Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle is a notable American politician who served as the 44th Vice President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. Born into a wealthy family, Quayle attended DePauw University and later graduated from the Indiana University School of Law. He began his political career after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, later moving to the Senate in 1980, where he was recognized for his conservative stance. His vice presidential nomination in 1988 was controversial, drawing significant media scrutiny and public derision, especially during a memorable debate where he was compared unfavorably to John F. Kennedy.
Quayle's term included chairing significant councils, but he became infamous for his verbal gaffes, leading to a mixed legacy overshadowed by criticism. His comments on family values, particularly targeting a fictional character on television, sparked debate about social issues and media influence. After his political career waned following a loss in the 1992 election, Quayle remained somewhat active in politics, endorsing various Republican candidates and serving on corporate boards in the 2020s. His journey reflects the complexities of political life and the lasting impact of media on public perception.
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Dan Quayle
- Born: February 4, 1947
- Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Indiana
Though Quayle was an intelligent and capable politician, his single term as vice president is, unfortunately, best remembered for his verbal malapropisms and the huge amount of scorn and ridicule heaped upon him by the media and political adversaries.
Dan Quayle was born into a wealthy family and enjoyed a privileged lifestyle. He graduated from DePauw University and Indiana University School of Law—Indianapolis. A conservative by inclination, he was recruited by the Republican Party, and he sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from the Fourth District of Indiana. He won handily in 1976 and was reelected in a landslide in 1978. In 1980, at the age of thirty-three, he won a seat in the Senate and was easily elected to a second term in 1986.
As a senator, Quayle was reliably conservative and unfailingly ingratiating. In 1988, George H. W. Bush, the Republican presidential candidate, surprised the nation by choosing Quayle to be his running mate. Quayle’s nomination was met with a wave of derision and opposition. His giddy enthusiasm about being chosen for the nomination seemed like immature behavior to many observers. In a debate between rival vice presidential nominees, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen delivered a memorable retort to Quayle’s comparison of himself to John F. Kennedy in terms of congressional experience, stating that Quayle was “no John Kennedy.” Despite Quayle’s campaign mistakes and the unrelenting criticism by the media, the Bush-Quayle team won the election, and Quayle became the forty-fourth vice president of the United States.
As vice president, he competently chaired the National Space Council and the Council on Competitiveness and occasionally presided over the Senate, but the attacks and derision continued, fueled by his ongoing verbal gaffes, such as “the future will be better tomorrow.” After a brief period of high poll ratings due to the Gulf War, the economy failed to flourish, and President Bush disastrously broke an often-repeated campaign promise by raising taxes. When the Bush-Quayle team sought reelection in 1992, they were soundly defeated.
Impact
While vice president, Quayle had chided the fictional television character Murphy Brown for giving birth out of wedlock and thus setting a bad moral example and contributing to the decline of traditional family values. Although Quayle was criticized by some for what was seen as an insult to single mothers, others believed he had a valid point about the irresponsibility of mainstream media. His comments have also been identified as contributing to a trend among conservatives for decrying the "collapse of the family." The unending criticism he drew apparently ended his political career, thus revealing again the power and influence of the media. While no longer very active in politics, he occasionally endorses candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, endorsing Mitt Romney in 2011 and George H. W. Bush's son Jeb Bush in 2015. Although Quayle did decide to support Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president, he also advised Vice-President Mike Pence to certify the election results in 2020 during the election controversy. He attended the inauguration of Joe Biden. In the early 2020s, Quayle served on several boards of directors for global companies.
Bibliography
Quayle, Dan. Standing Firm. New York: HarperCollins, 1994.
Thomas, Cal. “Whatever happened to Dan Quayle?” Washington Times, 25 Mar. 2020, www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/25/whatever-happened-to-dan-quayle/. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Woodward, Bob, and David S. Broder. The Man Who Would Be President: Dan Quayle. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992.
Woodward, Bob, and Robert Costa. Peril. Simon & Schuster, 2023.