Lloyd Bentsen
Lloyd Millard Bentsen, Jr. ( born February 11, 1921 in Mission, Texas; † 23 May 2006, Houston, Texas ) was an American politician, Minister of Finance and Vice- presidential candidate of the Democratic Party.
Education and military service
After studying law at the University of Texas School of Law, he served during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Force, in which he rose to colonel. After the war, he was initially a private lawyer in McAllen and 1946-1948 Judge in Hidalgo County.
Member of Parliament and Senator
From 1948 to 1955 Bentsen represented the Democratic Party as a delegate for the 15th legislative district of Texas in the House of Representatives of the United States. He then spent 15 years in the business and was last president of Lincoln Consolidated Financial Holding.
After this break, he returned in 1970 back into politics and ran for senator in his home state of Texas. On his first election, he edged the Republican candidate, who later became President George Bush. Bentsen was in the later elections (1976, 1982, 1988) confirmed by a large majority.
1976 Bentsen defeated in the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party the then president elected Jimmy Carter.
Vice Presidential Candidate 1988
In 1988 he was nominated the former Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, as a candidate for the vice-presidency.
Unforgotten is a television duel between him and the vice presidential candidate of the Republican, Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana, who compared his experience in Parliament before the election with that of Jack Kennedy ( John F. Kennedy). Bentsen then replied:
" Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy! "
" Senator, I have worked with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy! "
Quayle, who could respond only after long hesitation, "That was really uncalled for, senator. " ( "That was really inappropriate, Senator. " ), Remained thenceforth stigmatized as little more intelligent candidate in the public and media eyes.
Nevertheless, the Democratic candidate Dukakis and Bentsen defeated by the Republicans George HW Bush. and Quayle, who won 54 percent of the vote and the majority in 40 U.S. states, while Dukakis and Bentsen received 46 percent of the vote and a majority in the remaining ten states. In the Electoral College Bentsen received one vote as President of the delegates Margaret Leach of West Virginia, the elector as so-called Faithless deviated from the planned election duty and reversed the order of the two Democratic candidates.
Treasury Secretary under Bill Clinton
In January 1993, he resigned as senator and was appointed as Minister of Finance in the cabinet by the new President Bill Clinton. During this time he started with the basics for the creation of a balanced budget and the reduction of the budget deficit. On 22 December 1994, Lloyd Bentsen he finally retired from active politics.
Honors and Awards
- " Distinguished Flying Cross "
- " Air Medal "
- " Presidential Medal of Freedom" (11 August 1999)
In addition, a portion of the Texas Highway 59 has been named in his honor "Sen. Lloyd Bentsen Highway".