of the United States, George H. W. Bush, to help rally support for his campaign. Bush comes in and helps Quayle raise extraordinary amounts of money for the party, and it is here when we see the first connection between the future president and vice president.
Ronald Reagan had held the presidency of the United States as a member of the Republican Party for the previous two terms. His Vice President, George H.W. Bush
2. www.vicepresidentdanquayle.com – copyright 2004. Dan Quayle.
3. www.vicepresidentdanquayle.com – copyright 2004. Dan Quayle.
became the Republicans presidential nominee on the 1988 ticket. Bushs selection for
who would become the 44th vice president was a secretive process, and left many people guessing who would be his choice. The guessing game included the possible candidates as well. John McCain, Bob Dole, Pete Domenici were all possible running mates. The secrecy surrounding Bushs selection of the vice president would ultimately do more harm than good. 3
Success followed this guy everywhere he goes. Everything just comes easy for Dan Quayle. And that will be the foundation for Quayles biggest obstacle: winning the support of the American People. The American people are funny when it comes to who they want to place in the White House. Does this man deserve to be vice president?
Quayle was the first member of his generation, the baby boomers, to run on a presidential ticket. Many people were accustomed to ultra conservative presidents, and more father figure types. The boyish charm and youthful spunk that he brought to the Republican National Convention would be the beginning of the direct attacks upon his character and his upbringing.
Before the election of 1988, the press was already seeking answers to Quayles past. Did his wealthy family influence his ability to join the Indiana National Guard, thus avoiding being drafted in the 1970s? The press was also questioning whether or not this vice presidential candidate had enough political experience to effectively run the government as president if anything should happen to Bush.
The Democrats would run two men that would seem to be complete opposites of the Republican nominees. Michael Dukakis would be the presidential candidate and his
3. Quayle 1994. Standing Fim – A Vice Presidential Memoir. (23-25)
running mate would be Lloyd Bentsen. 4 Dukakis was the young liberal from
Massachusetts, and Bentsen was the elder statesman from Texas. Many people believed
that the Democrats would have had a better chance in this election, had the two roles been reversed, as Bentsen seemed a better fit for the presidency. Bentsen even received an electoral vote in the election from an elector from West Virginia.
It was a debate between Bentsen and Quayle that would scar Quayles reputation forever. Quayle was responding to a question regarding his inexperience in Washington. In his answer he compared his lack of experience to that of former President John F. Kennedy. Senator Bentsens comeback to this correlation was epic, and was one of the defining moments of the 1988 election. He said, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, youre no Jack Kennedy.”