Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr.

Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. (1921-2006), United States secretary of the treasury (1993-1995), U.S. senator (1971-1993), and Democratic candidate for vice president (1988). Born in Mission, Texas, and educated at the University of Texas, where he received a law degree, he served as a bomber pilot in World War II (1939-1945). In 1948 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served three terms. He then returned to Texas, where he made a fortune in real estate. In 1970 Bentsen defeated George H. W. Bush in a race for the U.S. Senate. Bentsen sought nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate in 1976 but withdrew in favor of Jimmy Carter and was reelected to the Senate instead. He was also reelected in 1982.

Bentsen was named chairman of the influential Senate Finance Committee in 1986 and helped to pass major bills on trade, industrial plant closings, and catastrophic health insurance. His views on social, economic, and foreign affairs were conservative; he supported funding for the MX and Midgetman missile systems, as well as for the Nicaraguan rebel forces, the Contras. He voted for prayer in public schools and for the mandatory balancing of the budget. He opposed federal funding for abortion.

Bentsen was nominated for vice president in 1988 as the running mate of Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. Under Texas law, he was permitted to run simultaneously for the Senate. During the campaign, Bentsen became known for his famous exchange with the Republican vice presidential candidate, Senator Dan Quayle, who compared himself with Democratic president John F. Kennedy during a nationally televised debate. Bentsen replied: “I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.” Although the Democrats lost the national election, Bentsen retained his Senate seat until early 1993, when President Bill Clinton named him secretary of the treasury. In 1999 Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.